Amperage readings on new VFD Inverter Washers?

[mjwalsh]

Has anyone put a clamp around amp meter on a power leg coming into their VFD-Inverter washing machines? If so --- hopefully you can share the results with us. I know that individual meters have been discussed --- but just getting samples of the in rush current & the sustained current will help us to understand if there is a significant lowering of the actual watt-hours cost. Of course --- the person should have a few older style similar size non VFD-Inverter machines to also gather the same type of samplings. Whether the machine is single phase 110 V 220 V or 3 phase would make a difference because the amperage number of the incoming balanced power wires to the machine would have to be multiplied appropriately.

Maybe the manufacturer specifications will also help us understand if & how much the VFD Inverters washing machines can actually save us on the electric portion of our monthly utility bills. Having said that --- it is always nice to have the ability to verify their documentation. Of course, the help for the environment should also be a consideration besides just the dollars & cents detail.

Mike Walsh king koin of bismarck

[Adamski]

Mike,

I've got 10 inverter controlled front load washers and 24 non inverter washers. I think that, short of putting an electric meter on the washer itself, it would be very difficult to get an electric use reading per cycle. Whether inverters save electricity or not, I think they're a good thing because they greatly reduce stress on the washer's drive system and frame.

On a side note: I've not lost a single board or inverter since I had a surge protector installed on my incoming 3 phase power last year. I guess, with all the high-tech electronics in a laundromat these days, a good surge protection system is a must have.

[mjwalsh]

Mike,

On a side note: I've not lost a single board or inverter since I had a surge protector installed on my incoming 3 phase power last year. I guess, with all the high-tech electronics in a laundromat these days, a good surge protection system is a must have.

Larry,

That sounds like a pretty good surge protector. Can I ask what brand you actually went with on the specific surge protector or is it several components integrated back at the panel box? I know some Mini Mart friends who still had a lot of their equipment damaged from an electrical storm even with a surge protector back at their main panel.

It sounds like Huebsch-Alliance is using in coming voltage 3 phase inverters instead of the single phase inverters or ones that possibly can be wired either way. I suppose Heubsch has an ordering option depending on whether the laundromat has single phase or 3 phase already run etc. I vaguely remember it seems that Case indicated that his Dexter inverters had 2 wire + ground single phase coming into his Dexter inverters with his armored cable throughout his laundromat. I hope Case corrects me if I misinterpreted an earlier post by him.

MJ - Mike

[Adamski]

Mike,

My surge protector is 1 box mounted on a wall next to my main 3 phase panel. It connects to a new, 3 phase breaker inside the existing panel. I looked up my invoice but it doesn't specify a brand so I'll have to take a look at the physical unit when I go back to the laundromat. I see that it cost me $1,400 to install it though.

[Adamski]

Mike,

My surge protector is a BEST QUALITY POWER brand. Find them on the web at: www.bestqualitypower.com (http://www.bestqualitypower.com)

[Duane]

Larry,

When trying to go to the page you posted my security programs blocks it as a site that tries to install potential harmful software.

Just an FYI.

Duane.

[mjwalsh]

Mike,

My surge protector is a BEST QUALITY POWER brand. Find them on the web at: www.bestqualitypower.com (http://www.bestqualitypower.com)

Larry,

Thanks for the link. It does appear to be working but I did notice that some of the pages are blank for whatever reason so maybe Duane software is working.

I have been gathering info about inverters & there is no question that power quality can be a factor both to & from them. I also have been testing one & will continue to test it. My test inverter is a single phase 230 VAC coming into it. It would be nice to know if laundry inverters have single phase or 3 phase coming into them. I suppose some possibly can be both wired & configured either way. Did the manufacturer give you an option in case you had some existing single phase hookups --- to save on electrical wiring re-do cost.

Duane,

From my experience it seems like some of the security-blocking software can be more of a problem than their worth. I would say yours is misfiring because it seems like it is very unlikely that particular website that Larrry linked to is a danger. I might be wrong.

Mike - MJ

[Duane]

Mike,

My software looks to be working fine, this message is also from Google:

-----------------------------------------------
Safe Browsing

Diagnostic page for bestqualitypower.com

What is the current listing status for bestqualitypower.com?
Site is listed as suspicious - visiting this web site may harm your computer.
Part of this site was listed for suspicious activity 3 time(s) over the past 90 days.
What happened when Google visited this site?
Of the 8 pages we tested on the site over the past 90 days, 8 page(s) resulted in malicious software being downloaded and installed without user consent. The last time Google visited this site was on 2011-06-28, and the last time suspicious content was found on this site was on 2011-06-28.

.............

[Adamski]

Larry,

When trying to go to the page you posted my security programs blocks it as a site that tries to install potential harmful software.

Just an FYI.

Duane,

I went to that site yesterday and had no problems or warnings.