Heater problems
- Thread starter jholbey
- Start date
The heater calls for 240 volts. Maybe it won't work on 208 if the unit shuts down when it detects low voltage.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 10,002
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Do you have any other 220 volt devices coming from that panel? 220 volt is not just 2 110 volt legs. They need to each be from a different bus bar. If both of your 110 volt sides of the 220 come from the same but bar I don't think that will work. Photos of the box would help!
Thanks for your reply
thanks for your reply and questions... I do have 1-60amp breaker in my sub panel for this heater. I have 2-70amp breakers out of my main panel going to my sub panel because that is what the manufacturer wanted to the sub panel.I am sure the electrical is correct on this.I 25gpm flow showing on the display and the manual says have to have 15gpm to turn the heaters on.The input and output connection are correct.Thanks again for your help
The unit is supposed to show low or high voltage problems. It does not show voltage problems. I do think this should work on 208volts but it will draw more amps.The unit is not shutting down it never comes on for heat.
The have 208 volts from two legs of a three-phase supply.
In a three phase supply, you have (3) 120 volt legs that are 120 degrees out of phase instead of 180 degrees like you would have at a regular house supply.
Since the angle is 120 degrees, you get a triangle with (2) 120 volt sides and a 208 volt side.
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the part above makes me think that there is not 220 at the heater, above says "2-70amp breakers " that should be a double pole breaker providing the sub with current.
Thanks JamesW... That is some good info on 3-phase panels... I will double check what I have done and make adjustments. Thank you so much
Correct. 208 volts is what you would expect from two legs of a 3 phase supply.
That might be the issue. Check with Raypak to see if the heater will work on 208 volts.
Not understanding, if you have 120 on each leg then you should have 240 leg to leg. Something not adding up here.
In a 3 phase system, the legs are 120 degrees out of phase. See the video posted above.
Thanks JamesW... I will get the single double pole 140amp breaker instead of the 2 single 70amp breakers
If you draw a triangle with angles of 120 degrees, 30 degrees and 30 degrees and 2 sides are 120 volts, the third side is 208 volts.
It doesn't work like that. The double breaker would be two 70 amp breakers with a single handle. It's still a 70 amp breaker.
Check with an electrician before making any changes.
Thanks I will contact Rapak about the 208volts... I appreciate your help
OkI have a friend that is a electrician I will check with him... thanks
That's not correct. Motors often (but not always) draw more current with less voltage. Resistive heaters like this one will always draw less current with less voltage. As @JamesW has stated, 208 does not equal 240 volts.
For reference, USA line voltage tolerance is ±5%, so 114-126 volts for 120 V, or 228-252 volts for 240 volts. Running anything rated for 240 volts on 208 volts is way out of spec, since 5% tolerance on 208 would be 198-218 volts.
As an aside, 220 volts is a misnomer, there's no such thing in North America. That would actually be an out of spec voltage.
For those following along at home, residential home wiring is called "split-phase" power, with two hot wires and a neutral. Hot-neutral gives 120 volts, hot-hot gives 240 volts. Commercial buildings often use 208 volt, 3-phase power for lighting and outlets. 208 3-phase uses three phase wires and a neutral. Phase-phase is 208 volts, phase-neutral is 120 volts. 240 volts does not exist in three-phase commercial wiring.
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