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#53519 06/27/05 10:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 814
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BigB Offline OP
Member
I hope someone with knowledge about drum type copy machines can respond. The unit in question states on the nameplate, Amps: 10 max. Problem is the breaker trips when the machine is on but not in use. A monitor revealed that every so often the machine would spike up to twenty amps while idle. I theorize this is the machine keeping itself warmed up while on standby. Is this a normal feature of a drum copier? (The 20 amps must be inrush. There is also a refigerator, cofee maker and computer on the 15 amp circuit, so I know it's overloaded, but I want to confirm the copier is acting normally. I have already contracted to run a new 20 amp circuit to the copier.
Thanks, Brian

#53520 06/27/05 11:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 265
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Member
I dont know if the spike you see is normal, but everytime I install a copier, the copier company requires a dedicated 20A circuit.

#53521 06/27/05 11:39 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
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Member
These things have halogen bulbs in them to heat the fuser and they do have a big inrush.
I think you did answer your own question with the fridge and coffee pot on the same circuit tho. Does it ever trip at night when the coffee pot is off?


Greg Fretwell
#53522 06/27/05 11:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 814
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BigB Offline OP
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Yes as I said I know the circuit is overloaded and I know what needs to be done, but I wanted to confirm the copier is acting as it should. I don't want to sell them a new circuit only to have it blow the new breaker, then they will think I sold them a job they didn't need. I thought about the coffee machine but they said they never use the warmers and the machine is off fairly early in the day and the breaker still trips. It's probably the big side by side fridge along with the copier.

#53523 06/28/05 12:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
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You could temporarily move the copier or fridge to another circuit with a fat commercial extension cord. If there is some kind of short in the copier it should still trip. I would expect the copier to have some internal supplimental O/C protection which would open with a short tho.


Greg Fretwell
#53524 06/28/05 07:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 329
I
Member
Being that those big side by side fridges typically draw between 9 to 10 amps I'd say that the circuit is just overloaded. Additionally, those fridges have induction motors so there is also a signifigant inrush current there too.

#53525 06/28/05 08:23 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 806
N
Member
Yes, that type of cyclic current draw is a standard feature of most older copiers and laser printers.

The culprit isn't the copy drum, but the fuser assembly. This is a teflon-coated roller that is kept heated by a large quartz-halogen lamp, and used to seal the toner image onto the paper. The lamp is cycled on and off as needed to keep the fuser hot. The lamp can be up to 1000W in size, so it draws a substantial amount of power, which can cause problems for other equipment on the circuit.

Copiers really need a dedicated circuit.

#53526 06/28/05 08:39 AM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 375
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Member
While I agree that another circuit will solve the problem ...

I think the copier may also have a problem. The spike should be near the nameplate amps.

#53527 06/28/05 09:04 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 65
G
Member
BigB, The first rule of trouble-shooting. Solve the problems that you know about. You know that the circuit is overloaded. You know that a coppier requires a 20 amp. dedicated circuit. You install said 20 Amp. circuit and that is where your responsibilities as an electrician end. If they still have problems it's time to call a repairman. I worked on those machines when I was young and I can tell you without the proper manuals and training that if you attempt to correct problems with the equipment that you will do more harm than good. Those machines require peroidic maintenance anyway.

#53528 06/28/05 05:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 99
Member
you could have a bad breaker, in addition to the prior mention of a need for a dedicated circuit.after tripping and resetting numerious times, they will trip with a small inrush

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