ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 260 guests, and 19 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#137142 05/30/03 06:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
I had a question from a client recently that has really got me thinking and was wondering if you guys could give me a hand with it?.
Here it is.
A guy is fitting out a new office space with quite a few computers and to prevent other things(like heaters) being plugged into the dedicated circuits, he wants to use a CEE 22
type(IEC 320 Female) outlet in a wall plate.
I tried to suggest he used a plug like the one below, but he wouldn't have it!
(Don't you just love people like this!).
Bear in mind that he will need quite a few of these (up to 100).
Has anyone heard of anything like this?.
Could you please help?.

[Linked Image]

[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 05-30-2003).]

#137143 05/30/03 07:51 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 382
H
Member
Trumpy,

That socket certainly looks much cleaner than the IEC 320 Female would but one could still plug in class II two pin plugs into the computer system power. In South Africa we used different earth pin configurations to ensure exclusivity but there an earth pin was not optional. Do you have any configurations available that changes the geometry of the phase and neutral slots?

#137144 05/30/03 09:29 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Hutch,
Thanks for that, I'd clean forgot about that aspect! [Linked Image].
The only other real options are to use a socket with two round Phase and Neutral pins and a flat Earth pin.
Or use a BS 1363 socket/plug arrangement.
This is the first time I've ever heard of a CEE 22 system being used like this!.
I think that the guy is just being conveniently difficult, anybody else would probably just get a decent heating system installed in the first place.
BTW, thanks for posting the pic, Bill!. [Linked Image]

#137145 05/31/03 06:52 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
We also have special non-standard plugs which can be used for this purpose, but different manufacturers have adopted a different approach, so they're not interchangeable.

MK took a standard BS1363 plug and made the earth-pin slightly T-shaped. Crabtree changed the earth pin for one which was round with a flat along one side.

As Hutch pointed, none of these are availble as two-pin versions, so the problem described above wouldn't apply.

How about using NEMA 6-15 receptacles? [Linked Image]

#137146 06/01/03 06:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 159
L
Member
As a matter of interest, whatever arrangement is installed consideration would need to be given to the possibility of high protective conductor currents, especially if 100 points are to be made available. Also in three phase systems attention would need to be given to the affects of harmonics.
In the UK BS7671 2001 Section 607 applies.
I understand that in Canada circuits for IT equipment are restricted to 4 points.


regards

lyle dunn
#137147 06/01/03 06:28 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Lyle,
Thanks for that.
Yes, harmonic currents are always in the back of my mind with these types of installations, I've had problems with them in the past.
100 points sounds a bit over the top, but I fail to see how you can have this many SMPS units on one supply(even 3phase).
I've never seen an office of this size(50x50m,by memory), having 100 PC's in it. [Linked Image]

#137148 06/07/03 04:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
I've told the guy to just use standard plugs and size the supply cables appropriately, 2.5mm and 4mm.
He has offered to have a Ducted A/C system installed, to cut down on the likelihood of having heaters plugged into the points.

#137149 06/08/03 02:14 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 112
P
Member
check the regs for earth cable sizes..

i am sure you have to run a paralell earth cable in computer suites

#137150 06/14/03 08:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 52
D
Member
Trumpy,
We usually do the same here in Australia, we use a normal outlet for the computer supplies, and differentiate them by using a coloured outlet (usually green) for dedicated computer circuits.

#137151 06/14/03 11:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,253
D
djk Offline
Member
I've seen schuko used quite a bit for UPS systems here in Ireland as an alternative connector. They're often used in labs, studios and other specialist areas including hospitals.

You can very easily get all plug-in power supplies (transformer plugs) with Schuko plugs and moulded on schuko - computer power leads are easily ordered in bulk.

Its a safe and simple alternative to BS1363 and generally prevents someone accidently plugging in a vacuum cleaner! The main risk is from cleaning staff. Portable heaters in an office would be pretty rare!

[This message has been edited by djk (edited 06-14-2003).]


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5