The Siren Board

I MIGHT be getting an SD-10 soon, MIGHT being the key word. I have a friend (tboltmaniac) that is willing to sell one to me. However, if I DO get it, I have done some research, and I have figured out, I think, how to adequately power the siren. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'll use:

A 5000 watt 120V to 240V step-up transformer
A 10HP magnetic motor starter/contactor
An 8-12HP static phase converter

All in order, connected to the siren.

Would this be correct?

120V to 240V step-up transformer? You're not considering plugging this into an outlet, right? That outlet will melt and catch fire with that much current. Skip out on that and hook it up directly to your main panel in your house, that's the only way you're gonna get enough current to run it safely. The phase converter sounds alright. The contactor is a given. Though i'm not sure it would make a difference, you could check and see if your motor is a 7.5HP motor, a lot of SD-10's had those.

connerdstines wrote:120V to 240V step-up transformer? You're not considering plugging this into an outlet, right? That outlet will melt and catch fire with that much current. Skip out on that and hook it up directly to your main panel in your house, that's the only way you're gonna get enough current to run it safely. The phase converter sounds alright. The contactor is a given. Though i'm not sure it would make a difference, you could check and see if your motor is a 7.5HP motor, a lot of SD-10's had those.

Oh, no no no. I'm not plugging this into an outlet. I'm going to hook the step up transformer to the main breaker panel in the garage. Also, he sent me images of the motor plate, his SD-10 has a 10HP motor. Also, I COULD ditch the step-up transformer and simply put a 240V breaker in our house's load center/breaker panel and connect the phase converter from there. But, how WOULD I hook it up directly to the breaker?

GreenblottF wrote:

connerdstines wrote:120V to 240V step-up transformer? You're not considering plugging this into an outlet, right? That outlet will melt and catch fire with that much current. Skip out on that and hook it up directly to your main panel in your house, that's the only way you're gonna get enough current to run it safely. The phase converter sounds alright. The contactor is a given. Though i'm not sure it would make a difference, you could check and see if your motor is a 7.5HP motor, a lot of SD-10's had those.

Also, I COULD ditch the step-up transformer and simply put a 240V breaker in our house's load center/breaker panel and connect the phase converter from there.

That is a better plan.

connerdstines wrote:

GreenblottF wrote:

connerdstines wrote:120V to 240V step-up transformer? You're not considering plugging this into an outlet, right? That outlet will melt and catch fire with that much current. Skip out on that and hook it up directly to your main panel in your house, that's the only way you're gonna get enough current to run it safely. The phase converter sounds alright. The contactor is a given. Though i'm not sure it would make a difference, you could check and see if your motor is a 7.5HP motor, a lot of SD-10's had those.

Also, I COULD ditch the step-up transformer and simply put a 240V breaker in our house's load center/breaker panel and connect the phase converter from there.

That is a better plan.

Although, our house uses 120V current, so could I just put a 240V breaker in the load center and it'll be fine? Or do I nead a special breaker?

GreenblottF wrote:

connerdstines wrote:

GreenblottF wrote:
Also, I COULD ditch the step-up transformer and simply put a 240V breaker in our house's load center/breaker panel and connect the phase converter from there.

That is a better plan.

Although, our house uses 120V current, so could I just put a 240V breaker in the load center and it'll be fine? Or do I nead a special breaker?

Do you have a dryer, central heating/air and or electric stove? Then you have 240V service from your main panel. There is nothing extra to do other than to learn how to properly wire your stuff to it without dying. If it has no 240V breaker(most do for your utilities), or if it's taken up, then yeah you will need to get one and put it in correctly.

connerdstines wrote:

GreenblottF wrote:

connerdstines wrote:
That is a better plan.

Although, our house uses 120V current, so could I just put a 240V breaker in the load center and it'll be fine? Or do I nead a special breaker?

Do you have a dryer, central heating/air and or electric stove? Then you have 240V service from your main panel. There is nothing extra to do other than to learn how to properly wire your stuff to it without dying. If it has no 240V breaker(most do for your utilities), or if it's taken up, then yeah you will need to get one and put it in correctly.

Yeah, we do have 2 washing machines and 2 dryers, all of which run on 240V AC Power. I guess I could make that work... Thanks for all the help!

GreenblottF wrote:

connerdstines wrote:

GreenblottF wrote:
Although, our house uses 120V current, so could I just put a 240V breaker in the load center and it'll be fine? Or do I nead a special breaker?

Do you have a dryer, central heating/air and or electric stove? Then you have 240V service from your main panel. There is nothing extra to do other than to learn how to properly wire your stuff to it without dying. If it has no 240V breaker(most do for your utilities), or if it's taken up, then yeah you will need to get one and put it in correctly.

Yeah, we do have 2 washing machines and 2 dryers, all of which run on 240V AC Power. I guess I could make that work... Thanks for all the help!

Just don't plug it into those outlets, hook it straight up directly to the main panel. Those outlets aren't rated for the kind of current draw that motor will have.

connerdstines wrote:

GreenblottF wrote:

connerdstines wrote:
Do you have a dryer, central heating/air and or electric stove? Then you have 240V service from your main panel. There is nothing extra to do other than to learn how to properly wire your stuff to it without dying. If it has no 240V breaker(most do for your utilities), or if it's taken up, then yeah you will need to get one and put it in correctly.

Yeah, we do have 2 washing machines and 2 dryers, all of which run on 240V AC Power. I guess I could make that work... Thanks for all the help!

Just don't plug it into those outlets, hook it straight up directly to the main panel. Those outlets aren't rated for the kind of current draw that motor will have.

So hook up the phase converter to the breaker switch for the washing machines???

GreenblottF wrote:

connerdstines wrote:

GreenblottF wrote:
Yeah, we do have 2 washing machines and 2 dryers, all of which run on 240V AC Power. I guess I could make that work... Thanks for all the help!

Just don't plug it into those outlets, hook it straight up directly to the main panel. Those outlets aren't rated for the kind of current draw that motor will have.

So hook up the phase converter to the breaker switch for the washing machines???

If it's rated high enough. I would want it to be rated for at least 70 amps, if it's not already rated for that you might buy one that is and put it in.