New shop and now need to figure out how to power my 3 phase machines.

[lin842]

As some may know my old shop burned to the ground and I am at the wiring stage of my new building. In the old one I only had two 3 phase machines and the largest was 3 hp. I built my own phase converter and once it was done I was very proud of the out come. I managed to get all the legs to within a couple volts of each other. I was surprised at how little noise it made. Well that's all gone now and I have to start over. I decided to build my own because I had almost everything I needed on hand. I had 2 brand new 10 hp motors and a 20 hp one which I was going to make a bigger one for later on.
I bought a 2 hp Bridgeport 3 phase and am looking at a 7.5 hp CNC lathe also looking at another bickford super service that is 3 hp. I'm thinking that a 15 hp rotary phase converter would do the job however I'm thinking I'll go 20 hp. I have searched all over but I'm still confused about which way to go rotary or VFD. This is a mainly hobby shop as I don't do any production work just making parts for the projects I do.
When I built my old phase converter my shop was already wired but this one I'll be doing from scratch and was wondering if someone could lead me in the right direction as to how all this needs to be wired up. I built my own distribution box to feed each machine but all my control panel boxes are no longer with me. Is that some thing you can buy or do I need to build my own to make this work.
I was a little younger when I put all this together before but now the years are catching up with me and my brain dosen't work the way it used to so I need things explaned in a little simpler terms. My basic question is which way would be easier to wire up and is there any difference in the way you have to wire my CNC machine with either the rotary style over the VDF or a phase perfect converter?

 

[just Dave]

RPC is the best representation of actual 3 Ph power. I chose it , use one myself and I recommend end it. Good luck

 

[SteveEx30]

You are planing on buying a cnc lathe, and perhaps wo knows what you may buy down the road.. Spend the money, buy a phase perfect digital converter.
I personally own 2 and nothing but good to say.

Good luck with your new adventure!

 

[jim rozen]

If you decide on a rotary converter consider splitting the idler motor - two tens, or a 5 and 15, so you can run only what's needed at the moment.

 

[scsmith42]

I always thought that a VFD was a better solution for a single 3 phase machine, and an RPC was the better solution for several 3 phase machines.

The output From the RPC feeds a 3 phase load center that all of the equipment is wired to.

 

[rons]

With a RPC you will not have to change any wiring in any of the machines.
Not so with a VFD.

 

[lin842]

You are planing on buying a cnc lathe, and perhaps wo knows what you may buy down the road.. Spend the money, buy a phase perfect digital converter.
I personally own 2 and nothing but good to say.

Good luck with your new adventure!

I get what you are saying. The only other thing I might buy that is 3 phase besides the mill and lathe is that big super service drill and maybe a band saw that's 3 phase. I really don't know much about the phase perfect but was thinking about looking into that. If I had all the pieces an parts like I had before I would build another RPC and not think anymore about it. But that's not an option now and since I'm starting all over again I'm just looking at other ways I can pull this off.
I keep hearing that with a phase perfect they are a bit harder to wire and setup, especially if you have several machines to run. I'll probably never run but one machine at a time because I will be the only one in there and like I said before this is not a production operation but mainly just a hobby shop.
I know CNC is a little picky as far as what they are powered by and have heard different reasons for to power them one way or the other. Starting over from scratch I'm thinking I may as well explore all the options out there. I've heard both sides of this argument, both sides saying witch is best and it's hard for me to come to any conclusion of witch way to go.
If you will can you please give me all the reasons you chose the phase perfect over a RPC.And if you will can you tell me both the pro's and the con's of what you chose?

O a side note, people ask me all the time why do you have all this stuff and I tell them in simple terms, the reason is I just want them. I have been facinated with machinery like this all my life. I picked up stuff the whole time I've been working and I finally built a shop big enough to put all of it in and fire took it away in less that 2 hours an I want it back.

 

[lin842]

With a RPC you will not have to change any wiring in any of the machines.
Not so with a VFD.

Even with the CNC machine?

 

[just Dave]

I have used plenty of VFDs in industrial applications for speed control, never for 3 ph conversion. The VFD is cheaper that’s why most people try it first before they end up getting a pricy single phase motor or a RPG. If you plan to NEVER run your machines past 1/2 duty and you like to figure out wiring diagrams you MIGHT be able to get by with a VFD.

 

[standardparts]

Easiest is to buy a rotary phase converter.
One phone call or quick online purchase, and your done.
Pay now---Done deal--Ready Set Go.

 

[SomeoneSomewhere]

Properly sized VFDs can do full duty just fine.

 

[lin842]

Even with the CNC machine?

That's kind of what I was looking for. I never had a seconds worth of problems with the one I built of-course I didn't have a CNC machine either. It's that somewhere I read that with CNC you almost had to use a VFD. I'm not doubting what you or anyone else here is saying it's just sometimes confusing the way information is presented on the net.

 

[lin842]

Easiest is to buy a rotary phase converter.
One phone call or quick online purchase, and your done.
Pay now---Done deal--Ready Set Go.

Do these places usually have the load centers also?

 

[standardparts]

Do these places usually have the load centers also?

First off...plenty of options to power 3 phase equipment along with the cost of doing so.
First time around for me, in a garage type shop, I needed 3 phase power and figured I did not want to take the time to build my own, or go the VFD rounts.

I used the company at the link below:

High-Quality Rotary 3 Phase Converters | American Rotary

American Rotary is the manufacturer and distributor of the largest selection of phase converters and transformers online! We are the only phase converter company to offer every type of phase converter - static, rotary and digital.

www.americanrotary.com

 

[lin842]

First off...plenty of options to power 3 phase equipment along with the cost of doing so.
First time around for me, in a garage type shop, I needed 3 phase power and figured I did not want to take the time to build my own, or go the VFD rounts.

I used the company at the link below:

High-Quality Rotary 3 Phase Converters | American Rotary

American Rotary is the manufacturer and distributor of the largest selection of phase converters and transformers online! We are the only phase converter company to offer every type of phase converter - static, rotary and digital.

www.americanrotary.com

Yes I had talked to them a month or two ago but the lady I talked to wasn't up to snuff on many details and couldn't answer several of the questions I had asked. Call back later when the other lady was there. I was pushed up for time then and never got around to calling them again. I have heard they build some good stuff.

 

[standardparts]

Yes I had talked to them a month or two ago but the lady I talked to wasn't up to snuff on many details and couldn't answer several of the questions I had asked. Call back later when the other lady was there. I was pushed up for time then and never got around to calling them again. I have heard they build some good stuff.

It's been a few years since I bought from them..(leased shop now has 3 phase)...like everything now-a-days maybe some kind of corporate change or the management is drinking Bud Light and shopping at Target.

 

[just Dave]

Do these places usually have the load centers also?

Up State Breaker is good source for used 3 phase panel. North American Phase Converter is a good source for new RPC

 

[lin842]

Up State Breaker is good source for used 3 phase panel. North American Phase Converter is a good source for new RPC

Thanks.........