Scrap Yard Phase Converter Build

[threepiece]

As some of you fellows know I always encourage others to visit the scrap whenever possible for their shop needs, here is why.

This 5HP motor and box are new. They came in on one load with many other new and used industrial components on several pallets.

My intention is to buy one of the phase converter kits that don’t include the two most expensive components, the motor and box. Has anyone had experience with any of these kits?

By the way, the hand truck came from the same yard too.

[Lew Hartswick]

Are you just teasing for a big "You Suck" response? :-)
...lew...

[Scotts]

I have never purchased a kit, do you have a link for where you are looking at getting a kit from?

I got a control box and a 20 hp idler motor from a guy scrapping a machine. I bought a timer and the correct amount of capacitors and have been fine with what I am doing.

I did the 7.5 hp idler setup the same way.

With your scrap yard abilities you should be able to come up with a kit from there.

If you get started and have questions post away and it can be done.



Scott

[threepiece]

Originally Posted by Lew Hartswick

Are you just teasing for a big "You Suck" response? :-)
...lew...

Well, if I was I would show and tell of the other goodies I bought.

[threepiece]

Here is a link https://www.powerlinephaseconverter....rter-basic-kit for a kit like the one I am interested in.

Here https://phaseconverterusa.com/5Hp-Ro...0vac_p_51.html is another

[threepiece]

Originally Posted by Scotts

I have never purchased a kit, do you have a link for where you are looking at getting a kit from?

I got a control box and a 20 hp idler motor from a guy scrapping a machine. I bought a timer and the correct amount of capacitors and have been fine with what I am doing.

I did the 7.5 hp idler setup the same way.

With your scrap yard abilities you should be able to come up with a kit from there.

If you get started and have questions post away and it can be done.

Scott

I considered creating my own but found I didn’t want to spend the time to learn how. I know there are very simple ways but I have a tendency to complicate.

I currently have a 20 HP converter that I bought 20 years ago but I am now realizing I will not need it in the new shop. I plan to have a 5 and a 10 HP converters instead of the 20.

[Scotts]

Those kits are cheap enough.

from your sig line rust is a color, it is an iron oxide pigment. to make that color in plastics.

Scott

[bunkclimber]

yes I used to build them locally before the small micro VFD's became all the rage..my design used a SquareD small octal base relay to sense the voltage point that would cut out the start contactor/capacitors and just run the idler motor on the incoming 2 hot legs..the run caps were connected all the time even during the start phase..I always used 480V rated run caps, the starts were 370V. I used a three pole contactor with the poles linked to start the converter, I think it was a 60amp,might have been bigger-(75amp)-depending on what I had on the shelf..I've used lately one of the American Converter kits,they use a Mars HVAC potential relay to start the converter and remove the start caps from the circuit when the voltage builds on the made leg..they work pretty good,last I used one was for a customer job running a surface grinder, my customer hasnt had any complaints..My design was a 12x12x6 metal pull box bolted to the motor itself, i take the motor lead junction box off the motor and back the box right up to the motor and pull the leads inside,make them up on a terminal block or directly to a contactor..simplified connections. One of the converters I made was a 7.5hp for a recip air compressor, it's still getting the job done 25yrs later without issues..the design uses two sections of 2"c-channel as a skid base so they usually sit on the floor with 4 rubber feet to isolate them..nice and quiet..always with a slow 4-pole 1725rpm motor, not a 2pole 3450,they take too long to spool up