Converting from 50 Hz to 60 Hz

[eric@marshallbrewing.com]

Has anybody dealt with converting the electrical on a system from 50 Hz to 60 Hz? Is it worth it? What problems have you experienced? What are the costs associated with doing this?

[gitchegumee]

It depends, of course.....

It may be quite cheap if it is a simple, small brewhouse; or it may be extremely expensive if it is a 100 bbl complete brewery with malt mill, mash rakes, glycol system, and cold rooms. Frequency sensitive components include: motors, controllers, solenoids, contactor coils, VFDs and more. Switches, fuses, and panel lights are not-in general. That being said, many newer controllers may be powered from a range of voltage and either 50 or 60 Hz. Likewise, many newer (especially European) motors are also rated for 50/60 Hz. On the other hand, many European motor frame sizes are not compatible with US NEMA frame sizes. You need someone to crawl through your system, bit by bit, and document what will need replacing and how much the replacement is likely to cost. Only then can you determine whether it is worth it for you to proceed. Nothing done right is easy. Good luck!