Power requirement

[BobbySusie]

I have just enough power to run the small dairy I’m building with a 12kva supply.

Can that be increased or is the next step up 3 phase?

 

[pappuller]

a 50 amp supply is probably on the low side, you will need to contact your dno to ask about upgrading your transformer to 100 amps, you shouldn't need to go to 3 phase but I would think you will need to uprate your existing supply

 

[Fergieman]

We have split phase here which is basically 2 x single phases each with a 80 amp fuse. We try and split the load between each phase. Used to have 480 volt split phase motors but they are just about a thing of the past now.

I would of thought your transformer could be up graded to give you more power. Sit down when you get a quote to do it.

 

[Bald Rick]

Get a quote for both 3 phase and a transformer upgrade.
Over time 3 phase may be more beneficial

 

[pappuller]

Get a quote for both 3 phase and a transformer upgrade.
Over time 3 phase may be more beneficial

We upped from 100amp to 200 single phase, 3 phase was £82k single phase upgrade was £3k[emoji85]

 

[Bald Rick]

We upped from 100amp to 200 single phase, 3 phase was £82k[emoji85]

Yeah ... that’s why you need a quote

 

[pappuller]

Yeah ... that’s why you need a quote [emoji38]

Something to do with closing the m6 to put cables across......
Pussies?

 

[vantage]

It may be cheaper to get 3 phase, get a quote. The advantages of 3 phase is that motors don’t need capacitors, all my electrical breakdowns seem to involve capacitors, damn I hate capacitors! We have 3 phase now for our new tank.

 

[Fergieman]

Depends alot on how far away you are from 3 phase supply.

 

[organicguy]

We have split phase here which is basically 2 x single phases each with a 80 amp fuse. We try and split the load between each phase. Used to have 480 volt split phase motors but they are just about a thing of the past now.

I would of thought your transformer could be up graded to give you more power. Sit down when you get a quote to do it.

We have split phase and it is a complete ar**e. We keep blowing the circuit breakers and end up milking with a by pass inplace!

 

[upnortheast]

Most you can get on single phase is 25kva split phase. As @Fergieman says that gives you max 2 x 100 amp
Transformer upgrade is usually cheaper than going to 3ph. depends how close you are to a 3ph supply
DNO pricing seems to be a random dark art. Usually costs about 6x what you expect
Were on split phase for 10 years . With 2 robots & the bottling shed the fuses were always warm & often tripped.
5 years ago DNO rebuilt the line past here so able to get 3ph
Got 90 KVA 3ph now giving 3 x 160 amp supply. Dogs whatsit but cost over £30k,

 

[The Agrarian]

Good to know. I asked for a 3ph quote once. 23k for three poles. Didn't really need it, just for more solar. I'm getting by on a good 80amp supply, with three robots and all the other bits. Plus a dwelling.

 

[Devon lad]

You can actually get 2x160A single phase fitted, you’ll have to probably push for it though

 

[som farmer]

we run on 100 amp, used to have split phase, but when line upgraded, we were not milking, never dreamt we would go back in !! Other than the electrician doing some things to stop anything clicking in at the same time, no problems, that's for 12/24 herringbone, ice bank, water heater, and everything else, in dairy, the rest of buildings, run off a different meter.