Electrical Connection Guide for Laboratory Equipment: Installation Requirements Explained
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Technical Information
Electrical Connection Guide
Safe equipment setup & power connection for laboratory instruments.
In this guide
01 Scope & assumptions
This guide covers the three connection types found across Lasec® laboratory equipment.
- Single-phase connections rated at ≤ 15 Amps
- Single-phase connections rated at > 15 Amps
- Three-phase connections
Assumption
This guide assumes that an onsite clean, protected and stable power supply is available. If your local power supply is "compromised", ask Lasec for help on the provision of automated voltage regulators (AVR) and/or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
02 Power supply requirements
- Always refer to the operational manual supplied with the instrument.
- All connections must be made by a certified electrician.
- Colour coding may vary between country and region — always verify before wiring.
Warning
Failure to meet these important requirements could result in damage to the equipment and void any warranty.
03 Single-phase equipment — ≤ 15 Amps
Smaller laboratory instruments. These are typically supplied with a standard plug or adapter suitable for normal domestic-type wall outlets, with no special electrical installation required.
Power source 230 V single phase
Connection Plug-in standard wall outlet
Electrician Not required plug & play
Type M Type C Type G
04 Single-phase equipment — > 15 Amps
For larger instruments that draw more than 15 Amps:
- These instruments are supplied without a plug.
- They must be hard-wired directly to a suitable power supply.
- Installation must be performed by a certified electrician.
Refer to the manual for the correct wire colours and to confirm the wire is sized appropriately. Common single-phase colour conventions:
Single-phase wire colours| Conductor | Colour |
|---|---|
| Earth | Green & Yellow |
| Neutral | Blue / Black |
| Live | Brown / Red / White |
We recommend a dedicated isolation switch positioned close to the instrument, along with a suitably rated circuit breaker in the distribution board.
Rule of thumb
Unless otherwise specified, a 30 Amp rated isolator and supply cable is suitable.
05 Three-phase equipment — 400 V
Certain high-power laboratory instruments require a 400 V three-phase power supply. They are supplied without a plug or socket, require a dedicated breaker and isolation switch, and must be hard-wired by a certified electrician.
Three-phase — typical preference| Conductor | Colour |
|---|---|
| L1 Phase 1 | Red |
| L2 Phase 2 | White |
| L3 Phase 3 | Blue |
| Neutral | Black |
| Earth | Green |
Colour codes vary by region and between instruments. Use this as a reference only — always verify with a certified electrician before connecting.
Three-phase wire colours — regional| Conductor | South African | European | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 — Phase 1 | Red | Brown | Yellow |
| L2 — Phase 2 | White | Black | Green |
| L3 — Phase 3 | Blue | Grey | Red |
| Neutral — N | Black | Blue | Blue |
| Earth — PE | Green | Green | Green |
06 Pre-install checklist
For single-phase >15 A and three-phase 400 V installations, confirm all of the following before connecting.
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