I just thought I'd kick off the new electrical section (thanks to those who made it happen) with a thread to gather lots of different solutions to the problem of running 3 phase equipment at home.
It gets talked about often, and there are quite a few different solutions out there, different solutions suit different people for different reasons, all preferences are valid.
So show us yours.....and tell us a few facts and advantages......
Here's mine -
Tucked down beside my Milling machine is this -
On the right is what was a static converter with loads of switches to select the right caps for the motor you have plugged in. The bloke I bought it off had paired it up with the motor you see on the left and balanced the phases by playing with the caps.
The motor has its shaft chopped off and runs constantly when the converter is on. I can run any of my machines regardless of motor size without touching the unit, or have no motors on and just a DRO working, or small motor such as power feed, or a combination of things.
The white painted thing is an old bracket I made years ago when it was hanging from a roof joist.
On the wall in a more accessible spot is where it is plugged into 240v, and beside it a 415v socket and the plugs for the machines (L = lathe etc).
I also still have this
Its what I bought second hand about 20 years ago when I first got my lathe, a static converter with switching for 1, 2 or 3 HP.
I ran a Colchester Triumph off it for years, it was great for such a simple thing but not ideal as the lathe has no clutch so this was starting the motor every time I started the spindle and static converters dont like constant start stop. It did work well though, I keep it for emergency backup.
The main advantage of the system I use is that I can buy more equipment and just plug it in with no extra cost and no mods to the equipment.
It gets talked about often, and there are quite a few different solutions out there, different solutions suit different people for different reasons, all preferences are valid.
So show us yours.....and tell us a few facts and advantages......
Here's mine -
Tucked down beside my Milling machine is this -
On the right is what was a static converter with loads of switches to select the right caps for the motor you have plugged in. The bloke I bought it off had paired it up with the motor you see on the left and balanced the phases by playing with the caps.
The motor has its shaft chopped off and runs constantly when the converter is on. I can run any of my machines regardless of motor size without touching the unit, or have no motors on and just a DRO working, or small motor such as power feed, or a combination of things.
The white painted thing is an old bracket I made years ago when it was hanging from a roof joist.
On the wall in a more accessible spot is where it is plugged into 240v, and beside it a 415v socket and the plugs for the machines (L = lathe etc).
I also still have this
Its what I bought second hand about 20 years ago when I first got my lathe, a static converter with switching for 1, 2 or 3 HP.
I ran a Colchester Triumph off it for years, it was great for such a simple thing but not ideal as the lathe has no clutch so this was starting the motor every time I started the spindle and static converters dont like constant start stop. It did work well though, I keep it for emergency backup.
The main advantage of the system I use is that I can buy more equipment and just plug it in with no extra cost and no mods to the equipment.