Looking to buy a melting pot. Lot's of model come in either 110V or 220V. I have 220V readily available in my garage. What the benefit of one over the other?
Looking to buy a melting pot. Lot's of model come in either 110V or 220V. I have 220V readily available in my garage. What the benefit of one over the other?
Nothing really. Although I do like my heavy loads on 220v so as not to overburden a circuit. Usually (almost always its a dedicated circuit on my 220 stuff.
In a heating element as small as a lead furnace, nothing. Provided they're the same wattage, if it's 1500 watts at 120 volts it will still be 1500 watts at 240 volt. The amp draw per leg will be reduced by half at 240 volts. At 240v it will simply be drawing it on two legs rather than one at 120v. 1500 watts at 240v will draw 6.25 amps and at 120v will be 12.5
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I've got a 220V Pro Melt but only because it was on clearance for a very good discount and I have a 220V circuit for my table saw. Since I cast on top of the table saw(I put a cover on the table) I will never be needing both at the same time.
The 220V furnace came with a European plug which had to be replaced but considering the discount, was no big deal.
John
W.TN
For 1500 watts or less 120V is enough and plugs in more places.
Mal
Mal Paso means Bad Pass, just so you know.
I have a lee 120v 20lb pot and a hot plate. Would that be to much for 120 volts.
My definition of using single phase against multiple phase, is that it is easier for two or three people to push a car up a hill than one large man to do the same thing.
I can’t really think of an advantage in having a load that small on 240 volts. If you have 240 volts available in your casting area and find a bargain on a 240 volt pot, then go far it. Using 120 volts is much more versatile and an 800-850 watt heating element is really not a great big load. I recently started having a couple of buddies come over to cast. We set up in my shop and cast on my steel work table. At first, we had 3 lead pots and a hot plate plugged into the same 20 amp circuit along with an 8ft light and a radio And had no problems. That did load that circuit pretty good and I’ve since split that circuit up.
Three phase only has mechanical advantage in motors, none in heating elements, almost no one has it in their homes, you would need a 500 pound pot to justify it.
This discussion is all single phase 120/240 volt. A 20 amp 120v circuit max is 2400 watts, the recommended safe load is 80% or 1920 watts. 1440 watts for 15 amps. My old pot was 700 watts and the hot plate 1500 so I ran an extension cord from another circuit for the hot plate. I would not bother with 240 volt unless a single piece of equipment was over 1800 watts. 240V is not cheaper and plugging in is more complicated.
Heat loads are the sort of thing that burn through the quick connections on the back of wall plugs. Side wired to the screws is best. If you don't know the quality of your house wiring, take it easy.
Last edited by Mal Paso; 02-25-2018 at 11:52 AM.
Mal
Mal Paso means Bad Pass, just so you know.
I doubt anyone has three phase in their home. If they have a large shop they might. But that's the only way. 120/240 are both single phase. Ohms law comes into play w/ this discussion. Watts are still watts and amps are still amps. If you have a 240 outlet available then get a 240 pot. Otherwise just get a 120 pot. Larger equipment and loads is when you want three phase for a myriad of reasons.
I believe what we call 120/240 in our household wiring is called 240 center tapped. It's still single phase. I had extra breaker space in my little shop so the 2 pots and the hot plate each have their own breakers. Overkill but nice.
Mike
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Thanks for all the replies! Looks like a 120V unit will suffice.
Now I remember why I became a Mechanical Engineer and not an Electrical Engineer.
What would be really nice is a setup like on computers.They have a little slide switch on the power supply.Slide it one direction and you have 110V selected.Slide the other way and you have 220 selected.Super simple.Plus 220 uses less amps which means less power consumed and less electric expense.
Good luck.have fun.Be safe.
Leo
People never lie so much as after a hunt,during a war,or before an election.
Otto von Bismarck
Hi Dragon.Thanks for clearing that up for me.Was always told what I posted.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo
People never lie so much as after a hunt,during a war,or before an election.
Otto von Bismarck
I should also mention that I've also got a 110V Lee pot. When I got my PID, I asked about the two voltages. The maker(JConn, web site since disappeared) said that the devices, in his anyway, worked on both 110V and 220V. I have since proved it several times. I don't know if that is the norm. I did have to make up two different pigtails to avoid using the wrong one with the higher voltage.
John
W.TN
I put in a dedicated 20 amp 110 volt line for my Pro Melt and my table saw so I don't worry about popping a circuit breaker elsewhere in the house.
Imagine you have a nice thick milkshake. It's so thick that it's difficult to slurp up with a regular straw so you get a straw with hole exactly twice the size of the regular straw (a fatter straw). You enjoy your milkshake and drink it all.
The single straw is equivalent to a 110v circuit
The large (fat) straw is equivalent to a 220v circuit.
The milkshake itself is the equivalent to the Watts.
So, whether you chose a skinny straw or a fat straw, at the end of the day you've consumed the same amount of milkshake (Watts).
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