12 May
2002
12 May
'02
11:23 p.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Finnegan" <pat(a)purdueriots.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Cc: "Matthew Sell" <msell(a)ontimesupport.com>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 01:45 AM
Subject: Re: Anything special about converting VAX 11/780 to single phase?
You will probably want to wire the 6000 you're
gonna power off of the same
branch opposite - connect P1 and P3 to phase 1 and P2 to phase 2, to make
sure you balance everything as much as possible. Personally, I'd
recommend getting rid of the power distribution box and using a couple of
power strips instead - put P1 and half of P2 on one phase, and P3 and the
rest of P2 on the other phase. You'll want to have a current meter of
some sort to help balance things out - get a clamp on one, a cheap one is
worth it.
<nitpick> Two-phase is most highly unlikely to be found in a house-- you
would probably have to generate it yourself. Standard is 120/240 single
phase, refered to as the A leg and B leg around here.</nitpick>
You can turn on the power strips in the proper order to simulate the old
power distribution box.
It sounds like he's refering to split-bolts (a bolt-like thing with a slot
down the middle threaded part and a nut that cranks down and closes the
slot) These are acceptable for taps on non-grounded conductors, but make
sure you insulate them good! Personally I don't think you'd be able to get
them wrapped well enough without pulling them out into a loop, and then you
might as well use wirenuts. You are placing the taps in a junction box,
right?
I don't have my Code book handy, but I wouldn't run anything smaller than a
#6 for 60A-- you might have to go to a #4 for that kind of current.
While we are at it, is there a good standard way
of splicing
a branch from a wire without cutting the wire? This one is a
#6 wire, a real hassle to mess with, and I don't have any
spare length. So, I was hoping to find a T-piece connector
to just interpose:
______________
================ ==================
~~~~+ || +~~~~
| || |
| || |
||
||
||
||
NOOOOOOO!!!!! Go spend another $10 and get a few extra feet of wire, a
small propane torch, some solder and a couple wire nuts. Cut and twist
all three wires, solder them together, and put the wire nut on, secure
with electical tape. If you want, you could skip the soldering part. But
dont, DONT use a T-splice on 120V/240V. It's OK on ground wires, but
that's all the stuff is meant for.
All I've gotta say is spend the extra couple dollars to do it right now.
The NEC was written by analyzing electrical fires. You don't really want
to have your home burn to the ground because you were trying to save a few
dollars.
This is one of those times when a professional really should be consulted.
-- PAt
Bob