RPC newbie question
Here's one for you experienced RPC guys. Talked with a gentleman this weekend about rotary phase converters. He has many he has built in commercial operations around WV, VA, TN and KY. I went to check one out and it had interesting (to me) behavior.
Facts:
It starts and runs a 5hp idler.
It has voltages of 240, 250 and 280, unloaded, across the phases. (if I understand correctly these can be tweaked.)
Questions:
The strange thing to me was that the current in the phases was 17A, 20A and 3.5A. This is new to me, but I was expecting those to be more closely matched. I realize this isn't a perfect situation to measure, with no load on the system, but would you expect to see more balanced current through the phases?
He also cautioned that I needed to be sure to find out what phase was pulled to power the control circuitry on the lathe. The "generated" phase should not be used to power that because of its neutral configuration.
I brought one home (sized for 10hp) to play with when I get my 10hp motor this week.
The long and the short of my first question is is this behavior normal - weird voltages/currents when unloaded - out of a homemade RPC until tweaks are accomplished based on the particular system it is going to be used in?
Thanks.
** Upon further review of the box I brought home I believe that all of the components are included to make a balanced leg RPC, but that I will need to do some re-vamping of his design before I will be comfortable plugging in my lathe.