[SML] distant generators

[Jerry Durand]

I just read an article in Protocol magazine about using small (<= 10kW)
generators on a film set.  It was mentioned that for sound they had to
place one generator 200 feet away and to compensate for the line drop in
all that wire they used a tapped transformer to drop the ~200V coming
out of the extension cord to 120V.

It seems, if code would allow, a better idea to put a boost (step-up)
transformer at the generator to raise the 240V closer to 300V and THEN
have a buck (step-down) transformer at the lamp end of the extension. 
The higher voltage would result in much lower loses in the wire, fewer
melted plugs (a problem they reported) and get you more usable Watts at
the lighting end.

So, the question would be, most low voltage USA wire is marked for at
least 300V max use.  How far could you push the 240V up without
upsetting the AHJ?  Maybe 277?

Of course if you happened to have access to a spool of 600V wire, you
could just bump it up to 440V at the generator and use really
lightweight wire going to the buck transformer at the lights.

-- 
Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc.
www.DurandInterstellar.com
tel: +1 408 356-3886
@DurandInterstel

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