Circuit Requirements for Electrical Equipment

How to Determine if your Equipment Requires a Dedicated Electrical Circuit to Prevent Circuit Overload

Dedicated Circuit Requirements for Electrical Equipment
Question: We have a new electric frier for our cafeteria; its 208v/60/3ph, 47.2 amps, 17kw, for direct wiring. I’m told that it should have been ordered in 480v. Can it be safely wired to work by an electrician? Does he have to change the circuits and breakers to provide a safe hook-up?

This electrical question came from: Wayne, a Handyman from Columbus, Ohio.
See more about Home Wiring for Ohio

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Wayne.

Understanding Electrical Circuit Requirements

How to Determine if  your Equipment Requires a Dedicated Electrical Circuit to Prevent Circuit Overload

• Wayne, the electric frier that you now have requires a dedicated circuit as specified by the nameplate, owners manual and the installation specifications.
• From my position I cannot be sure what the voltage is in your cafeteria.
• It is essential to know what the voltage is for your facility before the purchase, and realize that equipment such as this will definitely require a dedicated circuit due to the amount of electricity it will require.
• Yes, you will need to have a licensed electrical contractor install the necessary circuit for you.

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Home Electrical Wiring and Electrical Repairs Please Note: Unless otherwise posted, please refer to the following Guidelines when working on Electrical Projects: Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced - Electrical Repairs and Circuit Wiring is Best Performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor. Electrical Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, a Voltage Tester and a Multi Meter. Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, work with electrical wiring, and the available access to the project area. Precaution: Identify the project circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring. Important: Modifying existing electrical circuits or installing additional electrical wiring should be done according to local and National Electrical Codes, with a permit and be inspected.

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