Electric three phase drive for Seedarmobile grain driers

Following a fantastic LAMMA ’11 Show, of which I will write more in due course, there are many questions regarding the costs associated with electric driven mobile grain driers. What is the cost of installation? How much do they cost to operate? I have found two useful online tools that may help more accurately determine the costs relating to electric driven grain driers.

Electric consumption and cost

An idea for power costs of an electric mobile grain drier can be found by using the UKPower online calculator, the electricity running cost calculator. Although designed to calculate household power consumption it can just as easily calculate the cost of power consumed by a Seedargrain drier.

The calculator demonstrates that consumption would be below £1 per tonne for all the machines in the Seedarrange (working on the assumption of removing 5% moisture from a feed wheat). This figure has also been verified through on-farm use.

Cable

The electric cable may represent a significant portion of the installation cost for many three phase driven driers. So finding the type required and getting and idea of how much it costs is important to know before making any decisions.

Cable size depends on various factors including, supply type, power requirement (details of which are available on our website for each size of mobile grain drier) and cable length required. While we always recommend that you speak with your farm electrician for exact specification, a quick indication of cable spec can be taken from Doncaster Cable’s online Cable Size Calculator.

This handy calculator recommends cable sizes based upon the details you provide. The calculation is derived from from BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installation, IEE Wiring Regulations, Installation method C (Clipped Direct), for cable types BS5467 and BS6724 and is based on the voltage drop selected at 230 and 400 volts.

The calcuator recommends a certain specification of cable, measured by core size, in mm². A price per metre can then be found through various electrical suppliers for a four or five core cable. Remember though, this is only an indication and not a substitute for seeking the professional advice of your farm electrician.

Hopefully these two calculators will be useful in evaluating options for driving a mobile grain drier. If you have any further questions just get in touch with us.

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