How Does Voltage Affect My Endless Splice?

When your belt is down and you need to get your operation back up and running to avoid food spoilage, the last thing you are thinking about is whether you have enough power to get the job done quickly. You should be able to grab your portable press, load it up, and get your splice done. But the fact is that even if you have used the same recipe time after time, there are outside factors at work that could affect your splice.

One of those is what we call “the voltage variance.” To explain this, I need to dig into my engineering brain and start with the basics.

What does voltage have to do with my press?

Voltage is a force that causes electricity to move through a wire, and is measured in “volts.” With electrical potential between two points, there is the possibility to have increased power at one end, over the other. So it only makes sense that the more voltage you have, the more power available to run your splice press. But the amount of available voltage can sometimes vary, and that makes a difference during the belt splicing process. 

If you’ve noticed that the total time it takes to splice a belt from start to finish varies, even when the same recipe is utilized, then you may have been a victim of the voltage variance. And that voltage is dependent on several factors, including type of building, time of day, and even time of year.

A case study in voltage

To best illustrate this challenge, let’s consider a scenario of varying voltage. A large bakery has a production line with a torn belt. Thousands of dollars are being lost to downtime, with unpackaged product that will have to be disposed of because of food safety concerns.

The maintenance crew calls the belt fabrication shop to order a replacement belt and the belt shop technician immediately begins prepping the belting to be spliced using 480V power at the shop. The splice is completed in approximately 13 minutes. Taking the spliced belt with him, the technician then travels to the bakery to replace the torn belt. Just to be cautious, he brings a portable splice press in case an issue arises.

Upon arrival at the bakery, the splice crew discovers that they were provided with the incorrect belt dimensions. Luckily, they brought the portable press. They prep the belt and ensure the plant manager that the line will be up and running in about 13 minutes.

Thirteen minutes pass and the splice isn’t quite complete yet. Same recipe. Same belt. Why was the splice time longer? The splice crew is perplexed. What happened?

Answer: The power source at the bakery is listed for 230V, so the splice time increased. While the splice was completed and the bakery personnel are happy to be up and running again, the splice crew is perplexed that the variance of voltage increased the splice time.

Why voltages vary

In this instance, the likely culprit is the difference between the 480V and 230V power source, but there are actually a number of factors that should be considered. Here are a few things to think about when voltage variances could be a factor in the length of time to complete a splice:

• What voltage is your power source? Like the example above, the splice crew should have accounted for the difference in supplied power at the operation. 480V supplies more power than 230V. In addition, don’t forget to not overlook the fact that three phase electricity supplies more power than single phase. Therefore, a press operating on a three phase 230V will splice quicker than a press with single phase 230V.

• Is an extension cord in use? Extension cords and long fixed wire runs to outlets can produce voltage variances. If something resists the flow of electricity, the voltage will drop. As the distance increases, voltage drop increases as well. Using the shortest extension cord possible can help decrease these voltage drops and reduce cycle time.

• What time of day is it? The demands for power during the middle of the day can cause voltage drops. It’s a simple case of supply versus demand. More people use power during the middle of the day than at other times of the day. For example, more power would be available at midnight, compared to peak times.

• What time of the year is it? More power is used during the summer months as the population tries to cool their homes and businesses. So lesser voltage is not as much of an issue in the winter months.

How it affects your splice press

It’s important to note that voltage variances really only affect the time it takes for the press to warm up. Dwell time and cooling time are not affected by a lack of supplied power. But keep in mind that simply affecting the warm up can increase your time spent splicing a belt.

While we cannot account for all variances in voltage, we certainly tried to take our customers’ needs into account when we designed the Novitool^® Aero^® Splice Press. The Aero Press can accommodate multiple voltages, automatically adjusting to allow for a wider range of voltages on the press based on the power cord selected.

The chart below shows the voltage capacity of each Aero Press model. 

It’s important to evaluate your voltage needs throughout the facility so you are ready for whatever challenge presents itself. Better yet, let Flexco help you. Click this link and we’ll come onsite and give you a free demonstration of the Aero Press.

Authored by: Michelle Graves, Product Manager

Graves manages the overall global business, market plans, technical support, and activities associated with the light-duty belting market for the Novitool® product line, including new product development, market analysis, and global strategy. Graves holds a bachelor’s degree from Albion College as well as a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University.