3 Phase service

[Patriot Performance]

OK I'm pretty good with electrical, but never done any work with three phase really.

I want to bid on a pro-cut 60 Plasma but it uses three phase input.:mad:

Naturally I only have single at my shop. Is there any way I can convert this plasma cutter to single? What are my options?

[Rick Moran]

Don't think so. You may want to contact the mfr. or go online for a manual or something. Generally with 1phase or 3phase, it's one or the other.

[Patriot Performance]

I wrote Lincoln this morning. I'm sure there is no way to convert the machine. I know about phase converters, however that is an expensive option.

I'm going to call one of my mothers clients, he is an electrical contractor.

[MoonRise]

Sure you have options.

Option #1 - Have 3-phase run to the shop. Cost = ??$$$$??

Option #2 - Run a phase converter off of the incoming single-phase power and feed 3-phase to the plasma.

Option #3 - Run an inverter phase converter to take the incoming single-phase power and feed 3-phase to the plasma. Cost = ??$$$??

Are you sure the machine is 3-phase only? Lincoln lists the Pro-Cut 55 as taking 1-phase or 3-phase input. Of course it draws a lot more input current on single-phase than on 3-phase for the same supply voltage and duty-cycles.

[Patriot Performance]

Sure you have options.

Option #1 - Have 3-phase run to the shop. Cost = ??$$$$??

Option #2 - Run a phase converter off of the incoming single-phase power and feed 3-phase to the plasma.

Option #3 - Run an inverter phase converter to take the incoming single-phase power and feed 3-phase to the plasma. Cost = ??$$$??

Are you sure the machine is 3-phase only? Lincoln lists the Pro-Cut 55 as taking 1-phase or 3-phase input. Of course it draws a lot more input current on single-phase than on 3-phase for the same supply voltage and duty-cycles.


I got a response from Lincoln already. It is an older 60 model by the way. 8 years old. They said that model only takes three phase. They suggested I go with the 80 or 55. I may be able to pick this up cheap though. I'll contact an electrician today and get a price on a phase converter.

[Tailshaft56]

You can probably buy a new plasma for less than the cost of a phase converter.

[Patriot Performance]

You can probably buy a new plasma for less than the cost of a phase converter.

Yeah that is the toss up.

I actually had a discussion with my mothers finance today. He is an ex nuclear physicist. He said he sold a three phase converter he had from one of his labs. He thinks his buddy may still have it. His comment was also to just go ahead and buy a newer unit.

[deadman11699]

http://cgi.ebay.com/STATO-PHASE-3-PHASE-PWR-CONVERTOR-10hp-26amp-HCM-300_W0QQitemZ230092603720QQihZ013QQcategoryZ41952Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I was going to buy one but I can't get the lathe cheap anymore.

[Patriot Performance]

I should have bought the plasma cutter, it went for $560!

Good link deadman, will look on ebay in the future for one if need be.

I think I'll just spend the cash this week on a new Pro-cut 55

[trwatks]

A phase converter will NOT work on transformer systems they will only work with motor driven equiptment

[caosesvida]

phase converters don't make real three phase, they are a motor that is single phase and a set of capacitors that shift the phase to something like three phase, but if you put it on a oscilloscope, its not real three phase. I also think that it won't work that well on an electronic system like the plasma cutter. I could be wrong about that thought.

[Doolittle]

Ahh, was wondering about that, the load must cause the phases to shift in undesired ways eh?

[h2oboy]

A few months ago I asked my works electrical engineer and he told me not to use a phase converter or anything else to run a 3 phase machine that has a lot of start and stops. He said that he has not had much luck with longevity of the converters. He told me to quit being cheep and just run 3 phase to the machine.