Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] 3-Phase motor running from Single Phase Supply ?

>
> My 3 cents worth:
>
> My shop happens to be right next door...on the same property as the house,
> but with a different mailing address. This is because the original owner
> got it zoned for commercial use. Three phase power used to be installed,
> but when I moved in it was set up for single phase. I inquired about
> getting 3 phase power back and was told the cost would be well over $2000.
> And all that was just to hook up a few wires!
>
> So, I had my brother build me a single phase to 3 phase converter...for
> free. All you need is some capacitors, an old used 3 phase motor, a switch
> and some kind of housing to mount the electrics in. He built the housing
> from plywood.
>
> All I use mine for is running the mill. If I ever install a bigger lathe, I
> can use the same phase converter thru a switch box, since I'm the only user
> and never run both machines at once....yet. When I get it converted over to
> CNC tho' I might want to run both at the same time. Then I'll just build
> another phase converter!
>
> Smoke
>

Actually, with a rotary converter, it just needs to be big enough to
start and run your largest machine. Once you get that running, you
can turn on as many other 3 phase items as you have capacity for. The
other machines act as additional idlers.

If you're using run caps, it won't balance out as nicely, but it will
work fine. I run my 5 hp lathe all of the time when the 5 hp air
compressor is chugging away (I have a 7.5 hp idler in my phase converter).

Paul

--
Paul Amaranth | Rochester MI, USA
Aurora Group, Inc. | Systems & Software
paul@... | Unix / Windows / NT