Converting 3 phase to single.

[noxlumos]

Hi, I wonder if any electricians out there could help me please? I'm toying with the idea of buying a piece of equipment which at the moment has a 3 phase motor.The place I wish to use it has only single phase electricity so I'm investigating the possibility of fitting a single phase motor to it, which I appreciate is not going to be cheap but the item in question is a real bargain. Can anyone foresee any problems with this idea, because I'm no electrician. Any help gratefully recieved. Thanks in advance.

[stanleyman]

It depends on how big the motor is, the load on it and if the existing supply is sufficient to start and run a similar sized single phase motor. It may be cheaper to run a three phase supply to this place.

[buildersmate]

There's no technical electric reason why you can't do it - if you can find an equivalent motor, not only electrically powerful enough but compatible mechancally (fixing arrangements / size). Generally I agree with Stanleyman's conclusion.

[cupra]

You can buy a frequency inverter which'll convert single phase 220VAC supply to 3 phase - however the 3 phase voltage will still be 220VAC so you'll need to check your motor to see if it is dual wound for the lower voltage (you'll find that the current required at the lower voltage is a lot higher).

If the motor isn't dual wound and you run it at 220VAC, the field will be weakened and you won't be able to produce rated torque!

[noxlumos]

Thank you all, very helpful as always :)