hey rick, thanks for the post. i agree about the woodworking site not being the best place for electric info, but i think a lot of people (like yourself) have come across this stuff. the info you sent was about what i had gotten re: the different types of solutions the only difference was the price of the vfd. i went to a place called dealers electric in the brooklyn navy yard and they quoted me a price of $540 for a 7.5 hp vfd. the guy seemed to know exactly what i was talking about and what needed to be done. other places of business that i have gone to that handle electric motors in various applications usually give me a blank stare or really don’t get what i’m asking. what i have to find out is what exactly this will entail and what i really require so i can have the confidence that i’m getting what is correct. thank you again, regards, pete
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Replies
True...not all motor guys know about this stuff. I've even had electricians say phase conversion is impossible. I see way too many misinformed posts and worst case applications for the appropriate converter application. Sometimes it's the misinformation highway out here. Plus every time I think I've seen it all I run across a new complication. There's other places you can get VFD's cheaper but you are on your own for the application. Guess I'm lucky to have electricians and motor repair specialists to work with who have the tech background. I certainly come up with the gamut of possibilities. VFD's are best for the single machine, variable speed application in a simplified problem solving situation. The set up manual on a VFD is mind boggling with the variety of things regarding soft start and soft stop and so many quirky programming options available. Glad I was able to help is some way. I've heard of dealers electric as well.
http://www.dealerselectric.com/
By the way my motor shop has ####three phase 1 hp drill press with a VFD. The really interesting thing is on a 1 hp or less you can actually plug this thing into 110 volt and get 240 volt three phase. Another intersting aspect of the VFD is you can double the motors rated output speed.
You can buy a static phase-converter from Enco for $116 to $160 fot the heavy duty model. Phase-a-matic brand...I'd check the motor specs with them to get the right one. 5 hp on a 12" jointer is more than enough so a static would be fine. I had 3 hp on my Oliver and it never bogged down...of course it was a direct drive, another reason to go with a converter versus changing the motor. Is yours belted or direct drive. Folks always leave out the important details in posts. A VFD is a waste on a jointer and especially in your application in my opinion and experience. Put your money towards a horizontal slot mortiser....
If it was a variable speed application or you needed full power I'd go VFD but no way on your jointer.
Edited 7/29/2004 12:35 pm ET by rick3ddd
http://www.deselectric.com is interesting. One of the few places that carries all types of converters and the prices aren't too bad.
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