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Adding three 15 go blowers to IBA. How much amperage do I need

soonermajic

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I'm adding three 15hp blowers, to an existing IBA which doesn't have dryers. What do I need to do electrically?
 

MGSMN

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If your voltage is 208V 3phase then probably 150 amp total service, a contactor and overload/circuit protector for each motor. Also a way to stagger start them with timers. Is it a Ryko IBA?
 

soonermajic

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Yes, Ryko OHD US2001
Are u saying I need to add 150amp, & a contactor & overload protector?
I have no clue what all this will entail
 

MGSMN

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Depending on the voltage at your site, if its 208v 3 phase you will need to add a 150A 3 pull breaker to your panel (assuming it will support one that large) or you could add three 50A 3 pull breakers (one for each motor). Then that feeds your new dryer control panel that has a separate contactor and circuit protector for EACH motor. Good news is your machine will most likely be able to run the contactors with no additional timers needed (in your machine setups enable the slimline dryer option). Just make sure your contactors coils are 24v AC and your machines PLC outputs will be able to energize each contactor. You will also need to add a set of photo eyes (or use your exit door photo eyes) to tell the machine the vehicle passed through the dryer or you will get an error on your 2 digit display.
 
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MGSMN

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In that photo the three big components are the starters (aka-contactors/circuit protectors) for each fan. The two small components between the starters at the top are delay timers to stagger start fans 2 and 3. Each of those starters is supplied by an individual breaker. In the bottom left of the photo, those two components are contactors for the building lighting (not part of the dryer system).
 

wash4me

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I have a starter box with everything in it including time delay and you would just need to provide 3 3 pole breakers (80 amp breakers would be my preference but 60 would work) from your existing panel to feed this box and then you would run the three circuits for the fan out to your motors. You would need a closing set of contacts to start fans. Pm if interested
 

MEP001

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As long as the three motors are staggered to start, you can run them on a single breaker.
 

soapy

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You need to look and see how many amp service you have coming in. I would think that 400 amp would be minimum and that might not be enough if you are already close to your maximum. If you stage your wash so the dryers only work when the Iba is not in you could make it work. Most Ryko iba take 125 amp service.
 

wash4me

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As long as the three motors are staggered to start, you can run them on a single breaker.
While this is correct a hundred amp breaker is the maximum size that goes in most panels and this would barely be big enough. You also have the issue of needing a distribution block or something to reduce the size of the wire so it will go in the starters. You will also get better short circuit protection for the motor out of three small breakers and easier diagnostics in case something trips you’re going to know which motor caused the breaker to trip because there are three of them. You also have redundancy so on the one blower we go out if it trips and not all three.
 

MEP001

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While this is correct a hundred amp breaker is the maximum size that goes in most panels and this would barely be big enough. You also have the issue of needing a distribution block or something to reduce the size of the wire so it will go in the starters. You will also get better short circuit protection for the motor out of three small breakers and easier diagnostics in case something trips you’re going to know which motor caused the breaker to trip because there are three of them. You also have redundancy so on the one blower we go out if it trips and not all three.
Remind me to send you a picture of a 150 or 200 amp breaker in a panel. Maybe it's not common in Kansas, but I see it all the time.

Odds are he won't have three available 3-phase breaker spots in his panel, so he'll have to add a sub-panel to do that. Then the city will say he needs to "up" his service from 250 amp to 400 amp. That can cost $20,000-$30,000. If he can get them on one breaker and assure the city that the dryers won't be on at the same time as the high-pressure pump (if there is one) he won't have to do all that.

I've installed quite a few dryers, and they usually have a safety disconnect in the door that doubles as a distribution block. It wouldn't be a big deal to add if it doesn't have one.
 

wash4me

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The answer depends on the existing equipment, the skill of the installer, the panels and the motor control enclosure but most of the time what I described is a less expensive install.
 
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