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The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2020-02-13 14:54:29 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Spanish to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng
Spanish term or phrase:diferencial y magnetotermico
Hi all,
I'm a bit stumped with this sentence. It's about the electrical installation of a stand at a trade fair:
Cuadro eléctrico monofásico 5.500w/220v, conteniendo una base de enchufe para 500w diferencial y magnetotermico para iluminación de 50 w/m2.
I'm finding the entire sentence incredibly confusing and am unsure whether there should be a comma after "500w".
Explanation: RCD stands for "Residual Current DEvice· and RCCB for "Residual Current Circuit Breaker", while a "magnetotérmico" is shorthand (common within the specialists) for "interruptor automático magnetotérmico".
Remember this is for a stand at a trade fair. This is a box that the exhibitors then contract an electrician to connect up for their display. I assume that companies attending can choose different packages for the power supply, depending on their requirements. So in this case, they have a 500W socket, which can run a couple of computers, but not, say a refrigerated display case. If they wanted something that uses more power, they'd opt for the next package up.
There's a breaker for a separate lighting circuit, with a capacity depending on the area the exhibitor uses. So say for 20 m2, they get a circuit that can provide up to 50 w/m2 x 20 m2 = 1000W for lighting, which they can then decide how to use for overhead gantry lighting, spotlights, etc. There's probably a choice of a small, medium, or large stand, so they only fit the corresponding breakers, rather than having to cover every multiple of 50.
So in this case, Nick, I would say there is a socket providing up to 500W, and a lighting circuit providing 50W/m2 of exhibition stand area.
The way I see it is that the circuit on the "cuadro eléctrico" dissipates 5.500W at the entrance (measured ar the point where it branches out from inlet up to its return to the same inlet; in other words, measured between phase and neutral at entrance and when in use. 5.500 watt is the rating /circuit must be able to stand, i. e. 5.500 watt indefinitely (this being full load). Obviously, breakers (residual or not) are designed to stand an Icu (Ultimate current, no damage to circuit but maybe changing breaker) and an Ics (same, but breaker remaining in service) of several KILOamperes. Rated current 5.500W/220V = 25A (for RCD, which covers the entire set) or up to 25A no trip total for the MCBS, depending on the load for each of these. SEE IEC 898 for details The panel is for illuminating an area with 50W/m2, which I do not understand exactly -do they mean a 50W bulb every square meter?
I think the issue here with the snippet of source text posted by Nicholas is the “500W” part. In your interpretation of the actual text to be translated, what does that refer to? Is the socket rated for 500W, or is it the RCD? For a 5.5kW system, the differential would not be 500W. So as far as I can tell, either the 500W refers to the socket (base enchufe), or it implies that there is a typo and it should read “...base de enchufe para 5,500 W diferencial...”
not really... They mean a panel with the ratings..
14:26 Feb 10, 2020
They mean a panel rated (thus to work with no problems indefinitely, at 220V and absorbing (or carrying) 5.500 watt, that is, getting with no problems a current of 5.500W/220V = (roughly) 25A.
Thanks John for your detailed explanation. Electronics is certainly not my specialist field. I am going for "A 5,500W/220V single-phase switch box with RCD and MCB, with a socket rated up to 500W for lighting 50W/m2" at the moment. Do you think that makes sense?
I think you're right about there being a comma there. As already mentioned, the diferencial is a residual current device. This is the safety device on a consumer unit that prevents users electrocuting themselves by cutting the power if the current supply and return aren't balanced (if they aren't balanced, current is leaking another way, i.e. possibly through the user).
Magnetotermico is a circuit breaker in English. Normally you have a few of these in the panel to isolate various circuits (e.g. lighting, you might have the kitchen appliances on one).
The base enchufe is a socket for plugging electrical devices in (probably a Schuko with 2 live pins and an earth). Remember, 500W isn't really that much. A little electric heater draws around 2000 W. The 500W is intended for low-current applications (at 220V, less than 2.5A). Since you say its a trade show, this is probably for the exhibitors to plug in a TV or display, or some device they want to demonstrate, etc.
I think you're right that there should be a comma, as the 500W should refer to the socket, not the RCD. If the panel is rated up to 5.5 kW, so the RCD should be rated for that too.
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RCD [RCCB] and mcb
Explanation: RCD stands for "Residual Current DEvice· and RCCB for "Residual Current Circuit Breaker", while a "magnetotérmico" is shorthand (common within the specialists) for "interruptor automático magnetotérmico".
psicutrinius Spain Local time: 23:15 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Spanish PRO pts in category: 206