VFD Question
- Thread starter GMCGarage
- Start date
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Put up a link to the VFD you're looking at - typically they are rated by their output current, but it will be easier to give a good answer if we can see the specifications.
Typical specs refer to drive output current.
I have had good history with Lenze SMVector drives as a cheaper unit compared to our company standard of using all Rockwell/AB drives ($$$$). Others mfrs may be cheaper than Lenze, but I have no working experience/history with any others.
Post a pic of the motor nameplate.
Is your only purpose for the drive to get a 3 phase input from a single phase source or do you need other features?
I only think you may need 3 wire control (stop/start pb's/low voltage drop out) and accel ramp feature for a gentler "soft start".
I have had good history with Lenze SMVector drives as a cheaper unit compared to our company standard of using all Rockwell/AB drives ($$$$). Others mfrs may be cheaper than Lenze, but I have no working experience/history with any others.
Post a pic of the motor nameplate.
Is your only purpose for the drive to get a 3 phase input from a single phase source or do you need other features?
I only think you may need 3 wire control (stop/start pb's/low voltage drop out) and accel ramp feature for a gentler "soft start".
Here is one from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DKJWM6W/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Another one
http://dealerselectric.com/FM50-203-C.asp?gclid=CLyohdGql9ICFYk8gQodkkQFJw
I hear the 'TECO' brand is good.
Thnaks!
I dont have the jointer yet, picking it up monday.
I am right now only concerned about getting it to run, yes 1 phase to 3 phase. I dont know about the other items, i will have to go with advice from others.
Thanks
Rotary Phase Converter is another option that you might want to look at for a jointer. Or just swap moter with a single phase if just one machine. VFC gives a lot of nice options such as slow start/stop, variable speed and fwd/rev that you may not need for jointer.
I am considering a swap out, it seems a VFD is cheaper, and would keep the machine original.
Rotary Phase Converter are too expensive.
Bells and whistles are great, I just need to know if the meat and potatoes part of the VFD will work first.
Make sure it runs before you own it. I assume you have 3 phase power at the seller's location.
Then post n/p.
Im not sure I understand, I already have 3ph motor, and need it to run on 1 ph.
A VFD seems a sensible option, i see many use them.
The more i research, it seems a 3hp 3phase motor draws about 9.6 amps, so the VFD at 10.5 should suffice. I am going to email the mfg of the VFD to to confirm.
Thanks!
Im buying it blind, so I wont get to run it. At the price I am getting it for, even if I do have to buy a new motor, I am still well ahead.
You can use another 3ph motor wired to single phase 220 to generate third leg for your jointer. RPC use circuitry to start the motor but you can get motor running by getting it spinning (by rope or another small 120v motor) and applying power to it. At that point you have 3 pH being generated by the free running motor which you can use to run other 3ph equipment. The free running motor needs to be about 50% larger than your equipment. I bought a used 7.5hp Baldor motor for $100 and its a monster. I also bought the caps and relays to have it self start. There are tons of videos on YouTube showing how to do it. With that said if you only have the one machine VFD may be way to go. Just throwing out other options for you. Good luck.
Ok, never knew that.
Yes, for the one machine, I am going with VFD.
I think I have settled on this one:
http://dealerselectric.com/FM50-203-C.asp?gclid=CLyohdGql9ICFYk8gQodkkQFJw
Thanks for everyones help!
rockwithjason
Well-known member
often times you will need a larger unit to make the conversion from 1ph to 3ph. make sure you read the specs on that before you buy the drive
matt_i
Well-known member
As Jason says, you need to investigate the "derating" factor of the VFD for using single phase input as opposed to 3ph input. Its somewhere in the thick manual.
The power side wiring is a snap, 2 (or 3) wires in and 3 out to the motor.
Now you have to decipher the control wiring, it can be either 2-wire with a maintained switch like a wall-toggle switch or it can be a 3-wire spring return start and stop pushbutton station. Wiring for this plus possibly a parameter change.
The hardest part is going thru all the parameters to see what you need, there's an array of like 100 different parameters because the thing can be installed in innumerable ways. It can have set speed, it can have discrete speed steps, it can have variable speed, the speed reference can come from the front of the panel up and down arrows, it can be a remote potentiometer, it can be network-transferred over from a PLC...just to give you a very small window into how they can be applied.
Just ask questions if you get stuck
we can help.
The power side wiring is a snap, 2 (or 3) wires in and 3 out to the motor.
Now you have to decipher the control wiring, it can be either 2-wire with a maintained switch like a wall-toggle switch or it can be a 3-wire spring return start and stop pushbutton station. Wiring for this plus possibly a parameter change.
The hardest part is going thru all the parameters to see what you need, there's an array of like 100 different parameters because the thing can be installed in innumerable ways. It can have set speed, it can have discrete speed steps, it can have variable speed, the speed reference can come from the front of the panel up and down arrows, it can be a remote potentiometer, it can be network-transferred over from a PLC...just to give you a very small window into how they can be applied.
Just ask questions if you get stuck
we can help.
Last edited:
rsanter
Well-known member
I prefer the VFD, however you can basically make your own rotary phase converter if you have another three phase motor that is slightly larger that the motors you want to run.
buy a static converter for say a spare 5ph 3phase motor. then you run the motors you want in the equipment off of the 5hp 'rotary phase converter' that you created. basically it just self gens the third leg and adsorbs the losses of going 1phase to 3phase
I did this for years with my lathe and mill. the lathe was 3hp and had a static converter, the mill was 1hp so I connected the wires for the mill motor to the lathe motor. take the lathe out of gear (ideling) and turn the mill on.
worked great for no extra money. now both are on their own VFDs
bob
buy a static converter for say a spare 5ph 3phase motor. then you run the motors you want in the equipment off of the 5hp 'rotary phase converter' that you created. basically it just self gens the third leg and adsorbs the losses of going 1phase to 3phase
I did this for years with my lathe and mill. the lathe was 3hp and had a static converter, the mill was 1hp so I connected the wires for the mill motor to the lathe motor. take the lathe out of gear (ideling) and turn the mill on.
worked great for no extra money. now both are on their own VFDs
bob
matt_i;6322178[B said:]As Jason says, you need to investigate the "derating" factor of the VFD for using single phase input as opposed to 3ph input.[/B] Its somewhere in the thick manual.
The power side wiring is a snap, 2 (or 3) wires in and 3 out to the motor.
Now you have to decipher the control wiring, it can be either 2-wire with a maintained switch like a wall-toggle switch or it can be a 3-wire spring return start and stop pushbutton station. Wiring for this plus possibly a parameter change.
The hardest part is going thru all the parameters to see what you need, there's an array of like 100 different parameters because the thing can be installed in innumerable ways. It can have set speed, it can have discrete speed steps, it can have variable speed, the speed reference can come from the front of the panel up and down arrows, it can be a remote potentiometer, it can be network-transferred over from a PLC...just to give you a very small window into how they can be applied.
Just ask questions if you get stuck
The drive that OP linked to is 3HP for either single phase or 3 phase.
For 3 wire control it looks like he will need an external relay to seal around itself if he wants 3 wire control.
Only 30 parameters!
OP, make sure your 3 phase motor can be wired to 240 vac. You can't get 480 out of this drive.
You may want to consider the NEMA4 (IP65) enclosure option and be done with the entire need for another enclosure to keep dust out.
Lot of info re VFDs here at the Old woodworking machine forum.
http://owwm.org/viewforum.php?f=82
Joe H
http://owwm.org/viewforum.php?f=82
Joe H
JoelPNellis
New member
Can anyone give me a hand on wiring my VFD? I have a single phase to single phase VFD for adjusting the speed of an exhaust blower. Instructions talk about the main winding and secondary winding, but my wiring diagram on my motor only has A PHASE and B PHASE. Anyone have any idea how this should go?
JoelPNellis
New member
Here is the Single Phase VFD I am using ato.com/10hp-vfd-single-phase-input-output. The company is ATO in Diamond Bar, CA. It is designed for single-phase motors, but I'm having difficult figuring out the wiring of my motor to connect it properly.
TRWham
Well-known member
Looks like it is a 3 phase output, but they wire it to the start and run windings of a single phase motor and eliminate the capacitors because the drive provides the needed phase shift. I think we could figure it out, but suggest you contact the manufacturer for tech support.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Can anyone give me a hand on wiring my VFD? I have a single phase to single phase VFD for adjusting the speed of an exhaust blower. Instructions talk about the main winding and secondary winding, but my wiring diagram on my motor only has A PHASE and B PHASE. Anyone have any idea how this should go?
looks like you already have the wiring diagram for the motor.
you would need to remove the capacitor and connect primary and secondary windings as shown in the second pic.
make sure to get the rotation correct.
fitter30
Well-known member
Vfd using 1 ph to make 3 ph drive has to be at least twice the hp rating if not a little more.