Wanting to put a lathe at my house and need a add-a-phase rotory converter to supply a lathe I have access to. 7.5 HP Any help appriated.
Gunsmithing Need a single phase to three phase converter
- Thread starter Fritzcat
- Start date
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
Do a search on Google. I found a great one for my shop, under $400.00.
Do a search on Google. I found a great one for my shop, under $400.00.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
your lathe motor is 7.5 HP?
Dave
your lathe motor is 7.5 HP?
Dave
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
I would look at a VFD type converter. Grainger has them
I would look at a VFD type converter. Grainger has them
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
Yes my lathe motor is 7.5. From what little I have searched, it seems to recomend a rotory converter for a motor. What brand is yous DocEd
Yes my lathe motor is 7.5. From what little I have searched, it seems to recomend a rotory converter for a motor. What brand is yous DocEd
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
VFD is the way to go if you can afford one. The problem with motors that are over 5HP, you need to double the HP rating on the VFD to handle single phase in and three phase out. This may be prohibitively expensive, and there is a possibility that you won't even be able to find one that can do single phase input at that high of a HP rating. For the rotary you will want your idler motor to be at least the same HP or greater that your lathe is. I looked at them assembled on eBay for a decent price, but if you have the where-withall to build one yourself you can come out ahead. There are some very simple designs that work, as well as some much more complex.
DD
VFD is the way to go if you can afford one. The problem with motors that are over 5HP, you need to double the HP rating on the VFD to handle single phase in and three phase out. This may be prohibitively expensive, and there is a possibility that you won't even be able to find one that can do single phase input at that high of a HP rating. For the rotary you will want your idler motor to be at least the same HP or greater that your lathe is. I looked at them assembled on eBay for a decent price, but if you have the where-withall to build one yourself you can come out ahead. There are some very simple designs that work, as well as some much more complex.
DD
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fritzcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wanting to put a lathe at my house and need a add-a-phase rotory converter to supply a lathe I have access to. 7.5 HP Any help appriated. </div></div>
I have a 10hp Phoenix that I'm no longer using. Had to step up to a 40 hp to handle all of the larger machines. It's about 2 years old and is just siting....
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fritzcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wanting to put a lathe at my house and need a add-a-phase rotory converter to supply a lathe I have access to. 7.5 HP Any help appriated. </div></div>
I have a 10hp Phoenix that I'm no longer using. Had to step up to a 40 hp to handle all of the larger machines. It's about 2 years old and is just siting....
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skunkworks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I have a 10hp Phoenix that I'm no longer using. Had to step up to a 40 hp to handle all of the larger machines. It's about 2 years old and is just siting....</div></div>
There ya go, that is about perfect for a 7.5HP motor
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skunkworks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I have a 10hp Phoenix that I'm no longer using. Had to step up to a 40 hp to handle all of the larger machines. It's about 2 years old and is just siting....</div></div>
There ya go, that is about perfect for a 7.5HP motor
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
I am still looking, glow worm beat me to it.
I am still looking, glow worm beat me to it.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
Be advised. A phase converter loses about 30% of your Hp and shortens motor life by asimilar amount. Check with the power co and see if u have. 3 phase available.
Be advised. A phase converter loses about 30% of your Hp and shortens motor life by asimilar amount. Check with the power co and see if u have. 3 phase available.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
CDI do you mean a static phase converter suffers from horsepower loss and speeds up the demise of the motor? A rotary phase converter takes two legs from single phase and produces the third phase if I remember right. You sedn two legs into the 3 phase machine from a 220 source and the third from the rotary phase converter. Would this render the machine blind to where the juice is coming from?
CDI do you mean a static phase converter suffers from horsepower loss and speeds up the demise of the motor? A rotary phase converter takes two legs from single phase and produces the third phase if I remember right. You sedn two legs into the 3 phase machine from a 220 source and the third from the rotary phase converter. Would this render the machine blind to where the juice is coming from?
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oneeyedmac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CDI do you mean a static phase converter suffers from horsepower loss and speeds up the demise of the motor? A rotary phase converter takes two legs from single phase and produces the third phase if I remember right. You sedn two legs into the 3 phase machine from a 220 source and the third from the rotary phase converter. Would this render the machine blind to where the juice is coming from? </div></div>
oneeyedmac, you're asking the perfect question. Power loss from a static phase converter is a problem because the third phase is produced electronically. The frequency of the AC output is not true AC and if you were to look at it on an O-scope, you would see more of a square wave, not a sine wave. Most AC motors (those without switching circuits on the input) appreciate a true 60 cycle sine wave. A rotary phase converter produces the third leg as you mention and because it is produced from a source that has "generator" qualities, the output is a true 60 cycle sine wave. There is still a little power loss, but there is no damage to the motor that is running off the rotary generator. There are large capacitors involved that take the hit when the lathe or mill or whatever is powered up and this enables the motor operating off of the rotary generator to power up smoothly.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oneeyedmac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CDI do you mean a static phase converter suffers from horsepower loss and speeds up the demise of the motor? A rotary phase converter takes two legs from single phase and produces the third phase if I remember right. You sedn two legs into the 3 phase machine from a 220 source and the third from the rotary phase converter. Would this render the machine blind to where the juice is coming from? </div></div>
oneeyedmac, you're asking the perfect question. Power loss from a static phase converter is a problem because the third phase is produced electronically. The frequency of the AC output is not true AC and if you were to look at it on an O-scope, you would see more of a square wave, not a sine wave. Most AC motors (those without switching circuits on the input) appreciate a true 60 cycle sine wave. A rotary phase converter produces the third leg as you mention and because it is produced from a source that has "generator" qualities, the output is a true 60 cycle sine wave. There is still a little power loss, but there is no damage to the motor that is running off the rotary generator. There are large capacitors involved that take the hit when the lathe or mill or whatever is powered up and this enables the motor operating off of the rotary generator to power up smoothly.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
Thanks Mike for the good info, that is my understanding from the google search, but I have not been around any of these. I understand that the VFD uses electronics to convert, so seems to have more maintainence.
Thanks Mike for the good info, that is my understanding from the google search, but I have not been around any of these. I understand that the VFD uses electronics to convert, so seems to have more maintainence.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fritzcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks Mike for the good info, that is my understanding from the google search, but I have not been around any of these. I understand that the VFD uses electronics to convert, so seems to have more maintainence. </div></div>
Yep....The VFD is a good system, but much better to go rotary....
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fritzcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks Mike for the good info, that is my understanding from the google search, but I have not been around any of these. I understand that the VFD uses electronics to convert, so seems to have more maintainence. </div></div>
Yep....The VFD is a good system, but much better to go rotary....
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
I service industrial wood working equipment for a living. Get a rotary phase converter, 10hp.
Losing some power/efficiency through the phase converter is no big deal. I Have many customers that have been using phase converters for years without any noticeable loss of power or premature motor failures as long as the phase converter is sized properly.
Pulling 3ph to your house (residential?) would be cost prohibitive, that is if the utility provider would even do it.
I service industrial wood working equipment for a living. Get a rotary phase converter, 10hp.
Losing some power/efficiency through the phase converter is no big deal. I Have many customers that have been using phase converters for years without any noticeable loss of power or premature motor failures as long as the phase converter is sized properly.
Pulling 3ph to your house (residential?) would be cost prohibitive, that is if the utility provider would even do it.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
There is a lot of info available on this at practicalmachinist.com. They have an entire forum dedicated to phase converters of different types. I have a relatively small shop and the rotary phase converter serves me well.
There is a lot of info available on this at practicalmachinist.com. They have an entire forum dedicated to phase converters of different types. I have a relatively small shop and the rotary phase converter serves me well.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
I have used American Rotary a number of times and have been quite happy with their products. Could run a 25hp woodmizer and a 10hp blower at the same time off of a 30 hp converter and a 200 amp service. The 10 hp converter I have right now is quiet enough in the shop that I sometimes forget to turn it off when walking out the door. Buy one that is CNC stable in case you decide to go that route later on.
I have used American Rotary a number of times and have been quite happy with their products. Could run a 25hp woodmizer and a 10hp blower at the same time off of a 30 hp converter and a 200 amp service. The 10 hp converter I have right now is quiet enough in the shop that I sometimes forget to turn it off when walking out the door. Buy one that is CNC stable in case you decide to go that route later on.
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oneeyedmac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is a lot of info available on this at practicalmachinist.com. They have an entire forum dedicated to phase converters of different types. I have a relatively small shop and the rotary phase converter serves me well. </div></div>
+1.... I built my own rotary by doing a lot of reading, and buying an electrician friend of mine some dinners and beer....
mine is still going strong after 4+ years and all three lines are within 1 volt under load... just takes some patience...
On a side not, and please correct me if I am wrong....
I thought VFD's converted the incoming AC to DC and then output clean 3 phase AC via an inverter?
I was under the impression they were specifically designed for equipment that was sensitive to input power fluctuations.. (high power lasers/CNC equip, etc....)
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oneeyedmac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is a lot of info available on this at practicalmachinist.com. They have an entire forum dedicated to phase converters of different types. I have a relatively small shop and the rotary phase converter serves me well. </div></div>
+1.... I built my own rotary by doing a lot of reading, and buying an electrician friend of mine some dinners and beer....
mine is still going strong after 4+ years and all three lines are within 1 volt under load... just takes some patience...
On a side not, and please correct me if I am wrong....
I thought VFD's converted the incoming AC to DC and then output clean 3 phase AC via an inverter?
I was under the impression they were specifically designed for equipment that was sensitive to input power fluctuations.. (high power lasers/CNC equip, etc....)
Re: Need a single phase to three phase converter
Thanks KevinU, I found a shop that will build me one, but I am still sooking for a motor to build it myself.
Thanks KevinU, I found a shop that will build me one, but I am still sooking for a motor to build it myself.
