Ten Questions you should ask your
phase converter manufacturer before you buy
1) How long have they been in business?
If a company has been in business for in excess of ten
years in a competitive environment
they must be doing the right thing and will be around in the future to
back up their product.
2) What type of phase converter protection is used?
Proper phase converter protection is essential in the event of a fault down stream of the converter, standard "C" curve breakers 5 > 10 x current setting or worse still "D" curve breakers 10 > 14 x current setting maybe required to start a basic converter ( no floating pole rotary , no reduced voltage start, standard transformer, no series reactor) but may well result in converter damage over time and may be a issue in the event of a insurance claim. Only generator protection class breakers offer the required protection.
3) Are you a Licensed Electrical Contractor
with an Electrical Engineering background?
Not your average sparky, only a licensed
electrical contractor
has the skills,experience and qualifications
to set you up correctly.
4) Are all your
converters fitted with a Thermal Overload as required by AS3000?
Its in the AS3000 wiring rules for several very good reasons, a bi-metal thermal overload, not a fuse not a circuit breaker not electronicly monitored. Only a bi-thermal overload that is in line with the rotary is the effective compliant method to protect the rotary, don't buy a converter that does not have one! .
Note : You will not be
able to claim successfully on your insurance fusion policy without one
5) If I have a component failure can
it be sourced from my local supplier?
Don't get caught up down the track with high priced
components some of which are exclusive to
the manufacturer, you want
to be able to go to your local electrical wholesaler to get spares.
Some manufactures use
small poor quality high speed switching devices to switch capacitors
that make the manufacturing process
faster & cheaper when contactors over time have
proven to be more
reliable, more forgiving, more readily available and more easy to fault find.
6) Is your converter vermin proof?
If you live in a rural environment don't buy anything electrical equipment that is not vermin proof, but don't take my word for it .. just ask any dairy farmer about mice and the damage they can do !
7) Are you licensed, capable and have the capacity to offer field service?
You need accuate advise that only a licenced electrical contactor can provide
8) Get the truth on performace ...Check the Specification !
The truth on performance is in the specification, "We are the best" "We are the smartest" ask why , compare the specification, ie the prossessor, the built-in protection software, the hard wired protection equipment, where are the components sourced from?
In
rural areas the mains input supply can vary, it needs to closely monitored
within +/- 6%
and the end
user needs to be able to vary the parameters on site
if required.
10)
What protection features are included in your converter and can
I
diagnose faults on site myself ?
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