MAKE YOUR OWN THREE PHASE POWER THE EASY WAY

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Make your own three phase power the easy way.
You can engineer your own three phase power for your home machine shop from industrial scrap. It's not terribly hard but there is some information that you will have to learn to make it work. We are basically making a rotary phase converter that will power our new antique power hacksaw.
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[@desertdan100]

It is awesome to see a kindred spirit. I have been in the HVAC industry and around Commercial, Industrial areas. I have always kept and tinkered with salvage or old parts to build all kinds of projects. One man's trash is another man's treasure. It also helped me learn a lot of things. I used to love to get my hands on some of the massive old school Capacitors and big configurable transformers that could be set up to buck or boost. They lasted 20 or 30 years with no issues and are still good 60 years later. Now I go through capacitors like paper towels. Nobody believes in manufacturing quality or durability anymore. Once in awhile I will still come across a 2 to 5 lb coffee can sized capacitor but now they are a Unicorn. I used to build battery chargers and all kinds of stuff out of them. Now I grab all of the old heavy microwaves I can for the heavy duty transformers and the ring magnets, and a few other components to play with. 15 years ago I shocked an owner because I built a control and bypass box to run a new VFD and 20 HP motor we changed out on a 50's vintage massive belt drive blower air handler in a an old Church. It was the old school Hot Deck , Cold Deck style with Analog heavy duty Honeywell damper actuators with 3/4 " rod linkage to the Blend dampers. No one could find a Hand, Auto, Off control panel to integrate into the old control system and the new VFD to make everything work together. I built one and tied it altogether with relay and contactor logic just like you are doing with the auxiliary safety contacts to interrupt and make sure circuits were not trying to fight each other. It was a 2 speed or dual speed 3 phase motor configuration and we varied the speed of the first stage or lower speed during load shedding and first stage operation. The VFD let us control or program multiple modes. If need be, anyone including the maintenance guy in an Emergency could walk in and put it on Hand or manual and select high or low to provide shared heating or cooling through the whole building if there was a problem. The Hand position would engage a soft start. I am with you. Relay logic and mechanical stuff just works. Computer boards and DDC are always failing.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Great comment, thank you for sharing. Nothing beats relay logic. I use it to replace boards in anything I can, it just plain works. I have 100 ton chiller at a paper mill that the board went up on. I installed relays and mechanical temp controls on it to replace the boards and sensors and they ran it like that for ten years. I'm with you.

[@desertdan100]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Many years ago we replaced a 50 ton Trane AC with a Commercial carrier Unit with twin Semi Hermetic Compressors and unloaders. I Built an automatic unloading control scheme to shed load and also allow it to run in low ambient temperatures. I used mechanical adjustable pressure controls like we used to use in freezers years ago. I set up 4 stages of cooling and 3 unloading stages that were automated off of pressure to take care of varying loads. I set everything up with a Nitrogen bottle and regulator first before installing it. It worked great for 3 years until another Company subbing out for Carrier building services could not understand what I had done and convinced the owner that they could save him on utilities with a computerized overlay. They tore all of my beautiful work out and sold the owner thousands of dollars worth of controls and years of constant tweaking and upgrading. I used to be a contractor Rep or trouble shooter for Carrier Commercial industrial machines including chillers. I got sent out to that same customer after about 4 years because of issues and it kept shelling out compressors. I told them to bring back the guys that did all of the changes and make them pay for it. With what I had done originally they would have never had an issue. Instead they lost compressors due to improper unloading, or should I say no unloading in low temps, and washed the oil out of the crankcases by slugging or bringing back liquid refrigerant. Liquid refrigerant is a poor lubricant for compressor bearings. The old Antique Trane units had a simple discharge air damper or baffle actuated by a cylinder using discharge refrigerant pressure. They also had one stage of unloading. They worked for 25 years of constant running before just plain wearing out. Water is wet and oil is slick and no amount of computer control and software is going to change or affect that. Do you think our super smart young programmers can ever learn that? I am 55 and I started out while we still had Analog Electric and pneumatics not to mention relay logic. DDC computer controls were just starting out on basic DOS systems and I got in on the ground floor so to say. I loved what the computer systems could do but I could integrate and mix and match systems and I understood them. I could understand the logic in a much larger total system that had to synchronize with many others. It seems that we have lost that in todays world. Oh well, good luck with your future projects, we need more guys like you out there showing the youth a different path.

[@smichels5117]

No apologies needed - your speaking was conversational and easy to understand. Great work on this!

[@vulgarkyle]

Excellent explanation. Thanks for taking the time to show everyone. Vfd are so expensive, and I have unlimited access to 3 phase motors.

[@mikes1345]

Dont really understand electrical connections and terms. Lost a brother on someone else's wiring. But I have 2 nephews who probably understand every thing you said and did. They get calls from me when I'm over my head. Your video is interesting and helpful since my nephews and myself are known to find used ch4aper tools to use. Three phase equipment does come up ie. Air compressor for free every now and then. Now you showed me a solution.

[@allanho2199]

Dear Jim, we are ok in HK, wish you and your family and all other viewers good health and be safe.

[@GeorgeJirout]

I respect your professionalism Jim! Thank you!!

[@chrishayes5755]

you really did a great job explaining throughout the video. much better than others I watched.

[@codys_fab]

You're an electrical wizard. Thank you so much!

[@thomasarussellsr]

Yup, for what you are using, that is a fairly clean 3-phase. Great job, brother. I dont know if those who are basically clueless (on mechanical and electrical) could understand your explainations, but as a guy who has a degree in electrical engineering, you seemed to bring the vocabulary down to a common level. Great job. If you get tired of all of that field work, maybe your next step could be as an instructor in a trade school? Again, great job. See you on the next one.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I have been giving that some thought for awhile.

[@joseortiz5965]

Omg , jim . I have no idea what the heck is the difference between phase one ore two, but I am learning. I have a son that is an electrical engineer in the US NAVY. Keep the videos coming cause one day I might surprise my son .vlol

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Atta boy Jose

[@KrugerrandFarms]

Nice clean job Jim, Congratulations! We knew it was going to work but it is still reassuring when everything comes together. Each victory will help you some other to win. I always made sure that the primary power would drop out if we had a momentary power interruption. Nice way to say power failure. I know you never have them but in our neck of the woods they are not unusual. This protects the system if it cannot restart without your personal assistance. Then anything that is hooked up could single phase until it "Lets the smoke out". Never a good option. So if the lights go out while you are taking a shit the worst thing that will happen is that you will have to start it back up after the paperwork is done. I hope you have enough paper....

[@samrodian919]

I love it " when the paperwork is done" priceless mate!

[@FNSICK]

I appreciate you making the point about the potential relay taking out the motor as well when they die. I just bought a new, very expensive 10HP Baldor motor and I would hate for it to be killed by a $20 potential relay.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That would suck but I've replaced a lot of them over the years for that reason.

[@phatteus]

Dude! That was fascinating and thank you so much for going over the same stuff from so many different angles. I think I can build one of these. Still, lots of questions and tons more research to build to my specific situation. You are awesome! Three phase compressor motors here I come!

[@seannot-telling9806]

Jim I was told that my 3Ph compressor even though it was VFD rated that to keep the bearings healthy I would be wise to add an AEGIS ring to it. It will bleed off the electricity that is building up in the rotor and arching through the bearings. I needed to have the motor rebuilt and had then do it at that time. The reason for the rebuild is the bearings were a bit on the tired side.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I'll look into that.

[@retiringrenegade9874]

Well done Brother! You and the family be safe!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Dan, just left you a voicemail.

[@retiringrenegade9874]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Thank You Brother for contacting me and the conversation! I enjoyed it tremendously! You are truly an inspiration to me and others I am sure! I Thank You for it, and all that You do! Have a great day and a wonderful 2020!

[@grahamallen3941]

Well explained Jim, thanks very much. It’s a nice build, well done. Looking forward to seeing that saw in operation. Take care, be safe. Graham🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@ryanm7549]

Great Video! Thanks for sharing:)

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thanks for watching

[@JeremeSalazar]

Nice project an RPC. I like that.

[@howardemery1443]

i have no idea or clue but im watching and learning thanks jim

[@melissatuason2395]

Clear as mud Jim, but your schematic is the most comprehensive one out there, my husband is going to attempt this to run his 12hp 3ph planer. He said he will have to watch your video several times and freeze frames in certain sections. In theory can he use a 3ph 15hp idler motor ?.......Thank you again sir

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Yes he can. It's not as hard as it looks, he'll do well with it.

[@melissatuason2395]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Men like you are getting rare these days thank you sir .

[@carlwhite8225]

Jim, very informative , will let you know how mine turns out. thanks

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Good luck

[@ambassadorbuildersinc.9493]

Great vid. Seen some other vids that like you said arent for the general layman. You da man. Thanks for the vid. Thanks for protecting Humanity Ha!!!!!

[@josemoncayo3222]

excellent video , very clear explanation greetings from mexico

[@bud-in-pa589]

This is really old-school. My uncle has run his 3-ph lathe this way for over for over 50 years. One additional thing he has on his setup is an idler pulley on the pony motor belt drive to allow him to release the belt tension after starting the idler motor. Keeps the pony motor from continuing to spin after the idler motor has started.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That's a pretty good idea.

[@Sam..Omg..]

120/208-240 Delta, Nice project :~)

[@neelsswierstra4603]

It work that it ids all you need

[@keithparady2594]

Stay safe out there

[@totherarf]

Well that was not what I expected! Don't get me wrong .... it works (and I have seen it on Kris Harbour Natural Building .... worth a watch) ..... But I was expecting a mechanically coupled single phase and 3 phase motor acting as a generator set! As near as I can tell the "noise" is from what we call single phasing .... (a 3 phase motor running on 2 phases) and you are generating a 2 phase supply with an artificially induced third leg at a 90 degree phase angle to both the supply legs! It is not easy to put into words but if you picture it as 2 triangles representing the 3 phases. One triangle is equilateral .... all balanced and good the other is the first triangle with one of the points dragged to the middle a bit to form a 90 degree point. That explains why your voltages are different on one leg. When you switch the other motor in it drags the triangle more into line (load)! When we talk about a "Clean" supply line we are not talking about voltage but waveform. I have no idea what the waveform on your rig would be but with the harmonics from the windings and caps it would not be good ....... but the more you load it the "cleaner" it would get! Whilst it would not be suitable for industrial applications for you it is ideal! (cheap and it works)! A final thought ..... does this affect your electric bill? Those pesky smart meters they have been fitting all over actually record your power factor and if you drop below a certain point they will charge you a different rate for ALL your power! Call me paranoid if you want, but your not if they realy are out to get you! ;0)

[@johnsushchyk7933]

Thank you for sharing

[@SilverBack.]

Hi PROF, another great instructional video 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thank you Doug

[@SilverBack.]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Prof do you know how to make a VFD unit

[@kurtdietrich5421]

Nice work. It's really cool what you know.

[@williamfenshaw3721]

I’ve ever done this before and those black wires are stacked on each other in the dark and I can’t tell where everything goes. I followed your design and bought all the parts that you used here but I can’t wear them because I can’t see those black on blacks I don’t know which ones are going where think I’ve got like one or two but I’m not sure about like the switch for one.

[@BBForge]

nice job Jim i know that's going to come in handy

[@alexwilson9311]

Great video Jim I’m really looking forward to seeing your saw in operation you certainly have a array of gear kickin around 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@Theyoutubewatcher555]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[@jamescopeland5358]

Good video

[@markmarkw1919]

Great video! One thing though, and I apologize if it's been said already; near the beginning you have a big capacitor with three terminals; You said something like "If you want to get more power out of it, you could wire the two (internal cap.s) in series". This may be what you meant, it sounded backwards to me; if you wire them in series you will increase the max allowable VOLTAGE; if you want to increase the capacitance, you'd wire them in parallel, i.e., jump the two non-common terminals together, no?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Good evening. You are correct and I misspoke. Good catch!

[@joeysmith1853]

Great video look forward to seeing saw run.

[@samrodian919]

Very interesting and I am glad to see you using the proper neutral instead of the ground. I would like to do something like this but the way your electrical systems are designed with 240 volts being split into two separate 120 volt lines is different from ours in the uk. We have our 240 in a single #40 v supply, not split and I'm trying to think of a way I could energise the L1 and L2 of the ghost 3 phase motor. Would using the neutral give a negative 240v to say L2, would that work? the neutral being the negative side of the sine wave.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

You should be able to do it the same way I am here, just match all of your motor voltages. Your capacitor sizes might be a bit different than what I'm using.

[@bitp1mp]

Did you ever do this? I'm in Australia and have the same 240V coming into my house.

[@russellwilson5246]

im trying to find a way to not cary a charger on a long range electric bike...i have a controller on the way that can do regenerative braking...watching you it seems i could use the 3 phase motor on the bike (brushless dc motor) as an ideler and produce 3 phase to put through the controller to charge batterys..240v ac here in aus i can use a simple cheep light dimmer/fan controll to turn voltage down but im not sure how to reduce the aperage/currant..perhaps a light bulb or resistor..any way do you have any sugestions/ideas for me..needing some thing like 40v dc at round 25 amps...thanks russ.

[@unitwoodworking5403]

Nice vidto and Good luck 👍👍👍

[@fredflintstone8048]

You'll want to wire the dual capacitors in parallel, not series to get 'more juice' (higher ufd value) out of them. Wiring caps in parallel causes the values to add together. Wiring them in series causes the total value to be less than the smaller cap (C1 x C2) / (C1 + C2). I think you said that one cap is 5ufd, and the other is 50 ufd. Wiring them in parallel will give you 55 ufd, wiring them in series will give you 4.5ufd.. Another negative aspect of running VFDs is that they generate harmonics which cause electrical currents between the motor armature and ground. This will cause arcing in the bearings and will ruin the motor bearings over time. There are ways to solve this but it usually means buying expensive equipment for the motor in order to ground the motor shaft.

[@------country-boy-------]

If the power goes out while theres a load the generator motor rotor will get demagnetized. Can spark it with a car battery to re-magnatise. I know because I built an induction motor generator. One time I ran out of diesel and had to learn the hard way 😅.

[@dimitrijusseliuginas4420]

Hi, you try run three-phase sensible electronics on your rotary phase converter as sample 3phase tig welder

[@eduardodaquiljr1621]

sir in your calculation,how much micro farda per horsepower is needed in start capacitors and also in run capacitors?thank you.

[@lonestar4721]

Nice! I saw an idler motor with a large diameter pulley and the guy would spin it with his foot to start the operation. I have a question. When the idler motor takes off and is spinning the pony motor does the pony motor begin generating electricity as well? Keep up the good work.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Good afternoon. The idler (starter) does not keep generating power once you remove power from it unless it was a special type of motor.

[@lonestar4721]

@@TheTradesmanChannel I might have messed up the lingo. The 1/4 hp spin starts the 5hp which then becomes the three phase generator for the load motor? I think I may be missing a core concept. Thanks for the reply.

[@michaeljennings5170]

When i used to make convertors i always used 35 mfd per hp

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Everyone does things a little differently, I just do what works for me and use the combination of caps that meters out the best.

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Pretty cool

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Thanks buddy

[@keithparady2594]

Good stuff

[@josemoncayo3222]

over here in mexico, if you dont have three fase feed, but if is avalaible nearby, at least with materials, all the porcedures with CFE, theonly supplier in mexico, it going to cost about 1500 to 2000 usd to do it .

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Nice to meet you sir. Seems three phase is expensive everywhere. Greetings from north of the border.

[@jasongannon7676]

I have access to a massive free grinder that 3 phase , and need to build the device in this video. However this type of wiring I have trouble grasping. Love some help

[@tashabaird5771]

Could one of these be made to power a 100 HP 3 phase motor? It for a sawmill I have.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

You definitely can, just size your components accordingly. You also might be further ahead to convert to single phase.

[@agustinguzman6375]

@thetradesmanchannel Did you ever publish an Schematic for your 3 phase generator setup?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I have not but I probably could

[@rickosman5100]

Nice!

[@crazyeight2597]

So I have a 3 phase 400 amp 480v generator and I would like to have it set up to run 3 phase stuff in shop also be able to power a single phase house. I’d like to have a step down box that goes from 3 to 1. And don’t mind spending some cash to buy one.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Your issue is going to be getting down to 208/230v three phase. Get a transformer for that and then you can also pull single phase power from the 208/230 volt three phase as each leg with run around 115v.

[@jafinch78]

Am I understanding this correctly? First or Second Phases of the 3-Phase motor are being powered by 120VAC to turn the motor and the Second or Third Phases of the Motor are used as a generator? Can you confirm?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

On a three phase motor the three poles of power are close enough initiate the turning of the armature. On single phase (120v or 240v) motors the poles are not close enough to start the motor turning. With this setup we are using power robbed from both legs of the single phase supply to generate the third pole.

[@jafinch78]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Thanks for confirming. I was thinking that... though never seen done before. Good to know as a method. I found that the Prius CVT's since last so long can be found for a relatively great price, so purchased one so far and plan to get another. They have two Motor Generators (MG's) that are a permanent magnet design. I've thought could run one as a motor on single phase and the other as a generator, generating three phase. I also was thinking and will do most likely, just run one or both (if lazy and don't machine or modify the case to make separate enclosures) off a 18HP motor to limit the power for now while testing. Eventually, the plan is to make an engine welder/generator and potentially a hybrid garden tractor.

[@jedidiahlawton2149]

12 to 16 per what and where do you get that?

[@carlubambi5541]

Do you have a schematic for this

[@billyhickson1632]

Hi, would a 5HP rotery Three Phase Converter be big enough for a 4.4 KVA EDM machine ? Thank you for any help.!!

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I think it should work, you need 1hp to get it going.

[@tashabaird5771]

Can you do this same process no matter the size of motor? I'm trying to power a 3phase 100hp motor to run a sawmill.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

How big is your sawmill motor now?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

To do a 100hp electric motor you would need a 300hp three phase motor to make the three phase.

[@tashabaird5771]

100 HP. I have also got a 50 HP that came with it

[@tashabaird5771]

Could I send you some pictures of what I have and see what you think I'm dealing with

[@WhiteFox011]

Jim, I will take your word for this stuff, Electricity, and Plumbing and I just do not mix well. It makes for a good video and lets us know a bit more about what makes you tick. Stay safe.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Never too late to learn my friend.

[@marianodiaz461]

Hi , the 5hp motor is wired as Star or Delta?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Star

[@marianodiaz461]

@@TheTradesmanChannel so what have to be done to generate 415v between phases?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

To be quite honest, I don't think you'll be able to with homemade equipment.

[@deltabloo]

What is the final voltage you are aiming for? 120/208? Is the idler motor running on 120 or 240 single phase?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Final voltage is 208/230 3 phase, idler motor runs on 220v.

[@adrianwilliams9863]

since not using a controls transformer did you add a neutral to the 120 volt coils?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Yes.

[@marcerivest6204]

It doesn't seem too complicated, my brother in law is a guy in the same trade as you, l will have him help me with the technical end of it, and l will start looking for a 5to 6 hp 220 to 440 3 phase motor. Thanks for the info.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

It's not too bad at all.

[@dodznb238]

Hello sir ,thank you for this video i like big, im watching support, from philippines, province of negros bacolod ciry, ny job is rewinding motor

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Pleasure to meet you

[@howardemery1443]

you know i bet ben franklin would be proud to see the way to by pass the problem

[@kylelongstaff]

would this method of using an idling motor work if my device also sends power back to the grid? or probably not eh.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I don't think it would. Remember you're not generating power here, you're robbing a little from the other two legs to make a third.

[@kylelongstaff]

@@TheTradesmanChannel thanks yea it seems like the only way is to pay the big bucks for me.. thx.

[@BlueFlameOfLife]

I just finished getting my 10 hp rpc going but im having some problem getting the phases balanced, when i run my intended load (chain hoist ) 2 of my legs drop to 190v . I can add more run caps and get the volts up to 270 idling (way higher than i like ) but same problem voltage drops when i run the hoist down to 195 -200. Im wondering if you have had this problem before. Everything sounds good idler runs nice and quiet. Idling it only pulls 4 amps . Im gona double check my hoist and idler wiring and make sure its good.if all is good im taking of adding a 2nd idler maybe it will help clean up the power ? Any suggestions ?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Add another three phase motor into the circuit, it helps clean up the power quite a bit.

[@BlueFlameOfLife]

@@TheTradesmanChannel does the 2nd idler size matter ? I was thinking 2 hp ? I also have a 20 hp motor i could use , would it be better to just do 1 20 hp ?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Adding another small idler running off of your phase converter helps to pull the single phase closer to the same plane as your three phase. It will never be quite perfect, but you can get it within the 10% safety net.

[@Orgakoyd]

@@BlueFlameOfLife Curious what HP your hoist motor is? The number one aspect of a phase converter is how much larger your idler motor is than your load motor. 3x is a good rule, but the larger the better, as far as voltage balance. Multiple idlers in parallel is a good idea, as smaller 3 phase motors are cheaply available and it gives you some flexibility to only run the idler you really need. If 10hp isn’t enough, adding another 5hp or 10hp idler sounds better than adding a 2hp idler (you can run the 5hp on its own for example as a smaller phase converter for running say 1-2hp machines)To Minimise the voltage drop of the generated legs, the most stable and durable method is to use buck/boost transformers to boost the generated voltages a bit so they don’t drop so low. 2X 3 kVA 24/48V buck/boost transformers wired for boost placed across the 2 generated legs should help quite a bit. If your single phase is connected across A-B, your boost transformers should be connected across B-C and another boost transformer across A-C. A-B is still the single phase voltage and is “passed through” the converter, nothing done to it by the idler motor nor by the boost transformers, and is very stable as it’s coming from the power company from a large transformer.

[@BlueFlameOfLife]

@@Orgakoyd thanks for the reply and the information, i actually got this fixed not to long ago, my RPC works just fine but the 4hp 3 ton hoist i had was wired wrong when it was rewired from 460v to 230v . so when i was trying to run it, it was fighting its self. once we got that fixed my voltage stopped dropping out when in service. but i may have to get another idler motor if i end up getting another piece of equipment but we shall see. thanks again for the help

[@tedjohn441]

Your are way over my head. My neighbor has set up to run 3 phase and I think it just involves a pony motor to 3 phase motor turning and then they take the power to run said tool form there. I may be wrong but would that work?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That's exactly what this does.

[@Tomhohenadel]

Like wise Jim. Way over my capacitor.

[@samrodian919]

Well if you actually watched and listened that's exactly what Jim did, he disconnected both capacitors and then it is exactly the same as you described, but as Jim pointed out the 3 phase motor will not like it at all, and if it is an older "tired" motor as he described it, meaning with old poor insulation on the windings they will heat up because of the voltage and current imbalance and sooner rather than later the motor will fry nicely. Fire extinguishers at the ready chaps!

[@Old-Blue]

Out of curiosity what is your service amperage to the panel? I have 200amp to my shop and never seam to have enough amps to power up every thing, will your saw running limit your other tools?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

This is only a 100 amp sub panel. A 100 amp panel can run a pretty big shop, one guy working alone is rarely using more than 20amps at a time as he's running tools.

[@Old-Blue]

TheTradesmanChannel I also have a 100amps coming off the panel to a cottage, so just have to be aware of whats going on over there. However my jointer and table saw use 240v, just have to be careful when my son and I are working the tools together.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

It's the amp draw you have to watch. Both of those tools probably draw around 15amps each, total of 30 amps. A household generally is drawing around 40 amps at any given time. So if you have a 200 amp panel you're only drawing say 70amps with two of your main tools running. Say you are running 1500 watts worth of lighting in your house, which would be say 15 100 watt light fixtures at once, that is only around 15 amps.

[@Old-Blue]

TheTradesmanChannel my issue is not having enough breakers and circuits, might have to upgrade the panel someday and run more wiring.

[@MattsARocknRolla]

How big of a motor would I need to kick start a 12hp

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

If you're talking about the pony motor to get the whole thing spinning, any motor that can get it moving should work.

[@wheelscare1]

Hello sir i want to talk with you. I want to know about my 3 phase motor. I want to run on single phase plz help me ❤

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Good morning. You have two options, replace the motor with single phase or build one of these.

[@wheelscare1]

@@TheTradesmanChannel 3phase motor cannot convert on single phase?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

It cannot

[@hughleyton693]

Yes, correct, you can drive a 3-phase motor using a Capacitor like that. . . . BUT the value of the Capacitor will only be correct for one size of motor and also for only one specific speed or Power output on that motor.. . . These days, it would be better to get a VFD drive unit, which can change single-phase to 3-phase.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

You are right as long as you have the proper insulation class motor due to voltage spikes. In all reality I could have used a single phase motor on this piece of equipment just as easily.

[@hughleyton693]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Interestingly, there are No such things as single phase motors. . . How can you make them rotate. ?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Capacitors on many of them, some are shaded pole motors. I just build and fix things for a living.

[@hughleyton693]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Yes, many have an internal capacitor and a 3rd winding. :-)

[@hughleyton693]

And since that 3rd winding taps into the centre of the main winding, together with the capacitor, effectively makes it a 3-phase Motor, not a very good 3-phase motor but they work. 🙂

[@carlubambi5541]

You need a VFD rated motor to use a VFD on a motor .They do heat up and generate a lot of EMF on your lines and you'll interfere with other electronics .alone conditioners are essential when using VFDs .Especially single phase to 3 phase VFD .Does not matter what brand and you could be sending noise down the mains to your neighbours house who has $ 1,000,000 home theater system and he won't be too happy let alone to someone's house who has medical equipment .Just remember you are responsible for noise generated on power lines just like ham radio !

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

There is a difference between vfd and a rotary phase converter. If you did it right when building it, then you do not get the voltage spikes that you do with a single to three phase vfd. The rotary phase converters work well with the old motor. On my 2x72 grinder I built it with a vfd rated motor due to high voltage peaks put out by the vfd.

[@grounded1943]

You only have one phase to start with. L1 and L2 are the same phase. The motor is running single phase at a reduced torque, you are limited to what load .you apply to the motor before it stalls. Maybe 20% of what it would be using 3 phase. You need a 240 single phase motor driving a 240 volt 3 phase generator to run your equipment.

[@Orgakoyd]

The 3 phase idler motor is acting like a rotary transformer, the rotor being the primary winding, and the stator windings being the secondary windings. The rotor is inductively energized by the single phase supplied to 2 legs of the stator, and as it spins, it induces a voltage in the 2 other windings, creating the phase difference mechanically as the magnetic field of the rotor sweeps the stator windings. You end up with three voltages that are 120° out of phase as a result of the physical position of the stator windings, with frequency equal to the single phase supply, but with the downside that the ‘generated’ voltages will drop below the single phase supply as you load the converter. Having an idler 3x or larger (the larger the better) than your load motor will alleviate the voltage drop issue, but you can use boost transformers to step up the 2 generated voltages a bit so they don’t drop as low as if you just had a bare rotary converter. Rotary phase converter have been working for over 100 years.

[@cousinfester4621]

I never see anyone measuring the frequency. Considering that there is slippage in an asynchronous motor, it has to be somewhat less than 60 HZ.

[@ohhpaul7364]

Nice overview and build. I have done it once before but it still wont stick in my head completely. Your voltage meter might have a dying battery, mine does that numbers jumping display right before the batteries die. what is worse, when the battery finally does go, the readings are all over the place and wrong. try having that happen for the first time when you are standing in front of a customer and you are standing there wondering what the f is happening. "Uhhh, your house should have been setting things on fire if this is right..."

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Good evening. That meter is actually meant to do that, it's a true rms meter so it'll never go to true 0. This thing will read the milivolts on a neutral wire.

[@twagner6155]

I've done residential wiring some and have asked my electrician brother in law a lot of questions. Electrical is not my friend.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Hello T

[@samrodian919]

You like a fried breakfast I take it ? Lol

[@twagner6155]

@@samrodian919 I'm ok at it.

[@michaeljennings5170]

Why not start the idler with a start cap?

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

It is easier but I replace way too many compressors as well as motors due to start cap malfunction to want to worry about it at home. For the record, that is just my preference, not a you should do it like me statement.

[@roldanmasendo6022]

Hi sir can you make control circuit diagram

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

I can do that

[@roldanmasendo6022]

Thanks sir

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Interesting, but it might help to explain that the 'idler motor' is acting as an inductor that, with the capacitors, gives the required phase shift (LC circuit). Displaying the phase angle (as well as the voltage and current as you do) would clarify. Given the large size and poor efficiency of such a system, I will stick with VFDs.

[@johnfenlon458]

Hello I am interested in Rotary Phase Converters. I would want to build. I have a 5 HP 240V motor. I connected on 240v single phase L1 and L2 to Switch to T1 and T2 5HP 240V But the motor did not run. I think I need to add capacitors for the starter motor. Then I connected T1, T2 and T3 to Crane's 208v 3HP 3 phase. Can you help me how to build the switch and capacitors. Please send me an email Thanks.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Good morning, go to tradesmanoffgrid.com and send me a private message. It sounds like you're missing a pony motor.

[@johnfenlon458]

@@TheTradesmanChannel Thanks I sent you. Thumb up Cheer!

[@HappyHarryHardon]

The easy way is to order a VFD.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

That is the easy way but this one cost me around $50 and it works just fine.

[@Rottinrock]

stupid will always be stupid, you can not idiot proof safety

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

There is that, good morning.

[@binaryglitch64]

How dare you use used components ... (Coming from a guy who gets upset when he actually has to buy a component.)

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

You sound like me, might even call me cheap

[@binaryglitch64]

@@TheTradesmanChannel lol

[@travistrucking7671]

Too much unwanted information.

[@TheTradesmanChannel]

Get a camer and do it better.