Thread: Voltage Converters

Originally Posted by Metal Head

Hi,

I posed a question a few months ago about the cost/benefits of having 3 phase installed at our house. I have since learnt that there are converters that can be bought for around the $1500 mark that will convert 240V to 415V (and vice versa) - is that true? - and if so, are they worth it?.

Does anyone here have one and would like to say whether they think they are worth it?.

Thanking those in advance of their replies (either good or bad).

Cheers
David

yeah metal ive been wondering the same things about 3 phase to my house or doing a converter.

I want to run a bigger air compressor for my car spray paiting hobby as single phase doesnt produce enough CFM of air to pump by spray guns or my dual action sander?

can anyone help us?

I have a rotary phase converter capable of supplying a nominal 7.5 kW load, but in practise it will cheerfully run three 3 kW motors concurently. It cost approximately $300.00 to build from used/eBay parts. Since I didn't include a buck/boost transformer, my unit outputs 240V three phase. This hasn't been a problem for me as all of my motors have had the option of selecting star or delta windings (415 or 240).

If 415 is a must, a step-up transformer will be needed for the single phase feed.

There are always a couple of ads in the Trading Post for dealers of various phase converters if you want to save all the research and dicking around time.

I'm running my unit through a dedicated 32A breaker, and heavy wiring. The output goes into a conduit to switched power points at each machine. I typically run a max load of 4 kW at any one time.

The usual caveats about wiring, and electricity and electricians apply. Have fun.

Greg

Hi Gregoryq,

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. Given that no one had replied within a fortnight I thought the thread was dead and buried - thus I apologize for the belated thanks.

I haven't done anything since starting the thread as I have been tied up with other things but I will take on board what you said (looking in the trading post) when get around to it.

Thanks once again.

David

I have just been through the same exersise. After looking at the limitations with phase converters and the price difference to converting over to 3 phase I decided to do the conversion. It cost me $3,500 which included hogo connection to pole, personal box, underground to house meter box (25mts), new meter box, underground to workshop (45mts), sub board in workshop. Why have a limited system when for a few dollars more you will never outgrow it? As a added plus I now dont have to trim the trees from around the power lines any more.