230v 3 Phase Covertor Wiring

[Joe S]

Has anyone fitted one of these before? I have a Motorun 8hp Static Convertor that I have been asked to wire in. The cabling is all there it's just the connection I was a little grey on after chatting with the guy. He said the for 400v option to use Black & Brown Phases only and the Grey to connect to the contactor?

This is a pic of the Wiring Centre on the machine, the convertor just has 3 Phase flex coming from a gland so didn't bother with that pic.

 

[Joe S]

Id be a little apprehensive of fitting a static ph converter to a variable loaded motor, its crude design is good for short duration use on light loaded motors.... ring the manufacturer up and discuss what you wish to use the application for... explain your an electrician not an electrical engineer and take their advice.

Secondly looking at the contactor and wiring i very much doubt this lathe is in compliance with regulations, has the lathe just been purchased by customer is so it should be upgraded to meet safety standards for woodworking machinery.

I see the pickle you are in here your been asked to do a job which really isn't your field and your customer thinks cos it has wires an electrician is the plug and play anything electric person, may be best to explain your unfamiliarity of the converter and machinery, therefore you cannot connect it. Let us know what the manufactureres say, explain its a lathe and ask them if its an ideal application as you can guarantee light loading of the motor.

Thats good advice mate, thanks. I thought it may have been quite straight forward but sounds like a job for an engineer not a normal sparks. I shall install the electrics as far as the rotary isolator and then leave it there.

As for the manufacturer, he went on holiday Monday night, doh!

 

[Steve Riley]

All it means is that control gear coils etc should not be connected to the generated (artificial) phase. The third phase is unstable and will cause chatter in contactors for example. I agree that someone who knows what they are doing should wire this, especially with regard to overload protection.

Steve.

 

[somersetsparks]

Steve is right the 3rd phase is a 'phantom phase' created by capacitors, effectively static converters only run motors on 2 phases and they run pretty rough as well, some motors never really 'take to them' especially cheap crap motors you get now, with all the decent inverters out there now at reasonable cost, I wouldn't bother with a static or rotary converter.