Electron E-COAT+3 Master Multicolour with Box Feeder

The powder coating machine for shops that change colour constantly. Instead of drawing from a hopper, the E-COAT+3 Master Multicolour picks the powder up through a suction tube straight from the original container. No decanting, and no hopper that has to be cleaned after every colour. Free delivery within 7 to 10 days.

When the Electron E-COAT+3 Multicolour version pays off

The multicolour configuration comes into its own when you run many colours in small to medium quantities: contract coating with changing customer requirements, special colours, sample parts, short runs. The more often you switch, the wider the gap to the hopper solution.

The reverse is equally true. If you process the same colour in large volumes for days on end, the version with the 50-litre stainless steel hopper is the calmer choice. You will find both versions and the base set without a powder source in our Electron powder coating equipment category.

How feeding from the container works

A suction tube reaches down into the opened box or pail and carries the powder through the injector to the gun. Two components work together so that the material keeps flowing and does not bridge over the pick-up point:

• The vibration motor (220/110 V) sets the container into gentle motion and keeps the powder moving. It starts in parallel with the fluidisation as soon as you pull the trigger.
• The fluidisation air loosens the powder around the suction tube. You set the pressure on the control panel of the trolley, using the type M setting for units with a suction tube.

Both are enabled with button B1 on the front panel. If the vibration fails to start, that button is almost always the reason. It is the most common operating error on this version and is listed as such in the manufacturer's fault table.

The control unit needs to be set to box operation once during setup. Parameter C-1 is switched to the manual multicolour mode. Parameter C-3 then defines how many seconds the vibration and fluidisation continue to run after you release the trigger. Two seconds are set at the factory, and a higher value can help with powders that flow less readily.

What a colour change actually costs

The real time sink in a colour change is not the powder path but cleaning the powder source, and that is exactly what disappears here. A comparison of the two workflows:

Step	With 50 l hopper	With box feeder
Purge the powder path (injector, hose, gun)	under 25 seconds	under 25 seconds
Empty the powder source	remove residual powder	pull out the suction tube
Clean the powder source	blow out fluid bed and inner wall, wipe down, dry	blow off the suction tube
Set up the new colour	fill in powder	swap the container, insert the tube
Realistic time required	10 to 20 minutes	2 to 4 minutes

These figures are practical estimates for a clean changeover, not laboratory values. At five changes a week the saving adds up to roughly an hour, and to a good fifty working hours over a year.

There is a second effect that often gets overlooked. Residual powder from a hopper frequently ends up as waste after a change, because it has picked up fines and stray pigment. With box feeding the remainder stays in the original container, sealed and unmixed, ready to be used again on the next job in that colour. How much this matters depends on your batch sizes; on small orders it is the bigger item of the two, ahead of the time saved.

Where the hopper version stays ahead

So that you can make a decision rather than read a sales brochure: a fluid bed inside a closed hopper keeps powder in suspension more evenly than vibration plus fluidisation air in an open container. In continuous operation with a single colour over several hours, the hopper version therefore delivers marginally more consistent output.

You are also tied to the container format with box feeding. Standard boxes and pails work well, whereas heavily compacted or damp powder causes more trouble than it would in a fluidised hopper. If you need both, run the box feeder and add a hopper, because the control unit supports both operating modes and is simply switched over in the setup.

Triggering the colour change at the gun

Rapid purge mode can be started at the unit, but also directly on the E-GUN+3 C1: hold the "P" button on the back of the gun for three seconds and the injector, hose and gun path are blown clear with high-pressure air. In a workflow with several changes a day, that is the difference between one movement of the hand and a walk across the workshop.

The rest of the control matches the wider Master series: up to 120 kV and 120 µA, 50 storable recipes, automatic fine-control mode below 10 µA and recipe switching by double trigger pull. In multicolour work it is particularly worth creating a dedicated recipe for every recurring colour, since metallic and effect powders need different parameters from standard shades. We explain the technology behind this in our category overview of Electron equipment.

Mobile trolley

The container stands on the base plate of the trolley and travels with it, with the control unit and air distribution mounted above. The head swivels up to 55 degrees to the left and right and locks with the knob at the rear. Together with the seven-metre powder hose, this lets you work on parts of different sizes without repositioning the container each time.

Scope of delivery

Manufacturer's article code: A06ECM01M+3

• E-COAT+3 Master controller unit
• E-GUN+3 C1 handgun with 7 m cable and LED lighting
• E-FEED+3 injector
• 7 m antistatic powder hose
• Regulator and air distribution unit
• Multicolour unit with 220/110 V vibration motor
• Mobile trolley with rotating control head

Not included: powder coating, powder hopper, compressed air treatment, spray booth, extraction and earthing equipment.

Technical data

Rated input voltage	100 to 240 VAC, 50 to 60 Hz
Input power	60 VA
Vibration motor	220/110 V
High voltage at the gun	up to 120 kV
Output current at the gun	up to 120 µA
Auxiliary output (AUX)	24 VDC / max. 10 W, 100 to 240 VAC / max. 100 W
AUX run-on time (parameter C-3)	0 to 100 s, factory setting 2 s
Protection class, control unit	IP54
Protection class, gun	IP64
Explosion protection	control unit II 3(2) D (Zone 22), gun II 2 D (Zone 21)
Max. surface temperature	85 °C
Compressed air connection	8 mm diameter
Inlet pressure and capacity	5.5 to 7.0 bar at 150 to 200 l/min
Air quality	max. 1.4 g/m³ water vapour, max. 0.12 mg/m³ oil
Electrode rinsing air	0 to 16 l/min (factory setting 2 l/min)
Atomising air	10 to 75 l/min
Conveying air	10 to 100 l/min
Total air	20 to 175 l/min
Swivel range of control head	55° left and right
Powder hose	antistatic, 7 m, 11 mm diameter
Powder air nozzle	1.5 mm diameter
Suitable powders	epoxy and polyester
Gun weight	495 g
Shipping dimensions	60 × 40 × 130 cm
Shipping weight	50 kg
Warranty	2 years against manufacturing and component defects

Powder output with the E-FEED+3 injector

Conveying air ratio	50 l/min total air	75 l/min	100 l/min
20 %	10 g/min	15 g/min	40 g/min
40 %	30 g/min	85 g/min	155 g/min
60 %	72 g/min	253 g/min	295 g/min
80 %	156 g/min	312 g/min	353 g/min
100 %	225 g/min	355 g/min	425 g/min

Manufacturer's reference values, measured with an 11 mm hose. Actual output depends on powder type, particle size and hose routing.

Frequently asked questions

Which containers can I use?

Standard powder boxes and pails as supplied by the trade. The suction tube reaches in from above and the container sits on the base plate of the trolley. Very small containers below roughly five kilograms are impractical, because the level drops too quickly and the tube has to be repositioned repeatedly. For sample parts and very small quantities, the E-LAB+3 bench-top unit with cup feed is the better fit.

How clean is a colour change in reality?

Clean enough for production work, provided you observe two points. First, the powder path has to be blown completely clear, right through to the nozzle. Second, the suction tube should be blown off after every change, because powder clings to it. When switching from black to a light yellow or white, we also recommend removing the nozzle and cleaning the electrode and nozzle separately. Experience shows that combination is the most critical one.

Does the vibration motor run continuously?

No, it is coupled to the trigger and starts together with the fluidisation. After you release the trigger it continues for the period stored in parameter C-3, two seconds as delivered. This protects both the motor and the container and prevents the powder from separating unnecessarily during breaks.

Can I switch the unit to a powder hopper later?

Yes. The control unit handles both operating modes and is switched over with parameter C-1. You will additionally need a hopper with an injector socket and suction tube, which we stock in 8, 50 and 100 litres. Many workshops end up running both: the box feeder for special colours and a hopper for their two or three standard shades.

Do I need a booth and extraction?

Yes, without exception. Powder and air mixtures are flammable, the control unit is approved for Zone 22 only, and the manufacturer states it may be switched on solely when the booth is working properly. With box feeding there is the added point that the container stands open, which makes care over extraction and cleanliness in the surrounding area more important rather than less. We have compiled the full requirements for earthing, compressed air and ventilation in our category overview.

Matching accessories and materials

• Powder coating in epoxy or polyester quality, over 200 colours from stock, ready to use in the original container
• Curing ovens for the final bake
• Heat-resistant tape for threads, fits and sealing faces

If you want to understand the process from the ground up, our guide to powder coating yourself covers every stage from pre-treatment to curing.

Master or Pro?

Two Master functions matter particularly in multicolour work: the 50 recipe slots, which let you assign individual parameters to every colour, and the automatic air control. The E-COAT+3 Pro also handles multicolour mode, but works with three factory recipes, manual pressure regulators and a maximum of 100 kV. With frequent colour changes that means more manual work at the unit. We are adding the Pro series shortly, so get in touch if you would like to be notified.

Delivery and service

Delivery within Germany takes 7 to 10 days and is free of shipping charges for you, Austria takes 7 to 14 days. We will confirm other destinations with you in advance. At 50 kg and 130 cm in height the unit ships by freight forwarder to the kerbside, so please have a second person or a lifting aid ready for unloading.

Spare and wear parts are available from us throughout the product service life. Alongside nozzles, deflectors and carbon rings, this includes the PTFE bushing and injector nozzle, which wear somewhat faster in multicolour operation because of the more frequent purge cycles. Electron states an economic service life of around ten years for the control unit.