Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
(OP)
Hi,
I have a tank that is used to melt glue. It has six heaters, each with a resistance of 10 ohms. It is powered with 208 VAC three phase.
Originally, it was wired as shown below with two heaters in parallel across each possible pair of lines (L1-L2, L2-L3, and L1-L3)...
... with this wiring, I had a resistance of 5 ohms across each pair of lines. With this being the case, I used ohms law to calculate the expected current between L1 and L2 (through heaters R1 and R2 wired in parallel) as 41.6 amps. Then I calculated the expected current between L1 and L3 (through heaters R5 and R6 wired in parallel) as 41.6 amps as well. I'd like to determine the expected total current through L1. Being the current through L1-L2 is not in phase with the current through L1-L3, I don't think it is correct to simply add 41.6 + 41.6 = 83.2.
If anyone here can tell me the correct way to calculate the expected current through L1 (and through L2 and L3 for that matter), I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks and best regards,
Paul
I have a tank that is used to melt glue. It has six heaters, each with a resistance of 10 ohms. It is powered with 208 VAC three phase.
Originally, it was wired as shown below with two heaters in parallel across each possible pair of lines (L1-L2, L2-L3, and L1-L3)...
... with this wiring, I had a resistance of 5 ohms across each pair of lines. With this being the case, I used ohms law to calculate the expected current between L1 and L2 (through heaters R1 and R2 wired in parallel) as 41.6 amps. Then I calculated the expected current between L1 and L3 (through heaters R5 and R6 wired in parallel) as 41.6 amps as well. I'd like to determine the expected total current through L1. Being the current through L1-L2 is not in phase with the current through L1-L3, I don't think it is correct to simply add 41.6 + 41.6 = 83.2.
If anyone here can tell me the correct way to calculate the expected current through L1 (and through L2 and L3 for that matter), I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks and best regards,
Paul
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RE: Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
You should see that on L1, on L2, and on L3.
xnuke
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RE: Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
I appreciate your help!
Best regards,
Paul
RE: Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
Absolute: 72.05331 I1= -62.4+36.0266567974326i
Absolute: 72.05331 I2= 62.4+36.0266567974326i
Absolute: 72.05331 I3= -72.0533135948652i
72.05331/sqrt(3)=41.6 indeed.
RE: Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
RE: Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
CR
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]
RE: Calculating current in 3-phase circuit
TTFN (ta ta for now)
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