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Shop Machine Phase Converter

12/18/23       
Mike Member

I'm relocating my woodshop to a building that doesn't have 3 phase power and its rural so I can't get it hooked up. I have 4, 3 phase machines. Does anyone have experience using a phase converter? Looking to learn from others experiences and trying to decide what is better- 1 large converter or several smaller ones. Also any advise on brands that work well. Thanks

12/19/23       #2: Shop Machine Phase Converter ...
Leo G Member

You can always go Old School with a rotary phase convertor.

12/22/23       #3: Shop Machine Phase Converter ...
Dave Edgerton  Member

We use a 40 horsepower phase converter on a 200 amp feed. It can run anything in our shop. The brand we have is phase Quest

12/24/23       #4: Shop Machine Phase Converter ...
Jim Herron

I started with a 75hp rotary (actually still have it, just removed it from service)
I now run four smaller rotary converter s
I run my Striebig vertical panel saw, three 5hp shapers, Dodds dovetailer,and a 5hp Oneida Cyclone on one 10hp
Biesse Rover and Scmi widebelt on one 10hp
Holzher 1435SE bander and Rees DC that also services the widebelt on another 10hp
The 75hp converter pulls a LOT of amperage on start up and uses a lot of power to run all day
We are a two man shop so the loads are split well between the smaller converters
YMMV
Works better for my operation

1/20/24       #5: Shop Machine Phase Converter ...
Kurt Member

I guess it depends on your machine voltage as well. If your tools are 230v 3~ then you could get away with a VFD on each machine. If you have 600 3~ machines then yes, you would need a phase converter. I run a 30hp Ronk rotary phase converter in a small shop, along with two transformers and two electrical panels for the two voltages (230 and 600). The cost for me was the 600 amp panel and breakers which were purchased new. Phase converters can be picked up used for decent cash. Check your largest motor you plan on running, and how many machines at a time. Lots of tools online to calculate requirements. My 30hp is currently running on 100amp 240 single phase and meets my requirements for now. I can bump it up to 265 amps 1~ but then require a 400amp 1~ panel and new underground wire from the hydro transformer. A 30hp phase converter can handle a 30hp 3~ motor as its largest.
Best of luck!

8/31/24       #6: Shop Machine Phase Converter ...
Bruce H

I ran my shop on two rotary converts before moving where I didn't need them. The largest signal motor was on my wide belt, 15HP. My rip saw was 7.5hp and everything else was 5hp or less. I started with a 10hp converter until I got a wide belt, at that point I needed to buy a larger converter. I just left the smaller converter in place and only used the larger one with the wide belt. My kids have rotary converters in their garages because my left over machines are three phase. One or more converters will depend on what you need to run. The larger converter would have run everything if I had started out with it. Typically you can run three times the HP of your converter but are only able to start a single motor equal to the size of the converter.


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