An Economic Evaluation of Higher Voltages for Stripping Machines

Twenty years ago, the standard voltage for stripping machines was 4160 v and few people even thought of using a higher voltage. It was adequate for the machines of the day, which seldom exceeded 2500 hp, and higher voltages were considered to be too expensive and even dangerous. Then, in 1956, a 4500-hp machine was placed in operation and it was determined, with some reluctance, that it should operate on 7200 v. The next step, to 14,400 v, was taken in 1964 and the latest, but perhaps not final, step was made in 1967, when voltage was increased to 25,000 v. Today, 4160 v is considered almost obsolete and 7200 v is generally considered standard. However, a few mines are using 14,400 v and some eight machines soon will be operating on 25 KV, indicating that the technical and safety problems have been solved and that there must be some merit to the higher voltages. Thus, it is logical to question, "How do I determine the best voltage for my operation?"