Static phase convertor - motor getting really hot

[vwmark]

Hi - anyone help. Did a favour for a friend of a friend and sourced him a static pahse converter to run his 1hp Union Graduate wood lathe. Fitted a DOL and rewired it. Tried it at home and no problem and quickly at his place and everything was OK. 1 year on ......... he has just called to say that he has only today used it in anger and the motor got really hot. To hot to touch.

The converter was a Transwave who have a good rep. He does think he was running it on the highest setting as the motor didn't start on the lowest setting.

I had heard the rumours that phase converters are no good but can they be so bad!

Problem I have is he is 50 miles from me so just cannot pop to have a look.

Why do I do favours!

 

[brightspark]

depends on what model it is mines fitted with a voltmeter and motors suposed to run at 415 volt .any higher and it --can cook the motor. it starts on boost then drops of on to run and u turn the voltage to match the motor

 

[vwmark]

From what I remember it only has an ammeter. Told him to start it on the lower settings and use the boost button but have my suspicion that he is starting it on the highest setting and either with or without boost. Would leaving it on the highest setting cause the over heating?

 

[brightspark]

From what I remember it only has an ammeter. Told him to start it on the lower settings and use the boost button but have my suspicion that he is starting it on the highest setting and either with or without boost. Would leaving it on the highest setting cause the over heating?

yes it would cook the motor

 

[ukracer]

yes it would cook the motor

I had this problem. I purchased a second hand transwave and it runs my colchester a treat.

It fried the motor to my linishing belt. I think it was as I had it on the wrong setting out of 4.........but not sure.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

The boost button switches in a bank of capacitors to provide a starting phase.
My static has 3 ammeters, 1 for each phase and you adjust the switches to balance the current across each phase.
If you use the incorrect switches the phases are unbalanced and so the motor is fighting itself all the time and will overheat.
So long as the motor still starts and runs it should be OK, if it doesn't get up to full speed it could be that a phase has burnt out on the motor but they do take alot of abuse for that to happen.

 

[vwmark]

Thanks - I will get him to try a different setting and keep an eye on the motor. Never ever do favours. I should have it tattooed on my forehead.

 

[brightspark]

with the diffent settings u can hear the motor running rough if not -set properly and smooth if the voltage is rite

 

[ukracer]

If I buy 3 cheap meters off eBay what should I be measuring and between where?

 

[brightspark]

-a bit of info if -the scan works acording to the info a voltage meter just the one conects between live one and live 2

 

[Wendelspanswick]

If I buy 3 cheap meters off eBay what should I be measuring and between where?

You wire the ammeters in series to the output socket, remove each phase wire from the output socket and tag it on to an ammeter and then take another wire from the other ammeter terminal back to the output socket.