The transformer is in the control box. I sent you the drawings. The thermocouples should read as one and two. At least they do on mine.
Just add a neutral bus inside and change the cord to a 4 wire plug. Problem solved
There is no transformer in this machine. Happy to take the cover off and show you if you donât believe me.
As for changing over to a 4 line plug that has a dedicated neutral, yeah I know I can do that but the whole point here is that what Langmuir is sending out and telling people to do is a code violation with safety ramifications. This isnât just about fixing my machine, I can do that easily enough. This is about making sure the other people who bought or will buy this machine wonât get hurt because of something Langmuir needs to address.
What Craig mentioned earlier is exactly the problem. You lose that safety ground for some reason and now the chassis of the machine presents a risk because itâs the return leg and should you happen to be a viable return path, itâll bite you. Thatâs why this isnât allowed by code.
240v to 5v power supply. Transformer..
Iâm done, good luck. The machine is still bonded.
240 to 5v, switched mode power supply, not a transformer. Iâm not trying to be an ass or pontificate, Iâm just raising a valid safety issue that needs fixed.
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From google..
ââNFPA 79 states a ground wire should not be used as a neutral wire, as they serve different functions: the neutral (grounded) conductor carries operating current, while the safety ground conductor provides a low-impedance path for fault current to flow, preventing dangerous voltages from accumulating on the machineâs frame. Using the ground wire for current-carrying loads is a code violation because it is not designed for that purpose and can impede the safety systemâs ability to clear faults.
Purpose of Each Conductor
Neutral (Grounded Conductor):
This conductor is part of the normal operating circuit and returns current from the load back to the source. It is often white or gray by color.
Safety Ground (Equipment Grounding Conductor):
This conductor is a safety feature that is intentionally not a normal current-carrying path. Its sole purpose is to provide a reliable, low-impedance path for fault current to flow to the supply systemâs overcurrent protection device, allowing it to trip and de-energize the circuit in case of a ground fault.
Why You Canât Use Ground as a Neutral
Different Design Functions:
The neutral conductor is designed to handle the normal current draw of the equipment. The ground conductor, however, is designed to handle the potentially very large currents that occur during a fault condition.
Safety Risk:
If the ground wire is used for neutral current, the low-impedance path to the source for fault current will be compromised. This could lead to the equipmentâs metallic frame becoming energized with dangerous voltages, posing a shock hazard.
Code Violation:
Using the ground wire as a neutral is a direct violation of NFPA 79 and other electrical codes, as it violates the fundamental principle of separate, distinct functions for these conductorsââ
99.999 % of the time this will pose no risk. Itâs that 0.0001% chance someone uses a non grounded extension cord. Or their old barn, Garage or workshop etc has non grounded outlets or circuits. In this rare instance the machine is no longer grounded, which is not usually an issue unless there is a fault. But in this instance, the metal fame is now the return path for the blower motor, Causing an electric shock risk. Itâs not about the machine being grounded, itâs what happens when the machine is no longer grounded through reasons outside of langmuirs control.
Same reasoning why neutral to ground bonding is not allowed in sub electrical panels, only main panels. How many times have we all touched something metal and got a tingle. 90% of time you provided a lower resistance for the current to flow from the ground circuit, current which should not normally be there. The other 10% of time there was a fault and the machine was not properly grounded.
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Thanks for the feedback dpershun. That screw was definitely an assembly mistake and we are looking into it. I am making sure the engineers have a good overview of the rest of these comments - they are talking through it right now.
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For transparency here, I had a good conversation with Langmuir product engineering about this on Monday evening (9/22). I was told during that conversation that these electrical issues are going to be addressed for all owners under the product warranty. I hope to see Langmuir follow up on the conversation with action by letting folks know about the problem and provide details regarding how they are going to solve it. Some of the solutions we discussed will take time to implement, so hopefully weâll see a product bulletin sent out / posted that outlines the next steps, any temporary workarounds, and timelines for product changes and permanent solutions to be delivered.
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Thanks for taking the time to do this!
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Update here for the group: We have a procedure to change the wiring and update the fan and lights. We are sending out information via email to all existing VULCAN 16 owners. We are also ensuring future units that we ship out will have those upgrades. Thanks again to dpershun for the feedback and assistance on this matter. If you currently have a Vulcan, look for an email within the next day or two with instructions for the updates. Weâre working on getting new fans and bulbs to everyone as soon as possible.
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