Phase converter/ buck boost

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ishium 80439

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I'm going to look at a job where the customer needs 3P 480V for a machine and apparently only has 1P 120/240 available. I have several questions but I guess to sum it all up is How do I best approach this? I've not actually ever installed a phase converter much less in conjunction w/ a transformer and I'm wondering how to tackle this efficiently.

Thanks in advance for any input.
 
ishium 80439 said:
I'm going to look at a job where the customer needs 3P 480V for a machine and apparently only has 1P 120/240 available. I have several questions but I guess to sum it all up is How do I best approach this?
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What type of machine are you talking about? A times it's easier just to find a motor that will run on the power that's available.

How much of a load are you talking about?
 
ishium 80439 said:
Here is a link:http://www.vispolish.com/VISPolishFAQ.asp

It reads 480V 30A.
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I'm guessing that they have had this same problem before. A wheel polishing machine that requires 480V three phase. They probably install these in lots of shops that don't have the correct power.

First thing I would do is to contact the manufacturuer and see what they recommend. They may have found the best solution to your problem already or they can give the number of another customer with a similar problem and you can check to see what set up they have and how it's worked out for them.

If that doesn't work then get in contact with the manufacturer of the phase converteres and see what they recommend.

http://www.phaseconverter.com/rotary-converter.sizing/

They don't really show anything about the controls for this equipemnt on the web site. Once you get the paperwork for the machine the manufacturers may be able to help design the correct power system.

My view is to never design anything yourself if you can get a manufacturers recommendation and get it in writing. Put the monkey on their back and let them tell you what's the best way to run the machine to reduce your liability.

Another thing is how much single phase power do they have available to start with because they are adding a pretty good load here.

I have installed a few phase converters but I look for a way around it if I can. Just more equipment to give probelms in the future ( and take up space).
 
Call the manufacturer is good advice. I often give it to other people who are banging their heads against something and too proud to get advice. I'm a little chagrinned that I didn't think of that.

I called them and sure enough they have a supplier they work with on a regular basis w/ products all spec'd out and ready to go.

When in doubt keep it simple and/or let someone else get the headache.:smile:
 
Use a 25kva single phase transformer to bring up the 240 to 480, then static converter to a three phase motor/w a flywheel to handle load surges. motor sized for full load of polisher, or go with a roto-phase converter. now this would probably require about 105 amps of service space @ single phase if you have it ?

Edited to add I would only use a VFD if it was only a motor load, but this machine sounds like it has some electronics in it, so VFD wouldn't be good.
 
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I have a 3 phase-480 volt 1/3 HP standard induction motor that runs off a standard 120 volt appliance circuit in my kitchen by way of a small VFD. I can control the speed of the motor or set it to come up to full speed from the VFD's program. Not moving parts other than the motor itself, much more efficient than a phase converter and probably a lot cheaper to purchase.
 
I built a scale model of a cooling tower to demonstrate to my customers the advantages of installing VFDs on their cooling towers. Since the demos where in building manager's offices we set it up for 120 volt input. The drive sales rep provided me a drive and associated temp. controller. We installed over 100 drives in two years. Payback was less than two years.
 
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