After a lot of thought, I decided the best way forward was to fit an inverter. I was lucky enought to get a new inverter at a sensible price – 240v single phase in , 415v 3 phase out. It is a 2HP model, so should match up well to the motor. (which is only a single voltage motor but twin speed).This should make life a little easier for me as far as wiring up is concerned. I may try and work out how to wire in an LED speed indicator…..
It is currently with a friend who picked it up for me.
I’m not sure whether to mount a control box on the back of the machine or have the VFD mounted away from the machine. I’m a way off from having to worry about this yet.
Because the older motors are typically not inverter-duty type (isolation resistive to higher voltage spikes), I used a phase converter w/ a Y-autotransformer.
This is a pit more expensive, but easier on the motor windings.
240V 60 Hz single phase IN at the phase converter
240V 60 Hz 3-phase OUT at the phase converter, IN at the Y-autotransformer
400V 60 Hz 3-phase OUT at the Y-autotransformer
ROTARY PHASE CONVERTER ADF-10 Floor unit
MADDOX 6kVA Autotransformer MIT-AUT-111 (XO/HO center of transformer floating)
I’ve never had an issue with my motor / inverter combination!!
Hi, a wonderful rebuild enjoyed reading your blog very much I have a question what’s the brand of your inverter as I thought you could only feed 240v single phase and get 240v 3 phase ,I did not think it was possible to feed 240v single and get 415v 3 phase if you right I would like to do the same thing with my Aciera F3 !!!
My regards
Paul
Depending on the inverter, you can input 240v and get either 240v or 415v output. In the UK, the former is more expensive as it is less common. Most motors tend to be dual voltage so you can then run them with a 240 to 415v inverter. Mine is single voltage – 220v – and thus I needed a suitable inverter. Direct Drives in Nottingham, UK was where I got it.