Bench grinder motor for Ig

My guess is that you will get $400 for it. I have a nice collection of motors already, going up to 10 HP (call me a wimp if you want). That motor would make a great converter to run a big welder.

I had to buy it about 5 years ago when the old one died. It was a GE made in 1921, I called GE about warrantee information and was informed that the warrantee had just expired the previous month. I found the 40 at McKean used machinery and negotiated it down to $50. It was brand new and still had the shaft coated with that waxy plastic dip stuff. I hope you're right about $400, I would be thrilled! The end of an era for my woodworking department but I sure don't miss it.

Iggy sez: "That motor would make a great converter to run a big welder."

Right on, Iggy. Consider though, if used as a RPC to power (1.5 x 40) = 60 HP full load, it would take wiring based on a minimum of 320 amps, probably more to meet code. That figure based on 60 HP of motors running on single-phase 220, at 80% pf and 80% eff. The idler motor alone spinning unloaded, as in a RPC, would draw 20 amps or so.

Bob Swinney

My guess is that you will get $400 for it. I have a nice collection of motors already, going up to 10 HP (call me a wimp if you want). -- Due to extreme spam originating from Google Groups, and their inattention to spammers, I and many others block all articles originating from Google Groups. If you want your postings to be seen by more readers you will need to find a different means of posting on Usenet.

The full load is 40 HP divided by 1.5, not multiplied.

My 17.5 HP phase converter draws approximately 40 amps single phase under some loads. Figure a three times bigger number, it is a manageable 120 amps.

A 40 HP motor, plugged into three phase 240, should draw approximately

3.4*40, or 136 amps. As a phase converter, it should draw a comparable amount from its input before it would overheat its windings.

Tom's motor may be less efficient than that if it is that old.

i