looking for links on 3 phase power options

[newbury]

I just bought a few 3 phase tools to haul down to Mississippi. I have a 400 amp circuit breaker box with 3 or 4 220V lines, so I've got power.

But to get 3 phase will cost well north of $30K (I asked).

My most power hungry is the Powermatic 160 planar w/ a 5hp 3phase motor.

But I also bought a jointer, bandsaw, table saw, RAS, and sander so I figure I need to learn about 3 phase and the best way I can implement it.



The collection



Sander



RAS



Planar



Table saw



Jointer



Bandsaw

So I'm looking for some GOOD links on converters and DIY converters. I figure I'll want at least a 7.5HP system.

 

[aczlan]

Another option might be to get a military gen-set (MEP-002 for 5KW or MEP-003 for 10KW). Those put out 3 phase and would probbaly run under $5k and can be had for under $2k if you look hard enough.

Aaron Z

 

[newbury]

A 7.5HP RPC from American Rotary costs less than $800.

 

[Baby Grand]

I saw somewhere that you can run a "mule" 3 phase motor on single phase and tap that motors' windings to generate your own 3 phase power.
Not the most efficient conversion, but fairly simple and cheap if you can find a salvage 3 phase motor and the associated brick-a-brack.

diy - How to Build a Rotary Phase Converter to Convert Single Phase to Three Phase

 

[Loadstar]

Here is a decent explanation
http://www.nojolt.com/how-to-build-a-rotary-phase-converter.shtml
You can also look for a frequency drive. I forget the hp ratio but you have to size considerably bigger for the motor you are trying to run. You can build a rotary for next to nothing if you have good sources. I remember going to my neighbors machine shop and watching him rope start a big motor lol. I think if I built one I would find a pony motor to start one.

 

[stewg]

Variable frequency drives (VFD) are used a lot for phase conversion due to size and cost.

 

[BHD]

If a static converter is used, you have about 2/3 of the motor ratings, if a rotary converter is used, then you have close to 100%,

I starting under load a rotary converter is needed, if no load a static can be used,

a commercial rotary converter is not much more than a shaft less motor with a static converter, to start it,

the static converter acts a start winding on the unused third phase of the motor, it is a set of capacitors and a short timer that charges the motor third winding to start it, (much as a capacitor start single phase motor does),

when the idler motor is running it acts like a rotary transformer, taking the single phase in two windings and then the rotation creates the third phase coming out the motor,

one can make a poor mans starter by taking a larger three phase motor (10 HP in your case wanting 7.5 HP, belt driving a small single phase motor to it for a starter, (one will have to check rotations and all), but apply power to the idler motor and the starter motor and once rotating disengage the starter motor from idler unit, (do not recommend, but once did see a picture old pull rope starter on the idler motor unit to get it rotating),

I would recommend a rotary converter for your shop.

there are plans on the net and if one wants to even what capacitors' are needed to make a static converter or starter,

 

[tommu56]

we use a lot of 1 phase to 3 phase drives in pour plant
Lenze AC tech one's are the simplest and most bullet proof in my opinion.
Lenze AC Tech | Products | EPM Programmer | Overview

but 5 hp is pushing it on single to 3 phase

 

[dieselcrawler]

As an electrician who has installed VFDs for oil well sites where only single phase power was availble I would have to say they are the way to go... can not only give you a clean 3ph power source but also give you variable speed options. But it does draw the current. We often installed 70-100 amp 240v 1phase circuits to the VFDs to 3ph motors that pulled 30-40 amps also at 240v.

 

[stewg]

Some VFD makers have drives for converting 1 to 3 phase. Danfoss offers these up to 30hp in 240v.
If drive maker doesn't offer a specific 1 to 3 phase drive then a rule of thumb is double you fla requirments.