Got a job to price...

[NozSpark]

As the title says I've got a job to price,,,,, no I don't need help in pricing it I can do that!!!

The customer (yacht club) has several IP rated boxes outside with a RCD and several sockets. Members of the club can use these to supply tools etc while they are working on their boats, but unfortunately some members are abusing the current set up and leaving heaters running all night.

The club really don't like the idea of this as it's a major fire risk for the yard as the boats are currently out of the water and tightly packed so any fire will spread rapidly.

All the outside power points are fed from coin meters and are on several circuits.

Initially I was just thinking of running the particular circuits through a time clock controlled contactor, but I've gotten to thinking that this might not be a great idea,,, i.e. stuff turning back on without anyone present:O so I was thinking of replacing the RCDs with active ones?

Obviously I'd still use a contactor to isolate the supply between 6pm and 9am

What do you think o learned ones???

 

[kme]

Sounds like a plan, mate.

As long as he provides notification ( somebody "paying" a meter 5 mins before the power cuts out might have an issue if their allotted usage isn`t available?)

As I was reading your post, the same ideas, in the same order, formed in my head (and the ole` budweiser has been busy in there!!!)

I shouldn`t be here - gotta get up in 5.5 hrs, drive 2.75 hrs, fit 4KW of solar, and drive back.........................

ermmmmmmmmmmmmm.........................g`night! :C

 

[NozSpark]

Cheers mate

 

[Andy™]

will the RCD's be easy & safe enough to access to switch on?

other option would be DOL starter with 'on' button on outside of enclosure?

 

[NozSpark]

The RCDs are in an enclosure along with the sockets they protect, the bottom is cut out to allow leads to be plugged in with the door closed!

The supply for the sockets comes from coin meters in a nissen hut, so it should an easy enough job to break into the supplies,,,, there are 3 boxes and the hut sockets to switch,,,, and then another similar box to switch that's fed from a different building

 

[NozSpark]

Right,,

I'm having a right mare getting active din rail RCDs and active Socket RCDs are going to add about

 

[Sidewinder]

What about just a "no volt release" i.e. like DOL starter, does it need to be timer controlled?

 

[NozSpark]

That would be a right PITA mate.

The RCDs and sockets are in an external lockable (service key) box,,, and the coin meters are in a nissen hut, the key to which is available to club members in a different building.

They want to be able to isolate the sockets at night,,, I just thought that it would be prudent to not have them turn back on by themselves in the morning just incase they leave any power tools connected.... they are more concerned about people leaving heaters on through the night and the associated possible fire risk,,, along with dodgy extension leads

 

[Sidewinder]

Just chuck a DOL on the front end of the board, which needs a push button or summat to turn on in the Nissen hut or the main club building?

This could be on a timer if you want that turns off at the cut off time and comes back on at some un-earthly hour in the morning but does not re-energise the "DOL" until a button is pushed?

 

[NozSpark]

How about just having it off the timer & contactor??? Timed to be off between 6pm and 9am

 

[Sidewinder]

I would make it a manual re-start for the same reasons you were looking for an active rcd!

 

[NozSpark]

The thing is I can get away with 1 contactor set up for 3 boxes dotted around the yard, and need another for the other one for the other box.

I think I'll go for the DOL starter to control the contactor with a timeclock,,,, TLC <

 

[Sidewinder]

OK, but, you'll get better cheaper than TLC if you shop around the good wholesalers, however, TLC is excellent for pricing quotes at this time of night, trust me!

 

[NozSpark]

Job priced and emailed off!

The thing is I know knowvhow much the bits will cost (at worse)

 

[NozSpark]

I've now had the go ahead for this job, they changed it again to needing a lockable over ride facility.

So as it stands I have a timeclock and rotary isolator in parallel supplying the DOL coil (through the start switch) with the (3 x 20A) circuits going through the DOL terminals.

Now I'm thinking I can get away without using over current protection as that is provided by the OCPDs for the circuits,,,, am I right???

 

[NozSpark]

It needs a contactor as the off (well the on period really) period will be controlled by a timeclock with a lockable rotary isolator to overide if power is required "out of hours"