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200 HP electric motor

T

Tracs

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Manitoba, Canada
I'm thinking of using a 200 hp electric motor to run my 60 gallon air compressor. The motor is free.

I only have 60 amp panel so I figure I can spend $10,000 on some phase converters and industrial transformers to make it work. The motor only draws 240 amps running. I'd like to run it of 120V if possible. Does anyone make a 400 amp breaker that fits in a 60 amp sub panel?

I want it so I can start some commercial grade work out in my backyard, but I will probably never finish the jobs.

Thoughts?
 
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wyliesdiesels

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lol all joking aside

If i hadnt seen the previous ridiculous thread pertaining to this subject i would think this was either spam or a troll post.

nicely played!!

:willy_nil :lol_hitti
 
S

strutaeng

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Sure, anything is possible with money!

Why not just run it off a generator? 240A? A nice diesel generator will power that SOB!

"May" need more than $10k though...

...be sure to have a "back-up!"

Good luck!
 
M

MBfreak

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Tracs.
Great idea. Please post it up on utube when finished.
When run on 120 V a 150 kW motor will save a lot on the motor base.
The feeder cable will be more than sufficient to hold it down.

Ola
 
G

gungatim

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west mich
you should get a couple of those solar panels from HF and a bunch of rechargeable batteries (you can scavenge them out of the little solar lights at the dollar store) and set the whole thing to run off the sun. it will use less power that way and be completely free to run.

I calculate you would need 108 panels (around $21,600) and enough batteries to support the inrush current (maybe another $12k), and the wiring and of course enough space to set them all up...
 
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Milton Shaw

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You ought to look for an old locomotive. One with a V12 or V16 should have a big enough generator to run that motor. That would make it where you could move it around (tracks required). LOL I would have thought a 200 hp motor would be what you would want to put on a table top drill press or jewelers lathe.
 
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PugetDude

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Milton Shaw said:
You ought to look for an old locomotive. One with a V12 or V16 should have a big enough generator to run that motor. That would make it where you could move it around (tracks required). LOL I would have thought a 200 hp motor would be what you would want to put on a table top drill press or jewelers lathe.
Click to expand...

Try to find a used genset out of a hydroelectric power plant; convert it to run off a hose bib.
 
A

alfredeneuman

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Fullerton, CA
Tracs said:
I'd like to run it of 120V if possible. Does anyone make a 400 amp breaker that fits in a 60 amp sub panel?
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

A 10hp 115V motor draws 100A, so a 200 would be 2000A.
A proper breaker would be a 4000A, and so it should easily fit in a 60A panel.
:lol_hitti:lol_hitti:lol_hitti
 
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PugetDude

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mike93lx

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Geez, this is a mess.

Get real, people. It is only cost effective to run this on nat gas. Hookup a 120v feed for controls and pipe in gas to the other side. You'll need to prime for a few seconds then flip on the power. Should light it right up
 
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PugetDude

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mike93lx said:
Geez, this is a mess.

Get real, people. It is only cost effective to run this on nat gas. Hookup a 120v feed for controls and pipe in gas to the other side. You'll need to prime for a few seconds then flip on the power. Should light it right up
Click to expand...

...sigh...Mikey, Mikey, Mikey...

It's irresponsible to suggest natural gas without including instructions for hooking it up with the requisite PVC piping.
 
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rbrock

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Hills of Ohio
Remember you have to change the pulley ratio also for this conversion. The standard ratio for this conversion would be 40:1 so your compressor will spin at 72,000 RPM (assuming 1800 RPM motor)
 
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Miss the Pontiacs

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I think you guys have it all wrong. The power source should as organic as possible. I think oxen should be used to turn the compressor. Backup air flow could come from the animals themselves. Methane generated by product could power your oxyacetylene welding operation.:beer:
 

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Matt Matt

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I’m willing to be the devils advocate. This can be done very easily with 120 V and diesel, NG or natural gas generator. It could also be done with step up transformers and the VFD. But I wouldn’t back it.

You should discuss your intentions with your local electrical authority. They are very helpful and in most situations they will give you sound advice.

My sound advice for you would be sell the motor for scrap or on eBay for $2000 and buy any air compressor you want that fits your realistic needs.
 
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W

wyliesdiesels

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Matt Matt said:
I’m willing to be the devils advocate. This can be done very easily with 120 V and diesel, NG or natural gas generator. It could also be done with step up transformers and the VFD. But I wouldn’t back it.

You should discuss your intentions with your local electrical authority. They are very helpful and in most situations they will give you sound advice.

My sound advice for you would be sell the motor for scrap or on eBay for $2000 and buy any air compressor you want that fits your realistic needs.
Click to expand...

in case you didnt notice, this is a joke post based on a previous ridiculous thread.
 
B

b-boy

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Buffalo NY
Miss the Pontiacs said:
I think you guys have it all wrong. The power source should as organic as possible. I think oxen should be used to turn the compressor. Backup air flow could come from the animals themselves. Methane generated by product could power your oxyacetylene welding operation.:beer:
Click to expand...

You can't generate horsepower with oxen - duh... You need horses. Get a few of those big beer horses you see on the Super Bowl. :D
 
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PugetDude

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1Garageman said:
Are you going to hook it up with 14 or 12 gauge wire?
Click to expand...

14 gauge if you run it off wind power, because the breeze naturally cools the wires.
12 gauge if you run it off solar power, due to the heat generated by the solar panels.

FWIW, if you are on hydropower, you can drop all the way down to 16 gauge, Water power is naturally cooler than either Wind or Solar.
 
1

1Garageman

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Columbus, Ohio
^^That's a genius idea, I didn't even think of that one!

Once I get my own three phase air compressor, I'm just going to run an extension cord from my neighbors house to get the 3'rd phase!:thumbup:
 
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