Thread: Casadei M26 - three phase problem.

And then do you have to spend any other money on the machine? Or is it cheaper to go and buy a new single phase machine that will do the job. Depending on what you are making and horse power/ KW you need. What are you working on? you could buy a pretty good single phase machine for $3k or less I would think.

there is something wrong with the height adjustment of the thicknesser, but apparently its not a big deal (ie still usable), and i could probably fix that myself - i assume is something thread related.
Machine was being used by window and door maker up until last year, and made way for newer machines including CNC.

At this stage im wanting to make a range of things. Dressing timber for my wifes construction company, making furniture and other smaller things.

i was actually considering getting a planer thicknesser from machinery house.... which is no longer on special... boo
W850 | Plana 3.0 Planer & Thicknesser Combination | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au

This Casadei has a table saw too which i would find pretty useful.... ive only got a triton mk3 at the moment.

Just called energex.... and they say that its a $400 connection fee and $600 for an exchange meter upgrade..... so theres $1k before i even get the electrician out. eek.

Its a personal choice, but for me, if I had a 3 phase connection point out the front of my place - that's the direction I would take.

Originally Posted by SimonJT

Just called energex.... and they say that its a $400 connection fee and $600 for an exchange meter upgrade..... so theres $1k before i even get the electrician out. eek.

That is merely the fees from Energex. You would still have to engage a Level 2 electrician to install the meters and upgrade the service main. At a minimum you would also have to get an electrician to modify your switchboard to install a 3 phase Main Switch and at least one 3 phase RCD to power the shed. Easy if you have the room in your board but more expensive if you need a new board to fit them in. You would then need to run a 3 phase supply to the shed and have at least one 3 phase outlet installed.

I recently paid Energex $950 to do a disconnect and reconnect at my house. I needed the feed in point to change to correct a guttering issue. Then there was the electrician and the materials. Energex were on site for 15min in the morning, and 30 min in the arvo. 4 of them I might add.

Had I done this prior to Dec 31 last year it would have only cost me for the electrician and materials. Energex used to do upgrades and charge it back to the infrastructure account. Times change though!!

Going 240V may not be that cheap either.
What current rating have you got to the house a shed and what other high current appliances have you got running in the house.

1) You will a DEDICATED 32A 240V line and socket between your house meter box and the shed to run that machine.
2) If you only have 63A rated to the house and you have a couple of big air conditioners running in the house you may have to upgrade the line to the house.
3) Then you will need to find a 240V motor to suit - this runs into lots of headaches with mounting and shaft and pulley sizes.
4) VFD might save on 3, but not 1) or 2)

VFDs look cheap but unless you are prepared to do it yourself the cost of electrical fitting can be high and most fitters won't install the cheapest VFD but will tend to go with one they feel confident with.

If your wife has a construction company she should have a reliable leco that could call around and look at some options for you. The machine
you indicated above is only 1ph 15amp, option 1. or your 3 ph option. Get hime to give you some quotes so you can stop guessing. Good luck

Originally Posted by NCArcher

That is merely the fees from Energex. You would still have to engage a Level 2 electrician to install the meters and upgrade the service main. At a minimum you would also have to get an electrician to modify your switchboard to install a 3 phase Main Switch and at least one 3 phase RCD to power the shed. Easy if you have the room in your board but more expensive if you need a new board to fit them in. You would then need to run a 3 phase supply to the shed and have at least one 3 phase outlet installed.

Yep thats right. Assuming i have room in my board, i would need cable from the meter to the house (estimates about 10-20m to get to there through the conduit and 30m to get to my shed.... plus RCDs, powerpoints etc. labour.)

Originally Posted by Enfield Guy

Had I done this prior to Dec 31 last year it would have only cost me for the electrician and materials. Energex used to do upgrades and charge it back to the infrastructure account. Times change though!!

Yeh the sparky said the rules changed at the end of last year

Originally Posted by BobL

Going 240V may not be that cheap either.
What current rating have you got to the house a shed and what other high current appliances have you got running in the house.

1) You will a DEDICATED 32A 240V line and socket between your house meter box and the shed to run that machine.
2) If you only have 63A rated to the house and you have a couple of big air conditioners running in the house you may have to upgrade the line to the house.
3) Then you will need to find a 240V motor to suit - this runs into lots of headaches with mounting and shaft and pulley sizes.
4) VFD might save on 3, but not 1) or 2)

VFDs look cheap but unless you are prepared to do it yourself the cost of electrical fitting can be high and most fitters won't install the cheapest VFD but will tend to go with one they feel confident with.

I already have 240 down there
1) its a 6mm cable so can handle 32A all day.
2) not sure what runs to the house, but we dont have AC or other big appliances.

4) how hard is it to wire up a VFD? have you (or anyone else) done this?

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

If your wife has a construction company she should have a reliable leco that could call around and look at some options for you. The machine
you indicated above is only 1ph 15amp, option 1. or your 3 ph option. Get hime to give you some quotes so you can stop guessing. Good luck

Yep i have chatted to a couple of sparkys. neither have come to look at the place yet. both have indicated that its not a cheap job....

anyway, lets say its $3k to get the power all sorted. Is this machine worth it?

It is old..... but things that are old tend to last forever.

am i better off persisting with getting the old machine, or getting a newer one like these (or what else would you recommend):
W850 | Plana 3.0 Planer & Thicknesser Combination | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au
W613 | PT-300 Planer & Thicknesser Combination | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au

Obviously these don't have a table saw like the Casadei, but i can use the Triton Mk3 for now and get a table saw down the track.

Originally Posted by SimonJT

anyway, lets say its $3k to get the power all sorted. Is this machine worth it?

It is old..... but things that are old tend to last forever.

am i better off persisting with getting the old machine, or getting a newer one like these (or what else would you recommend):
W850 | Plana 3.0 Planer & Thicknesser Combination | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au
W613 | PT-300 Planer & Thicknesser Combination | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au

Obviously these don't have a table saw like the Casadei, but i can use the Triton Mk3 for now and get a table saw down the track.

I like and even have some old machinery but f you have space and $$ I would always look at dedicated machinery first.
We had 5 old combination machines at the Mens Shed and have got rid of all except two, and one of these has been stripped right down to the thicknesser part.
The parts of one machine component were always getting in the way of the other and unless the rotating shafts can be decoupled having multiple rotating cutters can be dangerous.
One of the old blokes nicked the top of a finger the buzzer while using the table saw on one machine.