I'm writting about this as it might help those considering a commercial oven for home use. As most already know, I have shut down my rifle shop, but kept my equipment for hobby work.
One of those tools is my 3 phase oven, which I thought needed to be converted to single phase to use at home. This is per the people who built the oven mind you.
Being in the electrical feild for over 25 years told me they were full of crap. They also went on to say that it could not be run from a three phase converter. Also BS. Before converting the oven, I thought I'd give my three phase converter a chance to run the oven. Hooked it up, turned it on, ran for 5 minutes, and the overload breaker on the motor contactor opened, which also kills the power to the elements. The phase converter just kept on running. I thought the breaker on the converter would trip out first.
I ran the motor by it self, no problem, ran as long as I wanted. So, I hit the on button for the heat, and took an amp reading on each of my three phase converter out put lines and found that one leg was pulling over 40 amps, 30 on another, and 25 on the third one. Looked at the rating plate on my converter, and found it had a max output of 22 amps.
I called the guys at American Rotary Converters where I got my coverter, and asked if I could run my oven using a converter. The answer was as I expected, a big YES. Just had to use the correct size. I didn't feel like spending another $1700.00 right away so I thought I would reduce the load. I removed the element cover and found that I was feeding four seperate elements. I disconected 2 and went for trial run. Now the oven ran great for the 2 1/2 hours at 225 degrees F required to cure Cerakote. The oven pulls 20 amps, 10 amps, 10 amps on the three seperate phases. The oven originaly was built to have a max temp. of 600 degrees F whichI don't need.
The converter is running at full load, but if it burns up, then I can justify a new 15 horse unit. I am and always have been happy with the oven, and it does a lot more than I need, just not happy with the " you bought it, it's your problem now" customer service I got from JC Metal Fabricators. They are a hugh company that builds quality products, so I still don't get it.
Point is, you can run a three phase oven with the correct size three phase converter. Below are some pics of mine. Hope this will help some of you.
One of those tools is my 3 phase oven, which I thought needed to be converted to single phase to use at home. This is per the people who built the oven mind you.
Being in the electrical feild for over 25 years told me they were full of crap. They also went on to say that it could not be run from a three phase converter. Also BS. Before converting the oven, I thought I'd give my three phase converter a chance to run the oven. Hooked it up, turned it on, ran for 5 minutes, and the overload breaker on the motor contactor opened, which also kills the power to the elements. The phase converter just kept on running. I thought the breaker on the converter would trip out first.
I ran the motor by it self, no problem, ran as long as I wanted. So, I hit the on button for the heat, and took an amp reading on each of my three phase converter out put lines and found that one leg was pulling over 40 amps, 30 on another, and 25 on the third one. Looked at the rating plate on my converter, and found it had a max output of 22 amps.
I called the guys at American Rotary Converters where I got my coverter, and asked if I could run my oven using a converter. The answer was as I expected, a big YES. Just had to use the correct size. I didn't feel like spending another $1700.00 right away so I thought I would reduce the load. I removed the element cover and found that I was feeding four seperate elements. I disconected 2 and went for trial run. Now the oven ran great for the 2 1/2 hours at 225 degrees F required to cure Cerakote. The oven pulls 20 amps, 10 amps, 10 amps on the three seperate phases. The oven originaly was built to have a max temp. of 600 degrees F whichI don't need.
The converter is running at full load, but if it burns up, then I can justify a new 15 horse unit. I am and always have been happy with the oven, and it does a lot more than I need, just not happy with the " you bought it, it's your problem now" customer service I got from JC Metal Fabricators. They are a hugh company that builds quality products, so I still don't get it.
Point is, you can run a three phase oven with the correct size three phase converter. Below are some pics of mine. Hope this will help some of you.
