I have some threads going where I have been asking about VFD's. A couple people suggested them in my lathe specific thread too but I am taking a pause and considering a RPC. It may cost more but that is not a primary motivator for me. The VFD looks exponentially more complex for me procure all the necessary parts and then wire them and program the VFD to get up and running.
If I go with a RPC it looks like darn near plug and play. Whats the catch? I can think of a couple things that I want to ask about first.
I am in a tropical humid environment. I have a dehumidified garage/shop but it's still around 55% humidity inside there. Is that any concern for me?
I would do a wall mount control box and place the motor down out of the way.
I see that some of the suppliers have self contained boxes for the motors to be put outside with cooling fans, etc. I don't think I would put mine outside but can you use this outside setup inside your shop to keep the motor quieter? Plus it's warm here and I don't have AC (yet) but it can be 85-90 inside. I prefer to work earlier in the morning when it's cooler but is that an issue for these setups?
My lathe came from a shop that had 3 phase power so it is still wired with a heavy gauge power chord that is about 20-25 feet long and a plug. Are there any limitations with the RPC to the power chord length? The idea to order a RPC with a breaker and a female 3 phase plug and just hit the ground running is appealing to me.
My lathe has an old fashioned breaker and a nice drum switch that I can just leave as is if I go with the RPC right?
What brands of Rotary Phase Converters should I be looking at. SO far I have found American and North American with a West Coast distributor for North American so that's looking good.
Thanks for any feedback and thoughts here guys.
If I go with a RPC it looks like darn near plug and play. Whats the catch? I can think of a couple things that I want to ask about first.
I am in a tropical humid environment. I have a dehumidified garage/shop but it's still around 55% humidity inside there. Is that any concern for me?
I would do a wall mount control box and place the motor down out of the way.
I see that some of the suppliers have self contained boxes for the motors to be put outside with cooling fans, etc. I don't think I would put mine outside but can you use this outside setup inside your shop to keep the motor quieter? Plus it's warm here and I don't have AC (yet) but it can be 85-90 inside. I prefer to work earlier in the morning when it's cooler but is that an issue for these setups?
My lathe came from a shop that had 3 phase power so it is still wired with a heavy gauge power chord that is about 20-25 feet long and a plug. Are there any limitations with the RPC to the power chord length? The idea to order a RPC with a breaker and a female 3 phase plug and just hit the ground running is appealing to me.
My lathe has an old fashioned breaker and a nice drum switch that I can just leave as is if I go with the RPC right?
What brands of Rotary Phase Converters should I be looking at. SO far I have found American and North American with a West Coast distributor for North American so that's looking good.
Thanks for any feedback and thoughts here guys.