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New shop equipment 3ph help
- Thread starter John G
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- Nov 25, 2015
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Yes it is.
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- Jun 12, 2014
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Phase Perfect is not a static converter, it generates the third leg the same as a VFD does, the difference is that it is a single leg which is sized much larger than a conventional VFD (to handle the load) and it is extensively filtered to produce a sinusoidal output. They have been around for many years, and for the most part have been very reliable and durable. They are very simple to install, they do not need to be oversized. If you were to use it for both machines you would need the 5Hp units assuming you are running one machine at a time, if both then the 7.5 Hp model should be sufficient as you will not be loading both at maximum at the same time. There have been other threads discussion of Phase Perfect and RPC's. Cost wise, when you get into the size VFD needed for a 3Hp and 5Hp motor with separate installs, you are in the same price range as the Phase Perfect or a store bought RPC.
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Digital or Rotary Phase Converters?
I just asked this in GJ, but I’m thinking some people here might have good insights specifically related to the hobby. So I am going to buy a small 5hp phase converter to run my 1.5hp Bridgeport. I have done some research into American Rotary Phase Converters and they use Baldor motors which I...
www.hobby-machinist.com
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- Nov 25, 2015
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- 9,632
well technically it is a static converter. A static converter is not a rotary converter.. a Rotary is not a static.. The term static refers to a converter that does not rotate. Hence a static converter.Phase Perfect is not a static converter, it generates the third leg the same as a VFD does, the difference is that it is a single leg which is sized much larger than a conventional VFD (to handle the load) and it is extensively filtered to produce a sinusoidal output. They have been around for many years, and for the most part have been very reliable and durable. They are very simple to install, they do not need to be oversized. If you were to use it for both machines you would need the 5Hp units assuming you are running one machine at a time, if both then the 7.5 Hp model should be sufficient as you will not be loading both at maximum at the same time. There have been other threads discussion of Phase Perfect and RPC's. Cost wise, when you get into the size VFD needed for a 3Hp and 5Hp motor with separate installs, you are in the same price range as the Phase Perfect or a store bought RPC.
Digital or Rotary Phase Converters?
I just asked this in GJ, but I’m thinking some people here might have good insights specifically related to the hobby. So I am going to buy a small 5hp phase converter to run my 1.5hp Bridgeport. I have done some research into American Rotary Phase Converters and they use Baldor motors which I...
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2014
- Messages
- 5,058
No it is not a static converter, it is a digital phase converter. It would be misleading to call it a static converter which is based on a phase shift using capacitors to start the motor and then drops out. A Phase Perfect generates all 3 phase, a static converter dose not.
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- Jun 27, 2016
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I used a Phase Perfect for many years with great results. It's best I think to consider it as a 3 phase power supply to the whole shop with very clean power and is very balanced between phases, which is very important if running CNC's with expensive electronics. Also they have a very high resale value.
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- Jan 1, 2018
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Every 3ph machine I have purchased starts out on the 10hp idler RPC that I built~35 years ago. I can bring home a new to me machine, plug it into the RPC and power it up immediately.
Several of my 3ph machines have subsequently been converted to VFD's for the convenience of plugging them into any 240v outlet. A VFD always takes some wiring on the machine to implement, some more than others. Several machines benefit from the variable portion of the VFD, like my lathe and mill. Many machines don't benefit from the variable frequency like table saws but I still have them wired with a VFD for convenience.
I spent 20 years with only a RPC before VFD's became affordable and I was able to get a lot of work done pre-VFD's.
Several of my 3ph machines have subsequently been converted to VFD's for the convenience of plugging them into any 240v outlet. A VFD always takes some wiring on the machine to implement, some more than others. Several machines benefit from the variable portion of the VFD, like my lathe and mill. Many machines don't benefit from the variable frequency like table saws but I still have them wired with a VFD for convenience.
I spent 20 years with only a RPC before VFD's became affordable and I was able to get a lot of work done pre-VFD's.
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- Dec 26, 2015
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I've had a Phase Perfect in my shop for 18 years. It's the most reliable machine in my shop that uses electricity. Totally love it. I have 7 3-phase pieces of equipment connected to it that vary in HP from 5 to 13HP. Absolutely the way to go if you can afford the up-front costs. With a rotary, you will ultimately pay more given that it consumes power whether the machines connected to it are running or not - plus they make noise, can have wildly fluctuating output voltage on the manufactured leg, and are of course mechanical devices. The Phase Perfect is solid state and are under rated from a capacity standpoint - see @mksj comments above.
A VFD is a different beast, not intended as a whole-shop solution since the VFD needs to be directly connected to the motor it's driving. But the VFD does provide variable frequency output giving you variable speed control for the connected motor, and if the motor is vector rated, the VFD can compensate and increase torque even at low RPM's. I have VFD on my PM-1340 lathe that's configured with a Baldor vector rated motor, and this gives me plenty of torque and variable speed, high speed braking, E-stop and jog facilities. I also have a VFD on my PM-935 knee mill and it provides a variety of functions including variable speed without changing belt positions, E-stop, auto-reversing, etc. Both those machines are powered with single-phase 220VAC. The Phase Perfect mentioned above powers all my woodworking equipment including panel saw, jointer, planer, dust extractor, spindle shaper, and wide-belt sander.
A VFD is a different beast, not intended as a whole-shop solution since the VFD needs to be directly connected to the motor it's driving. But the VFD does provide variable frequency output giving you variable speed control for the connected motor, and if the motor is vector rated, the VFD can compensate and increase torque even at low RPM's. I have VFD on my PM-1340 lathe that's configured with a Baldor vector rated motor, and this gives me plenty of torque and variable speed, high speed braking, E-stop and jog facilities. I also have a VFD on my PM-935 knee mill and it provides a variety of functions including variable speed without changing belt positions, E-stop, auto-reversing, etc. Both those machines are powered with single-phase 220VAC. The Phase Perfect mentioned above powers all my woodworking equipment including panel saw, jointer, planer, dust extractor, spindle shaper, and wide-belt sander.
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- Jun 7, 2019
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Defiantly a +1 for American Rotary. I’ve been running my shop on an AD-20 with an outdoor idler for a few years now. I feed a 3 phase breaker panel most everything hard wired with a few receptacles around. Everything works as designed from Hardinge lathes to CNC mill. Highly recommend the idler outside.
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- Dec 26, 2015
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The Phase Perfect is not what's traditionally referred to as a "static converter."