cat D4630 electric set questions

Hi folks.
I have a nice little D4400 running my sawmill.
I have been thinking of using my genset instead to power it.
I have found more than a few electric motors that are 550 volts.
1 in particular is 50 horsepower drawing 77 amps.
Can my genset provide this voltage and if so will it be able to run the motor under most situations.
I don't plan to do this myself and would hire someone if it can be done.
Regards Chris

Probably not. You could use a transformer to step up from your highest voltage to 550-600.

Motors Frequency on the nameplate?
Are they 50 or 60 or 50/60 rated.
I remember 40 years ago, I was in a Plant with 440 Volts coming in, they had all 550/600 Volt motors in there.
There must have been a "Step-Up" transformer somewhere?
Now a days, it seems like a very uncommon voltage.

Just to counter ccjersey, you may possibly turn up the Voltage Regulator enough to get there.
Usual Disclaimer; provided the wiring was originally based on 600 Volt design and Ratings. Please have this checked by a Competant Authority.

Reason I say it might be "Do-Able" is because we do Voltage changes on Generators all the time. Most recent is a quantity of 75 Generators from Italy that came in at 600 Volts. The boys got really good at figuring out where 480 was on the voltage regulator potentiometer as these would shutdown on "Over Voltage" on startup!
One of next weeks projects will be a "Tap Changer" to provide 120/208 Wye or 277/480 Delta at full capacity just by setting the Switch prior to start up.

The thing I missed on first reading is the kVA of that motor. 550 Volts x 77 Amps x 1.732 = 73,530 VA

73 kVA motors do not run on 37.5 kVA generator ends and do much work😆

I do wonder if the name plate data on the motor is correct, but I don't have any experience with such large motors and 600 volts to know off the top of my head if that could be correct.

I just wasn't thinking I guess.
There is no real way for a 50 some horse diesel set to run a 50 horse motor.
Looking at a 35 horse moror and its supposed to be 220 3 phase but will need a soft start switch, whatever that is.
Will probably not use the genset in its present configuration.
Looks like its easier to just pull the generator and install a clutch and use pulleys and belts.
Less chance of me letting the magic smoke out of something expensive.
Regards Chris

I agree with the plan to drive straight off the engine. However, some generators have enough electrical "oomph " to start a motor as big as that 35 hp without the soft start if you don't have other electrical stuff running at the same time that cares if the voltage sags as much as 20-25% during the big motor start..

The first thing that usually causes trouble is the magnet in the motor starter that turns the big motor on and off. If voltage drops too low during start, the contactor drops out, then voltage recovers and pulls contactor back in, which drops voltage again causing starter to drop out again, sounds like a machine gun, and can burn up a set of contacts in short order because of the arcing. If that doesn't happen, the generator sort of acts like a soft start in a way, just because of the starting surge amps pulling down the voltage (and the frequency / rpm as well) .

The switch gear to run the motors could easily cost more than the motor unless you can get it surplus along with the motor. Soft start unit even more expensive than a plain motor starter.

A PTO, a set of sheaves and belts could be pretty reasonable compared to the electrical stuff.