PlinthAdenoid
DIY
- Reaction score
- 9
Hello everyone, I really hope this isn't an idiot question but boy, I'm out of my depth! I've spent about 3 weeks (not solid mind) trying to work out how to size a generator to power a lathe for a test.
Situation is, I'm buying a house in Wales (UK) with a restored lathe in it. It's 3 phase, but there's no 3 phase at the property. So just for testing purposes, approx 2 hours of running, I need to power it up. I've settled on renting a generator because it seemed like the easiest option, but I can't find enough information to be able to rent the right one, and when I'm put through to someone who can help at the rental place, I can't answer their questions because the info isn't there. They want to know the kW and kVA of the machine, but that's not in the manual or stamped on the lathe. Also wanted to know what size of plug it was.
The lathe is a Colchester Triumph from the 60's, the power plate on it states: Volts: 400/440, Cycles: 50, Amps 5-10 and that there are two motors, the main one is 5hp and the lube pump is 0.05hp, so total hp is 5.05hp.
I've rattled through all sorts of calculators and THINK I've got it right but need a sense check. I don't want to blow this thing up! I think 5.05hp = 4kW, which = 5kVA. When I then look on the rental site they rent one that's 15kVA but the voltage is stated as 110/230/415V, none of those voltages are 400/440V. I'm confused, it feels like it should all be an exact science so this worries me.
Can anyone help me please? Apologies if I broke any rules (I did read them), like I say, I am way out of my depth with electrical matters but respect them and the life changing/ending mistakes numpties like me can make!
Longer term I'll get 3 phase installed, there's a pole nearby, or buy a converter.
Situation is, I'm buying a house in Wales (UK) with a restored lathe in it. It's 3 phase, but there's no 3 phase at the property. So just for testing purposes, approx 2 hours of running, I need to power it up. I've settled on renting a generator because it seemed like the easiest option, but I can't find enough information to be able to rent the right one, and when I'm put through to someone who can help at the rental place, I can't answer their questions because the info isn't there. They want to know the kW and kVA of the machine, but that's not in the manual or stamped on the lathe. Also wanted to know what size of plug it was.
The lathe is a Colchester Triumph from the 60's, the power plate on it states: Volts: 400/440, Cycles: 50, Amps 5-10 and that there are two motors, the main one is 5hp and the lube pump is 0.05hp, so total hp is 5.05hp.
I've rattled through all sorts of calculators and THINK I've got it right but need a sense check. I don't want to blow this thing up! I think 5.05hp = 4kW, which = 5kVA. When I then look on the rental site they rent one that's 15kVA but the voltage is stated as 110/230/415V, none of those voltages are 400/440V. I'm confused, it feels like it should all be an exact science so this worries me.
Can anyone help me please? Apologies if I broke any rules (I did read them), like I say, I am way out of my depth with electrical matters but respect them and the life changing/ending mistakes numpties like me can make!
Longer term I'll get 3 phase installed, there's a pole nearby, or buy a converter.
- TL;DR
- I need to rent a generator for a 3 phase 5.05hp lathe but I can't work out which one.