Resources
Power Guide
A power guide for South African workshops setting out supply, breakers, earthing, and what to confirm before machine installation day.
How a power guide prevents install-day hold-ups
The Power Guide sets out the electrical checks to confirm before installation day. It covers supply, breakers, earthing, and the points a workshop should verify before a CNC machine is connected.
Begin with the incoming supply at the workshop, the machine's phase requirement, and the isolator position near the install area. Single phase and three phase setups need different checks, and a router spindle, mill, or plasma power source can each place a different demand on breakers and cabling. In Gauteng, Durban, Cape Town, and smaller industrial zones, older distribution boards, long cable runs, and backup power change what must be confirmed before connection day.
Photos matter more than guesswork when power is being prepared for a router, mill, or plasma table. Include clear images of the main isolator, DB board labels, breaker ratings, cable entry, and the exact connection point where the machine will land. That record helps avoid last-minute issues such as the wrong breaker curve, no spare way in the board, or an earth point that does not meet requirement.
Electrical points to verify first
Complete a short set of checks before delivery and positioning. Check supply type, protection, earthing, cable route, and whether the machine area has enough access for safe connection. The aim is to have the electrician, owner, and installation team looking at the same facts.
Use the Power Guide together with machine information from Cells where extraction or ancillary equipment affects the total electrical load, and keep a copy with your Notes for site records.
- Supply type and phase confirmed
- Breaker sizes photographed at the DB
- Compare Machines, Cells, and Notes before final power checks
- Connection point shown with clear photos
Workshop power conditions in South Africa
Many premises have been altered over time, with added sub-boards, reused cable runs, and labels that no longer match what is installed. The Power Guide asks the workshop to verify the live arrangement, not only what appears on an old drawing. This is especially important where a CNC machine is being added to a unit that also runs compressors, extraction, welders, or dust collection on the same supply.
Load-shedding and generator changeover can affect machine protection, startup sequence, and the condition of sensitive control electronics. Coastal workshops should also check cabinet sealing and corrosion around terminals, while inland sites often need attention on dust ingress and board cleanliness. For plasma equipment, confirm that the power setup for the table, extraction, and compressor has been considered together rather than as separate add-ons.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
What to send with the guide
Share the power guide with the required supply, breakers, cabling, and phase details, plus photos of the actual connection point on site. Keep the subject line exact so the right electrician sees it.
Attach the completed checklist with photographs of the DB, main isolator, cable route, and the proposed machine position. Add any known details on supply voltage, breaker ratings, earthing, and whether single-phase or three-phase is present at the point. If there is uncertainty on any item, mark it clearly so the electrician can inspect that section first.