Rotary Phase Converter using Phase-a-matic

[@ZachWaltz-ro6bg]

Excellent video!

[@danielatbasementtech]

Glad you liked it!

[@randyshoquist7726]

Perhaps I'm being pedantic, but you supply one phase to your idler motor, since your house has one-phase power, and the idler generates the other two phases. But, I hear you say, there are three legs, and three phases. Ipso facto one leg per phase, right? No, you also have three loops, or circuits. Each phase has a circuit. If we label the legs A, B and C, and apply single phase power to circuit A-B, then the idler generates B-C and C-A. And since the motor windings are physically spaced 120°, the power they generate is electrically spaced 120° as well. Part of the magic of three-phase is that, if the load is balanced, the phases can share legs, and not need a neutral return path. So it may seem that the RPC supplies a "third leg," but it actually generates two phases, which share that leg, while the third phase (or maybe it's the first) is supplied by the mains. What the capacitor and other elements do is briefly use the B-C and C-A windings like the start winding in a single phase motor to get it spinning. Then the start circuit disconnects, and B-C and C-A become generator windings, while A-B remains a single phase run winding.

[@KaelHankins]

Thanks for the video this really helped me understand how the converter is working to generate the third phase. Seeing inside the phase-o-matic was useful to.

[@danielatbasementtech]

@kaelHankins ... thank you for your comment ... I appreciate it very much.

[@TerriMullins-ju5ob]

Thank you for the video, your very articulate way of speaking is very helpful, is there any backfeeding back to the phase converter? I have a 10 HP lathe and trying to use it as an Idler motor to run my 7 1/2 hp lathe, I put a switch on the B line and turned it off after starting the 10 HP, when I start the 7 1/2 the red light comes on again on the phase converter. I'm using 1200HD 8-12 HP phase a matic any help would be appreciated. Thanks again for the video

[@danielatbasementtech]

Hi @TerriMullins-ju5ob ... thanks for your kind words ... I love sharing my experiences. Two thoughts ... The symptom you describe is what Phase-a-matic said might happen if the generated phase is not switched out when a heavy load starts. If I were you, I would double check the documentation against your wiring and make sure that your switch is actually on the generated phase. Secondly, I'm not an expert with motors that big, but you are pushing the limit of what a rotary phase converter can start without "run" capacitors. However, I might imagine that the startup load on a lathe is pretty small ? Finally, if the above fails, I would recommend calling the Phase-a-matic technical support line (I think it's 661-947-8485 and/or there's an 866- number on their website) and ask forJeremy. He'll probably answer the phone. He was friendly and super helpful in answering questions I had in making the video. Maybe even mention my youTube video :-). Please continue to let us know how your progressing in the comments. Best of luck (and skill of course).

[@danielatbasementtech]

Terri, also see the updated video kzbin.info/www/bejne/a53ZhIapjr-dgtUsi=gzPV6I94hi0dH2eJ . Same idea, just a cleaner build, a newer phase-a-matic model, and some testing with our surface grinder.

[@danielatbasementtech]

PS Anyone else have ideas for Terri ?

[@carlosmedina6196]

Well done! and very helpuful.

[@danielatbasementtech]

Thank you … I have a fun follow-up coming up soon.

[@danielatbasementtech]

... by the way, thanks to those who gave it a thumbs up 🙂

[@danielatbasementtech]

I have a request: help me learn: if you disliked my video, please leave a comment to let me know why. (I don't know if the person who disliked it will see this comment 🙄

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

Was going to give you grief for fusing neutral ;-) Explanation seemed sufficient.

[@danielatbasementtech]

Thanks for the comment … the discussion is always valuable. I probably threw you off with my wire colors. The white wire is the third of the generated three phase and would be marked blue with tape if I were to field this … sorry for not making that clearer. No neutral in this circuit.

[@genielife7618]

Hello I have the same phase-a-matec phase converter and a couple of questions for you my friend

[@danielatbasementtech]

@@genielife7618 I’m happy to share anything I know !