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Hi all,
I live in an ex-farm which has what we call an 'electricity cupboard' shed attached to a barn. When having a meter replaced about a year ago the contractors told me that there is still 3 phase in there, although its not actually running anything, just terminates in the fuseboard.
Now I know NOTHING about 3 phase, apart from it being 415V, but obviously a lightbulb moment happened when I realised that a 3 phase two post lift would go in the barn behind it.
However whilst I'm happy to install a lift myself, wiring it in is absolutely beyond what I'm prepared to do.
So, cut to the chase, roughly how much should I be looking to spend to have the power fitted to it, bringing it a distance of approx 30 feet, and through a wall?
What I want to know is am I going to spend the difference between a single phase and a three phase lift in electricians?
Thanks in advance all
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ChrisT
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,670
Club RR Member Number: 225
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Are you happy working with normal 240v wiring as 3 phase is not that difficult to get your head round, especially if all you're doing is running from a fuse box to a socket......
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I'm not an electrician and can't help with prices, but in the past I've had work done very cheaply by asking an electrician to have a look, and leave me the wire & instructions about where he wants me to run the cable. All he has to do when he returns is to connect the ends of the wire and do his tests / certificates  A recent fusebox swap / wiring upgrade went from a 2 day job for him, to a half day for him  ( plus about a day of my time) |
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One of the things that worries me is that the fuses have the lead anti-tamper tags on them, I'm happy with 240V but learning to breakdance on the end of 415V doesn't appeal....
I suppose I could run the wires in, and then get it checked by an electrician who did the last connections
Thanks for ideas guys
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The phases are only 240V (or 230V as it should be in the UK), you only achieve 415V by the vector sum 2 of the live phases. Wiring it up is no different than normal T&E apart from the number of cores, you'll need 4 cores. They should be brown (L1), black (L2), grey (L3) and blue (N) to comply with the latest regs.
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I'd put a new three phase board in place of the single, then a 5 core cable, three lives neutral and earth, all connects the same one the breaker will take up three spaces in the fuse board and just put each live in,
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1994 BMW 525i touring
2004 BMW Z4 sorn and broken
1977 Ford Escort
1982 Ford Capri getting restored
1999 Mazda B2500 daily driver.
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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The cost of materials alone would likely make it more expensive than just using a single phase lift.
Sounds like you just have a set of main fuses if they are sealed tho? If that's the case you shouldn't really touch them as they belong to the supplier. There should be a meter fitted too. If you just pulled the fuses and hooked up to it you would be stealing electric!
A photo might help confirm what the deal is.
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And check that the motor turns the right way. Also check what switch gear you need and whether you need a star / delta box 👍🏼
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Thanks again all, think on the basis of what everyone is saying I'll spend the money on a single phase lift
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paul99
Part of things
Posts: 417 
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Jan 11, 2018 12:54:25 GMT
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I'm not an electrician and can't help with prices, but in the past I've had work done very cheaply by asking an electrician to have a look, and leave me the wire & instructions about where he wants me to run the cable. All he has to do when he returns is to connect the ends of the wire and do his tests / certificates A recent fusebox swap / wiring upgrade went from a 2 day job for him, to a half day for him ( plus about a day of my time) A workmate did it this way, certainly keeps the costs down. If you're going to put other machine tools in the workshop, having 3 phase in there will expand the options/make some pro kit viable. Just a thought. |
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Jan 11, 2018 18:55:17 GMT
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I think you shouldnt rush into single phase.
A photo of what you have will help people advise. What is in the cupboard already will be the deciding factor.
If you need the cable run exactly the same either way then the the labour cost is almost the same (some extra terminals is all) but the cable will be a little bit more expensive. The only big difference is if you don't have the correct hardware in the cupboard, which you may have.
I'd have your friendly electrician quote for single phase or 3 phase and if you can save more than the difference in quotes I'd do it.
I don't have 3 phase but have a rotary phase converter, once you can run 3 phase you can get lots of machinery for a much lower cost.
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Where abouts are you? I'm an electrician but in the northeast. If your close buy I don't mind looking at it for you, I am not fishing for work as I work for a company and not realy the guvy type but advice is free of charge haha I also travel to warrington to visit family if that helps. If its easily doable go for the three phase, as you can have more toys with it and you still have single phase to use as well.
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Jan 13, 2018 16:42:16 GMT
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Bit of hike thanks rustydan, I'm in Norfolk! Cheers for the offer anyway
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Jan 13, 2018 17:08:28 GMT
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Yeah just a bit haha think a few have said but get some snaps of the set up and post them up
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Jan 14, 2018 18:55:49 GMT
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I’m an electrician also. Is there a 3 phase or single phase consumer unit ? If it’s only single phase the cost of fitting a 3 phase board and then cable and connecting to the ramp wouldn’t be worthwhile. If you have a 3 phase board the price difference between wiring single phase and 3 phase ramps will be minimal. (5 core cable being slightly dearer than 3 core)
Get some pics up.
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Jan 15, 2018 10:01:06 GMT
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If the expensive bit of having three phase supply is already done - I would look very seriously at exploiting it.
Even if you need to add a 3 phase board, it then opens up the possibility of other three phase equipment which would pay dividends in the long run.
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Jan 31, 2018 15:43:56 GMT
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Sorry guys takes me a while sometimes. Professional electricians look away now.......    All the old black stiff is not connected any more (thankfully) theres even a couple of old cambridge meters not shown TIA |
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Yeh, you would need a new three phase distribution board and get the supplier in to re-fit the meter and connect it up. (and ofcourse run all the cable..) Worth doing if you wanted to run a lot of kit but not for one lift imo
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Ahhh my eyes!! As above, for one lift its a faff on but if you are going to set up a full workshop, pull all of that out and get one 3phase fusebox and incorporate all the existing circuits in the new fusebox
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Yeah, less said about the mess there the better! Thanks for help & advice all
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( plus about a day of my time) 
