Air compressor voltage question

[Zorro13]

Hello,

I bought a 230V compressor since I thought I could use it also in Europe when I move back. But now I'm a bit struggling with the 1-phase 230V in Europe vs. the 2-phase system in the US.

So the question is: Will my US made 230V 2-phase unit work in the European 1-phase grid or is there a way to rewire it to make it running?

I know most of the European appliances have no problems with the US 2-phase system but is this also valid the other way?

[fatfillup]

Can't answer your question directly, but might help you ask a better question. I don't beleive your terminology of US 2 phase is correct. We have single phase current and 3 phase current. All of our 115 volt is single phase. 230 volt can be either single or 3 phase and 460 is 3 phase.

Basically 115 volt has one hot 115 volt leg and one neutral leg-(no voltage to ground)

Typical 230 volt single phase has 2 115 volt legs (no neutral)

Three phase 230 volt can come in many configurations two of which are 3 115 volt legs, or 2 230 volt legs and one neutral leg. And it can get more confusing from there.

Back to your question. First, is the european voltage 50 hz or 60 hz. US is 60 hz. Now, you need to find out if your motor will run on 50 hz (Hertz) 230 volt current because I think Europe is 50 hz. I believe some motors will tolerate this and some won't and it probably will alter your RPM.

Next question is how europe supplies their 230 volt single phase current. Is it 2 115 volt legs like most of ours or is it a 230 volt leg with a neutral leg? Again some motors will tolerate this and some might not.

I may just be confusing the issue, but when you ask for 2 phase, I think that is incorrect and you may not get an accurate answer.

Good luck!

[Packard V8]

AFAIK, there isn't any such thing as 2-phase power. Europe does use 50-cycle and US uses 60-cycle, so the speeds of motors will vary by that much. Every single-phase 230v I have taken either way across the pond worked fine as long as there wasn't a requirement for it to maintain a precise output speed.

thnx, jack vines

[A_Pmech]

You may find your bigger problem will be Europe's 50Hz power versus America's 60Hz. Some motors will operate on 50Hz or 60Hz, but in my experience they have generally been "premium" "extreme duty" motors.

Edit: Packard beat me by less than a minute.

I declare a rematch! :D

[fatfillup]

Hey, what about me, i beat you both!!!

[Zorro13]

Basically 115 volt has one hot 115 volt leg and one neutral leg-(no voltage to ground)

Typical 230 volt single phase has 2 115 volt legs (no neutral)

Back to your question. First, is the european voltage 50 hz or 60 hz. US is 60 hz. Now, you need to find out if your motor will run on 50 hz (Hertz) 230 volt current because I think Europe is 50 hz. I believe some motors will tolerate this and some won't and it probably will alter your RPM.

Next question is how europe supplies their 230 volt single phase current. Is it 2 115 volt legs like most of ours or is it a 230 volt leg with a neutral leg? Again some motors will tolerate this and some might not.

I may just be confusing the issue, but when you ask for 2 phase, I think that is incorrect and you may not get an accurate answer.



OK this was confusing from my side.

In Europe we have one leg 230V while the US has two leg 230V. Most of my European devices have no problems with the US set up.

Any hint how to identify the requirements my US 230V motor has?

The Frequency issue is of course another potential problem, but from the experiences I and others have it's less of an issue (expept e.g. the pump in the washing machines which often can only handle one specific frequency).

[fatfillup]

Zorro, US 230 volt would not have 2-230 volt legs. Most if you measure from leg to ground will be 115 volts on each leg. There probably are some industrial applications where you would have one 230 volt leg to ground and one neutral leg(no voltage to ground).

If you measure from hot leg to hot leg on a US 230 volt single phase line it will measure 230 volts, If you have 2 lines that measure 230 volt each from leg to ground, that can be used a three phase current.

I believe, but am not postive that your compressor will run with one 230 volt hot leg and one neutral leg as supplied in Europe

[Packard V8]

In Europe we have one leg 230V

Short answer is yes. Most any air compressor will work just fine on Euro 230v as long as the person wiring the plug or breaker knows how.

thnx, jack vines

[Stuart in MN]

Look at the nameplate on the motor and see if it says 50/60 Hz. That's pretty common nowadays.

[Zorro13]

Thanks' all of you! I think I'll take this 25 years old Sears beast then with me.