Bridgeport 3phase in Garage

[Ironhorse]

So I wanted to move my Bridgeport to my garage but not wanting to replace my motor I had to figure out how to convert my single phase to three phase...so I found this little made in USA gem. It is a phase converter and it works great. With a 3 phase motor it will use 3 "legs" on start up then it drops a "leg" while running...the phase converter supplies the third leg for start up on single phase service....works like a charm. Before you start asking what is up with the red button questions. The mill computer, lights etc all run on 110volts...so without having to switch on 5 things I wired up that button to the recpts....again works great...so yes you can buy 3 phase equipment and run it in your garage....welders not included...lol

 

[LutzTD]

is that a static or rotary? The static converters do not have an idler. The idler will smooth it all out and make the starts much better. The static converters are hard on your machine and do not provide as good a balance. when I had a static converter on my southbend the motor ran very hot, partly because my converter was oversized, and partly because of the leg voltage balance, once I added a 10 hp idler it ran much better. Keep an eye on your motor temps, if it seems to run hot maybe get a 3phase motor off craigs and set it up to come on with the converter.

 

[Ironhorse]

it is rotary...and made by Phase-0-matic....love the name. I did call them and talked with the engineering staff before I bought one....and they are around $200...no ware and tear on your motor.

 

[LutzTD]

it is rotary...and made by Phase-0-matic....love the name. I did call them and talked with the engineering staff before I bought one....and they are around $200...no ware and tear on your motor.

thats cheap, so does it have an idler somewhere not shown or is it just the box?

 

[Ironhorse]

I have both...for the small motors Static and Large one ( my lathe ) is a rotory...both work great..and yes the first week I did check temps...all good. With Static converters you will lose about 1/3 of your HP rating. But small motors like mine in the Bridgeport works great. My Lathe was a different story and I did score a " new open box rotory converter" for $200 plus shipping. Phase-o-matic pretty much used a Bridgeport as there gunia pig for building the static unit.

 

[miner]

it is rotary...and made by Phase-0-matic....love the name. I did call them and talked with the engineering staff before I bought one....and they are around $200...no ware and tear on your motor.

The one in your post is a static converter. The starting process you describe is exactly what a static converter does: just gets the motor started, then single phases it. Phase-a-matic rotary converters start at $500 for a 1 HP rating.

 

[davesed]

I also have 3 phase equipment in my garage powered by phase convertors. I found that the motors do much better with a rotary, which I use now, than a static. I power a 24" Cincinnati Bickford Drill press, Bridgeport milling machine, Baldor grinder and a KO Lee surface grinder. Phase balance is less than 1.5%. IMHO

 

[Norcal]

Static converters are not a good idea, single phasing a motor is not the best idea, & 1/3 of the motors HP is lost. A VFD, or a rotary (RPC) are better choices.

 

[wnstwolf]

I passed on a sweet IR 3-phase compressor due to the Phase-O-Matic costing close to $625 for the proper application as per their sales rep?? You got a great deal!

 

[Falcon67]

Agree - the picture posted shows a static converter. I used a VFD on my 3 phase mill - not that expensive, full programmable motor control, DC braking and 100% power. Cheaper than either a static or rotary

 

[Kevin54]

Static converters are not a good idea, single phasing a motor is not the best idea, & 1/3 of the motors HP is lost. A VFD, or a rotary (RPC) are better choices.

On a lot of lathes, a Static converter is not recommended because of the load. Almost all of the newer 3-phase lathes require a Rotary Converter for home use or they will not warrant it.

Agree - the picture posted shows a static converter. I used a VFD on my 3 phase mill - not that expensive, full programmable motor control, DC braking and 100% power. Cheaper than either a static or rotary

I think this is eventually what I am going to switch over to on my Lagun mill. Main reason being is that I have to switch the belt over now for different speed unless I drop it in back gear. I tried to switch the belt over and couldn't do it. I can loosen the motor, pull it forward to switch the belt, but then I can't shove it back far enough and lock it at the same time without getting the wife to help me out. Dammit!!!! With VFD, I can set the belt one time then use the variable speed.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Static converters are not a good idea, single phasing a motor is not the best idea, & 1/3 of the motors HP is lost. A VFD, or a rotary (RPC) are better choices.

Agree !

 

[Richard D]

I just had my buddy hook up a PhaseOMatic static for my Millrite. In his garade, he runs a mill and drillpress off one, and a good sized lathe off another. Working fine for years.

 

[Bobf]

The one in the photo is a static as I received one with my very old Index Machine mill back in the late eighties. I reverse engineered it to make one for a small Monarch lathe I picked up. They use a GE refrigeration relay and a resistor and a capacitor to fake the third leg to get the motor to start, then the relay drops out and you're running on 220/240v 180 degree power.
You can only run 2/3 power (RMS .707) with them ie. 1 hp motor will only make 2/3hp.
I eventually got a rotary converter and huge transformer to balance the legs to the machines.

 

[Richard D]

How much were the parts to make your own? M Phase a matic was only about $100 when I bought it a few years ago; they are $300 now!

 

[miner]

How much were the parts to make your own? M Phase a matic was only about $100 when I bought it a few years ago; they are $300 now!

Most parts for RPCs really aren't that expensive, except for the contactors and idler motor. You would want to get those surplus/used. But you could likely get everything you need for a couple hundred bucks with some snooping in a scrap yard. Basically, with any industrial part, if you try to buy it new it is about 100 times more expensive than you think it should be.

 

[stonewellmark]

I know an old guy who hooked up an old 5hp 3 phase motor to straight 240v single phase, when he wants it to work he just flips the switch and gives the shaft a nudge with his shoe (so the shaft rotates) and away it goes. Dont think I would do that but it works, instant 3 phase, just a motor, switch, and wiring.

 

[Bobf]

"kick starting" was common way back when farmers were buying salvage/surplus 3 phase machinery to run on the farm. Some hooked up a small sgl phase motor/ belt to the 3 phase motor and used it to get it turning then flipped a switch to turn on the 240.
Richard D: I haven't made any of those in probably 20 yrs, but I recall finding the right GE relay was key. On the commercial units it appears the relay was held against a belt sander and erased the orange writing on the side of the relay. I eventually determined which one it was and bought them from Grainger, best I recall around $20@. The rest of the stuff was from surplus electronics stores in the area. I can go take one apart and get the relay # if anyone is interested.

 

[Richard D]

I'd like that part number. It's for a static converter, not the rotary type that requires a motor?

 

[gorilla]

I've built at least three 3 phase rotary converters for my friends, I don't think that I ever spent more than $50.00 to build one. I did have a unending supply of 7.5 HP 3 phase motors at that time. You need a motor that's at least twice the size of the motor you wish to run. I used a time out relay and a contactor and some capacitors for the starting circuit and a magnetic starter to turn the whole thing on. Found all the parts as industrial surplus.

 

[saabman]

Used VFDs are dirt cheap. Just get on sized for the load you are running and make sure it can can take single phase in. I have a VFD on all my 3 phase gear.

 

[Laundrew]

I am currently replacing the DC motor in my Monarch 10EE with a VFD/3 phase, 3 HP motor. Ordering the equipment was very simple, I told the rep what I needed and they matched the VFD to the motor as they were both manufactured by Weg - price was around $1300.00.

On a sidebar, the quality and pride of workmanship that went into this American made, 70 year old lathe is simply awesome.

Be well...

 

[tdkkart]

Used VFDs are dirt cheap. Just get on sized for the load you are running and make sure it can can take single phase in. I have a VFD on all my 3 phase gear.

New VFDs are dirt cheap, and now even come in 110v single phase in/220v 3phase out up to 1HP, 220v single phase in above that.

I've bought 2 from Dealers Electric in the last year, work perfectly.
http://www.dealerselectric.com/variable_frequency_drives.asp

 

[saabman]

TDKKART, I see your link carries TECO VFDs. I run my CNC mill on a TECO. Works like a champ.

 

[Nelson58]

VFD is the way to go. Factorymation has all the supplies for the control box too.

Nelson

 

[kvom]

I use a GS2 VFD from Automation Direct for my mill. The VFD itself is in a wall-mounted NEMA container, and the control head is mounted on the mill, connected with the remote cable.

My 10ee lathe still has the original drive, and is powered by a 7.5HP RPC.