How much juice does your RPC draw LOADED with a machine running from the single phase input side. I'm talking ACTUAL MEASURED CURRENT using a clamp on ammeter (or better measurement if you have it). Output current would also be helpful, current drawn from the RPC by the machine. Your particular RPC design particulars would help too. Starting current would be helpful too, but not really what I'm after because I'm going with a pony motor.
I know 3 phase motors draw a LOT when starting using caps from single phase, which is why I'm going to a pony motor design. Before I go off and buy a bunch of expensive stuff, I'd like to know if I can get away with what I have for a cheapo RPC. I KNOW this isn't going to be up to the standards some of you have for doing things right, but keep in mind, this IS NOT going to be fully loaded. I'm going with an idler that's OVERKILL because there doesn't seem to be much of a penalty for idle current based on motor size. I HOPE I can get away with firing up my welder using a 20hp idler on the existing 50 amp breaker with 6ga wire. I know somebody gave a number of 1.73 x 3 phase current for single phase, but that seems a bit high. Probably about right for the size of the breaker though, so it can account for starting current and whatnot. 1.73 x 32 is 55.36 amps, which would be the MAX of what my welder would draw wide open IF that formula is correct. EVENTUALLY, I plan on wiring it all up right, just curious what the actual numbers are here.
I know 3 phase motors draw a LOT when starting using caps from single phase, which is why I'm going to a pony motor design. Before I go off and buy a bunch of expensive stuff, I'd like to know if I can get away with what I have for a cheapo RPC. I KNOW this isn't going to be up to the standards some of you have for doing things right, but keep in mind, this IS NOT going to be fully loaded. I'm going with an idler that's OVERKILL because there doesn't seem to be much of a penalty for idle current based on motor size. I HOPE I can get away with firing up my welder using a 20hp idler on the existing 50 amp breaker with 6ga wire. I know somebody gave a number of 1.73 x 3 phase current for single phase, but that seems a bit high. Probably about right for the size of the breaker though, so it can account for starting current and whatnot. 1.73 x 32 is 55.36 amps, which would be the MAX of what my welder would draw wide open IF that formula is correct. EVENTUALLY, I plan on wiring it all up right, just curious what the actual numbers are here.