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Saving big on electric with Big cat motor technology

S

scout

Member
Their must be thousands of large 35hp? cat pumps that use a large amount of power to start. Has Cat or anyone done a cost/payback study to show actual time to pay back installation?I have heard of "Variable Drive" and "soft Start" ----but only a glimmer of what these are.
 
Years ago I wired a 2 motor dryer with a "Y-Delta" start configuration. The original motors are still running due to the soft start of this system. Requires 3 motor starters and 2 on delay timers. It starts each phase , one at a time. This might work for a Cat 3535 but it would take a few seconds to ramp up to full power (rpm). Might be worth a try tho.
 
I mentioned this to my best electrician and he hadn't a clue what I was talking about. Maybe I can show him this thread and he will get it. If this saves off peak demand w/each startup of the 3535 pump, it would be well-worth it. Mine starts 4 separate times on my top IBA wash.
:D
 
You may want to give him the correct horsepower to begin with. My 3535 pumps on my Mark VIIs are driven by a 20HP motor, I believe. It could be 25, but it's definitely not 35.
 
25 Hp Is correct-----still a big motor---and it starts with a sound that is like a sledge hammer hitting the floor---on my e-bill---we get charged for use--but the biggest charge is Demand. at some point every month the meter registers the largest load at one point in time and puts That high point on the bill. So my thought is lowering power by using higher efficency lighting will save some---but in a small way.
 
I'm not surprised that electricians don't know about "Y-Delta" start, I had to teach the electrician that I used for this how to hook it up, even after he told me he knew how to do it.
 
Maybe there is a place here where you could post some generic instructions for a "Y-Delta Start". Bill? Bueller?
 
This is how I wired the 20 hp blower motors for "Y-Delta" start.
Wires 1,4,7 to motor starter 1, wires 2,5,8 to motor starter 2, wires 3,6,9 to motor starter 3. Start signal wire to motor starter 1 to timer 1, to motor starter 2 , to timer 2, to motor starter 3. Each phase will start individually 1-2 seconds after the 1st one until it is up to rpm. Saves on that initial slam start and saves a lot of the energy required to normally start a big motor.
 
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