ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Job site power UK

I understand in the UK, they use 240 to 120 ct transformers to provide jobsite power for power tools for safety reasons. Do these tools have NEMA 5-15 plugs? If not, what type? What about small jobs, do you have a transformer with you, or do you also have 240v tools, drills,saws,etc. Thanks Robert

Hi Robert, we do use 110V CTE on UK building sites for portable lighting & power tools.
Supply is from a 240/110 Centre tapped earth transformer. These transformers are typically portable units of 2 to 3 KVA with a standard 13A BS1363 plug on the supply cord & BSEN 60309 16A 110V (yellow) sockets on the transformer. Larger building sites have non-portable transformers hard wired in various locations throughout the site, usually on each level. The larger units have both 16A & 32A sockets to cater for heavier loads.
The plugs used are BSEN 60309-2 (formerly known as BS4343) type, colour coded yellow. The US 5-15 plug is never used, it would not be considered robust enough for site use.
I'm sure Paul may be able to provide a link to a site where you could view these transformers.
Hope this helps. David

Found this link for you
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=A331855&ts=96361&id=16158

In answer to the second part of your question. 240v tools are available for use by the "handy man" but in my experiance they are usualy abused and not well looked after by the user

Here are some more portable site transformers, up to 3kVA:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Transformer_Index/Site_Transformers/index.html


As well as these portable single-phase xfmrs, large sites can also have 3-ph distribution, a Y secondary with grounded star-point, 110V between phases, 63V phase-to-ground. There no distributed neutral; 110V power tools are connected between two phases.

Follow the links on this page to see the BS4343 connectors in more detail:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Plugs_and_Sockets_Industrial_Index/index.html


The color coding is for the maximum voltage which exists, either phase to ground or between phases. So 110V 2P+E are yellow, 230V 2P+E are blue, and 4P+E for 230/400V 3-phase Y are red.


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 06-12-2006).]

[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 06-12-2006).]