Discuss Calculating inrush current for magnetic ballasts in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

davesparks

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I need to, as accurately as possible, establish what the inrush current is for some large metal halide floodlights with magnetic ballasts and I'm drawing a blank.

This is for a switchgear/DB replacement I am in the planning stages of and need to know whether these circuits can be fed from MCBs or if I need to use MCCBs or if fuses would be OK.
These are currently fed from 63A MCCBs, but it would be advantageous if they could be run on MCB's instead.

There are 4 TP circuits each feeding a floodlight column. Each column has 9x 2kW MBIL type discharge lamps on it with magnetic ballasts connected in delta with loads evenly distributed (3 connected between L1 and L2, 3 between L2 and L3 and 3 between L1 and L3).

I've tried asking schneider as they can usually look up a maximum number of fittings for a given MCB, but they dont have info for this size fitting and can't help without the inrush data.

So I've asked the ballast manufacturer, Thorn, for the inrush data and they apparently don't know. But they did come up with a max starting current (not inrush) of 9.3A at 415V.

Can anybody help with calculating the inrush for these?
 
Can you use a meter to measure it, a flexible probe or clamp device?
I think these are specialist devices but maybe available for rental.
 
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Can you use a meter to measure it, a flexible probe or clamp device?
I think these are specialist devices but maybe available for rental.

I'm going to see what the clamp meter says tomorrow, I doubt it reacts fast enough to record the inrush though.

Yes measuring it would be the logical and most accurate answer, but it will require the right testers, which I don't have. Hiring is an option but the motivation here is to get the job into a shoestring budget.
 
I'm going to see what the clamp meter says tomorrow, I doubt it reacts fast enough to record the inrush though.

Yes measuring it would be the logical and most accurate answer, but it will require the right testers, which I don't have. Hiring is an option but the motivation here is to get the job into a shoestring budget.
I have a fluke 360 clamp meter, it reacts quick enough to measure the inrush current as long as your quick enough to press hold you'll get a reading. Its out of production now but the newer version is usually available to hire.
 
Trouble is digital meters just aren’t fast enough for this, How about an analogue meter like an Avo8 connected to a small split core CT? Say 200:5 ratio? With an analogue meter you should be able to see the inrush.
 
Trouble is digital meters just aren’t fast enough for this, How about an analogue meter like an Avo8 connected to a small split core CT? Say 200:5 ratio? With an analogue meter you should be able to see the inrush.

You should be able to see it, but I can't guarantee to be able to read it quick enough!

Sadly this also comes back to not having the right test equipment available, I know where I could lay my hands on an AVO8 easy enough, but don't think I could find a split CT.
 
I seem to remember the measuring gear is specific,with peak and graph data. I also think you can do three tests,and get three different readings :)

This was SP switchgear,and solving was sometimes a mixture of calculating,and trial/error,usually SB fuses or current limiting devices.
 
I seem to remember the measuring gear is specific,with peak and graph data. I also think you can do three tests,and get three different readings :)

Oh yeah, that's the other issue witheasuring it, the inrush depends on whereabouts the volkatge is in its cycle when it is turned on.

It's an inductor so, Iirc, if it switches on at the zero point the inrush is at its greatest and if it switches on when the voltage is at its peak there won't be an inrush.

But then this is a three phase load so it can't exactly be switched on at zero or peak.

The longer I spend trying to resolve this the more I am inclined to leave the old rusty panel with VIR incomers in place and run away.
 
I was actually repairing some Thorn 2KW MBILs last night! Cartridge fuses will naturally cope with the inrush of almost all circuits. Where I was working have groups of 8 2KW lamps switched on at a time, these are fed from standard Merlin MCBs, though unhelpfully I can't remember the type or rating...
 

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