running a 200V 3 phase motor from 220V power line?

Besides the 10 hp motor that I use as an idler, I have a 7.5 HP motor that is rated for 200V. I know that it runs fine from 220V three phase.

I am thinking what to do with it and am considering making a "phase converter kit", with the motor, furnas contactor, and 2 capacitors, and a regular light switch wired all together, and listing this kit on ebay, for say $100. The buyer who buys it would mount it in his own enclosure, but it should be ready to go once mounted.

My issue is that I do not want to sell a combo that will burn out due to inappropriate voltage.

Any thoughts?

i
Reply to
Ignoramus6304
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In article , Ignoramus6304 wrote: :Besides the 10 hp motor that I use as an idler, I have a 7.5 HP motor :that is rated for 200V. I know that it runs fine from 220V three phase. : :I am thinking what to do with it and am considering making a "phase :converter kit", with the motor, furnas contactor, and 2 capacitors, :and a regular light switch wired all together, and listing this kit on :ebay, for say $100. The buyer who buys it would mount it in his own :enclosure, but it should be ready to go once mounted. : :My issue is that I do not want to sell a combo that will burn out due :to inappropriate voltage.

Most single phase service is nominally 120/240V, and if that "240V" service is running at the high end of its tolerance range it can actually be close to 260V. I'd be seriously concerned that 260V would saturate the iron in a 200V motor.

Reply to
Robert Nichols

Thanks. Perhaps the easiest option, then, is to try to sell it locally, and if it does not sell, throw it away.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus6304

I made a few phase converters for sale and quickly came to the conclusion that it was not a good way to make a buck. Lots of time involved with not a lot of return. A kit gets around this, but how sure are you your components (like the contactor) are sized right?

The other way to think about it: now that you have 3 phase, some day you're going to really wish you had kept that 7.5HP motor. They don't take up much room...

Steve

Reply to
Steve Smith

A 50 a furnas contactor should be good enuf...

I dunno, do you have any ideas regarding how it may be used in the future?

And, again, there is this 200V issue... it is rated for 200 volts.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus6304

I've built a few phase convertors to sell too, and my experience was about like you say.

I'm afraid what Ignoramus would find dealing a kit is people picking your brain (wasting your time if you're looking to make a buck) and then picking up their own parts. By the time you get them aware of how it works and how to make it work well they've got the picture and won't need anything more from you..

But.. I've been wrong before, maybe give it a shot, might end up with a new business.

John

Reply to
JohnM

Thanks.

Based on common sense, it is not really a good business for me personally. For little side gigs, selling liquidated industrial equipment or military stuff is more fun and profitable. Especially now that I can test the 3 phase items. For example, I have a DC motor with a 3 phase controller, that I could now test, and based on bid amounts I think that the converter already paid for itself. However, I have a motor that I need to get rid of, and everything else that could come with it. (as other said, 200V motor may not be suitable). Why not connect that stuff with wires, label it "phase converter kit", and sell it to someone who needs a cheap phase converter.

I may sell phase converter kits consisting of capacitors, a furnas switch, a regular light on/off switch, all wired and labeled properly. The buyer would need to buy his own 3 phase motor and connect it to pre-labeled wires with wire nuts. There would be pre-labeled input lines and pre-labeled output lines.

I visited the junkyard again and got numerous 75 A furnas contactors for $3 each, some overload switches, and several 30A and 200A heavy duty disconnects for $10 and $20 each respectively. Also fuses. Forgot to get 3 phase plugs.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus21687

So how do you know a 50A contactor is good enough? You've built how many converters?

I don't mean to be difficult, just pointing out what seems like an obvious issue.

Steve

Ignoramus6304 wrote:

Reply to
Steve Smith

Actually, I must haste to correct myself, since my contactors are rated for 75 A and 10 HP at 220V. I got a bunch more today.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus21687

Ignoramus21687 wrote in news:HEpHe.10822$ snipped-for-privacy@fe01.usenetserver.com:

Do you know how to spell "liability" or "law suit"? Building one for yourself is one thing. Producing a kit for sale is completely different, not to mention that you're using parts of unknown origin.

-- Geoff

Reply to
Geoff Schultz

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