Comments for Step Up Transformer for Welding Machine

Apr 22, 2010
Rating

Power Conversion 3-Phase
by: Gregg

I am answering my own question with hopes that it may help someone else in the future. What I have is commonly known as a (240 Delta with a high leg). L1-120V / L2-120V / L-3-208V. I purchased a refurbished "Square-D" transformer, with a 460v Primary and a 240v Secondary. Through hours of personal research I discovered that the norm seemed to be stepping down more so than stepping up. Any way these transformers will run in reverse. In other words I can take my 240v-D and feed it into the secondary and have 460v-D comming off the primary. So there you have it. New transformer with a KVA rating of 30, which means approximately 30 amps, will cost in the neighborhood of $1500.00 - $2000.00. I got a refurbished with a "new warranty" for $450.00 and the iceing on the cake was that it was close enough to drive and pick it up myself, saving literally hundreds on shipping. These things are full of copper and very heavy. About 380lbs, unless you get one with aluminum windings, which I would rather have the copper myself. So there you have it, I can now run equipment on 460v up to about a 30 amp load and be ok. Hope this helps someone someday. Thanks.