3 phase Wheel Balancer

[Dugan]

I have the chance to get a coats 1050 wheel balancer for cheap. Issue is, its 3 phase.

I have single phase 220v in my shop, but not 3.

At my parents house we had a lift that used a 3 phase motor with a static phase converter. This lift seemed to always have issues lifting things.

What would be a cheap way to run this machine? Is it worth putting the money out for a phase converter? I have a mill in my shop, but its a single phase rockwell.

 

[Dugan]

A co-worker who has a machine shop said he runs a 3hp toshiba VFD and I shouldnt waste my money on anything else.

Anyone have input?

 

[Dugan]

http://www.sordselectric.com/Mercha...rives/drives/pdfs/Toshiba_S11_micro_drive.pdf

This is the drive my co-worker runs. His angle was, its cheap, its easy, and you can make everything you own 3 phase!

 

[Falcon67]

I run a VFD on my 1 HP 3 phase mill. The caveat is that a VFD MUST connect DIRECTLY to the motor. You cannot feed a machine with controls just by sending VFD power to the machine input. It's not like dropping three phase from the pole. Your alternative is a rotary converter with a idler sized about 1/3 larger that what you need to run. On my mill, I gutted the control box and used the switching as contacts for the VFD control inputs.

 

[Dugan]

id like a VFD for the fact I could buy a 3 phase motor for my mill later on.

 

[The Engine Room]

+1 on the Toshiba VFD. I have one that's 230V input 480v output and I've run several different machines on it for years. I bought it on Ebay for like $650, which was expensive, but it has actually saved me a bunch of money since I was able to leverage a great deal on some 480v only machines that other buyers were afraid of.

 

[alfredeneuman]

+1 on the Toshiba VFD. I have one that's 230V input 480v output

I've never heard of a VFD that could raise the voltage.

What model is it? It would eliminate the need for transformers

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What is the HP rating of the motor?

I've never heard of a VFD that could raise the voltage.

What model is it? It would eliminate the need for transformers

+1 im also curious...

 

[Dugan]

1.5HP motor.

I called the guy again and asked if I could test before buying. He told me that they do not have 3 phase at the new shop and this is why they are selling, but he reassured me that it works. They wanted 1k and I talked them down to 300.


It sounds like a risk. But about 10 mins after posting this i got another guy called me with a coats 650 single phase instead of the coats 1050 3 phase. He wants a base of 300. This will do 17" rim max and 35 " tires. I think thats plenty for my operation at this time.

I think im going to go the economical route and get the smaller one for now and actually be able to see it work.

Thanks for all the info. You guys can discuss that voltage increase on here, ill use it for future info.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thats probably the best bet. The 3p unit may 'work' but there could be something wrong with it that u cant see when its not running....

 

[Dugan]

Thats probably the best bet. The 3p unit may 'work' but there could be something wrong with it that u cant see when its not running....

Yea to me the risk wasnt worth the reward when I can get a smaller one and save some space in the shop.

Ive filled my 30x40 shop already.