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brightspark
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if u have 3 phase supply to your property u can ,but will cost a fair bit with switchfuse and isolator and cabling
a 3 phase converter for a compressor would cost megga bucks be cheaper to buy a single phase motor and convert it as long as its not bigger than 3hpFreshfabrications
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Hey I went through all this about two years ago with needing3 phase for my Lorch V30,
mIn factors are that it can cost upwards of £6000 to just get 3 phase to your property and that's if you own the house and the local authority ok it, then there's the certified electrician, certificates and inspection, add to that the fact you'll have to pay massively increased electric rates as your now on 3 phase, insurance, blaaa blaaa blaaaaa.
Then you discover static phase converters that run 3 phase 400v motors from a single phase 240v supply starting from around the £300 mark for an ok one,
(by the way a digital phase converter will work for your compressor as it's just a simple motor, not a computor and IGBT like my welder)
then just as your about to buy one for about £400 to power about £6000 of tig welder, luckily you discover that if you intact use a digital converter your £6000 would have worked badly for about 4-6 months then burnt out becoming a useless pile of scrap silicone copper and aluminium.
"Feeeew" crisis averted, machine won't be distroyed by mistake, except I still can't power her at home.........and then FINALY you find the solution, a rotary phase converter with power factor correction and an IGBT controller outputing true sinewave 3 phase 400v that will run a whole factory and won't ****** your expensive computer chip welder....... and....... its onl. Going to cost another £2600 plus about £600 for all the breakers wiring 3 phase board etc (this is actually what I eventually HAD to do) AAAAAAAGH
Basicly sell the compressor on eBay, or give it to me for free to ease my trauma lol,
and just buy single phase equiptment, I could have purchased my frame building jig from Anvil Bikes in America for what it's cost me to get 3 phase, but you live and learn eh
Buy SINGLE PHASE !!!!!
mIn factors are that it can cost upwards of £6000 to just get 3 phase to your property and that's if you own the house and the local authority ok it, then there's the certified electrician, certificates and inspection, add to that the fact you'll have to pay massively increased electric rates as your now on 3 phase, insurance, blaaa blaaa blaaaaa.
Then you discover static phase converters that run 3 phase 400v motors from a single phase 240v supply starting from around the £300 mark for an ok one,
(by the way a digital phase converter will work for your compressor as it's just a simple motor, not a computor and IGBT like my welder) then just as your about to buy one for about £400 to power about £6000 of tig welder, luckily you discover that if you intact use a digital converter your £6000 would have worked badly for about 4-6 months then burnt out becoming a useless pile of scrap silicone copper and aluminium.
"Feeeew" crisis averted, machine won't be distroyed by mistake, except I still can't power her at home.........and then FINALY you find the solution, a rotary phase converter with power factor correction and an IGBT controller outputing true sinewave 3 phase 400v that will run a whole factory and won't ****** your expensive computer chip welder....... and....... its onl. Going to cost another £2600 plus about £600 for all the breakers wiring 3 phase board etc (this is actually what I eventually HAD to do) AAAAAAAGH
Basicly sell the compressor on eBay, or give it to me for free to ease my trauma lol,
and just buy single phase equiptment, I could have purchased my frame building jig from Anvil Bikes in America for what it's cost me to get 3 phase, but you live and learn eh
Buy SINGLE PHASE !!!!!
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Freshfab, I have to disagree. It all depends on the circumstances. I have installed 3 phase in 2 properties now. The first one cost me £1000, all in (plus the cost of fitting 3 phase sockets, but you need sockets fitted either way).
The price difference was absolutely undetectable - a few pence per quarter between single & 3 phase.
It was really simple and quick to do. So its not always a nightmare / not worth doing.
I have heard quotes of 75k though, so it all depends.
Al.
The price difference was absolutely undetectable - a few pence per quarter between single & 3 phase.
It was really simple and quick to do. So its not always a nightmare / not worth doing.
I have heard quotes of 75k though, so it all depends.
Al.
Freshfabrications
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Ok Al well I have to disagree too as mixed tightly in my post you'll see a sugestion to use a digital solidstate phase converter, like the ones you can get from drives direct etc, this will cost alot less than £1000!
And I stand by my statement re getting single phase where ever possible as the safety element for 3 phase wiring, boxes and correct cabling for my single garrage cost best part of£600, you'd have to have all three of the utilitys cables just tucked away underground at your property boundry and possibly be doing it on the sly to keep it super cheep.
Unless South Moredon is a very rural area where this kind of utility is often easy-ish to obtain or the utility is located in the most convenient place ie the substation is nextdoor to him I'd seriously doubt he'd achive set up for as low as £1000, no offence but logic is the best solution, ether buy a static converter for £300 ish if the compressed is of the best quality (or super quiet if you have neigbours) or as Tigler very wisely sugested, if it's of average quality sell it on eBay and get a single phase unit, the transfer cost that you have to pay will probibly be the cheepest option of all being less than a few hundred ££.
Just the comparison of the solidstate converter at about £300 is more than an average small home workshop compressor, logic people logic.........
And I stand by my statement re getting single phase where ever possible as the safety element for 3 phase wiring, boxes and correct cabling for my single garrage cost best part of£600, you'd have to have all three of the utilitys cables just tucked away underground at your property boundry and possibly be doing it on the sly to keep it super cheep.
Unless South Moredon is a very rural area where this kind of utility is often easy-ish to obtain or the utility is located in the most convenient place ie the substation is nextdoor to him I'd seriously doubt he'd achive set up for as low as £1000, no offence but logic is the best solution, ether buy a static converter for £300 ish if the compressed is of the best quality (or super quiet if you have neigbours) or as Tigler very wisely sugested, if it's of average quality sell it on eBay and get a single phase unit, the transfer cost that you have to pay will probibly be the cheepest option of all being less than a few hundred ££.
Just the comparison of the solidstate converter at about £300 is more than an average small home workshop compressor, logic people logic.........
it all depends on the amount of work involved.
if u got a 3phase main running along your property then it will be under a grand installed where i live.
however, i had 3phase put in in august and i paid a total of 3600 bucks.
i had to have 70metres of compacted gravel dug up, then trunking and draw cord buried 18inches to the top, then ground reinstated.
they also dug 15 metres into my property, same as above.
the price of wire will blow your mind .as will a distribution board.
if u got a 3phase main running along your property then it will be under a grand installed where i live.
however, i had 3phase put in in august and i paid a total of 3600 bucks.
i had to have 70metres of compacted gravel dug up, then trunking and draw cord buried 18inches to the top, then ground reinstated.
they also dug 15 metres into my property, same as above.
the price of wire will blow your mind .as will a distribution board.
jugs
Dont wish to offend & annoy, but...
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8 yrs ago we were quoted £9k
+ we dig a trench & suply the anarmord cable from the pole, + there would be an anual standing charge, 
+ they would charge for any electric used . So got a 3ph genset £1000, in 7yrs we've only used £2700 of fuel, + £130 maintanance.
Next yr I will set it up as CHP (combined heat & power) unit, with a waste heat recovery system on the engine + exhaust boiler (about 30kW available), that will lower our heating costs a bit
Freshfab - I didn't comment on converters etc. There's nothing to disagree about, I just said that its not necessarily as expensive as you claim, as I have shown with the costs from when I did it.
Its not really a matter of opinion. It just depends on the individual circumstances.
If the thread starter is interested, get in touch with your supply for them to come out and give you a quote. But if its just to run a compressor, do what Tigler suggests.
Al.
Its not really a matter of opinion. It just depends on the individual circumstances.
If the thread starter is interested, get in touch with your supply for them to come out and give you a quote. But if its just to run a compressor, do what Tigler suggests.
Al.
As said above, cost of 3 phase installation does totally depend on the proximity of a feed to your property. Actually all mains power is distributed in 3 phase but domestic properties are fed from a single phase street by street. So if your at the end of the street where the split is done the cost will be low, the other end you would pay a fortune !
3 phase is on my 'must have' list in my next property !
3 phase is on my 'must have' list in my next property !
Freshfabrications
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Again it's all a question of logic and smart decisions, one could say he could build a small steam engin running a big generator instead of 3 phase, but what the point it's only to power one tiny element of his workshop, a compressor.....
Jugs has made a very logical decision based on cost, not only ha it cost less to run and install than utility he has the foresight to capitalise on th lost energy witha heat exchainger, tree hugger!
Add to this the fact that you can't dig up the small fortune it costs to install utility an take it with you if you ever have to move!! With a Gen-set or Rotary or static converter you can......
Jusg you should be a buisness man your thinking is solid.
NeilH and others coments show what a more resonable estimate of 3PH costs, I would only do a setup like this if you have to to get the machines for industrial perposes as I and I presume others did, as an example where I'm subbing now there is no 3 phase and I'm producing 6 ally chasis with atleast 60 meters of linear weld per unit on a Parweld XTi 200 and a Titan chopsaw, keep it simple is a good addage.
Jugs has made a very logical decision based on cost, not only ha it cost less to run and install than utility he has the foresight to capitalise on th lost energy witha heat exchainger, tree hugger!
Add to this the fact that you can't dig up the small fortune it costs to install utility an take it with you if you ever have to move!! With a Gen-set or Rotary or static converter you can......
Jusg you should be a buisness man your thinking is solid.
NeilH and others coments show what a more resonable estimate of 3PH costs, I would only do a setup like this if you have to to get the machines for industrial perposes as I and I presume others did, as an example where I'm subbing now there is no 3 phase and I'm producing 6 ally chasis with atleast 60 meters of linear weld per unit on a Parweld XTi 200 and a Titan chopsaw, keep it simple is a good addage.
Personally I would sell the compressor and get a single phase one if it's going to be your first and last 3 phase machine.
BUT if you're planning to get a milling machine, welder, lathe that is 3 phase in the near future then I would get this>>
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRANSWAVE-SIN...Supplies_ET&hash=item230d038f07#ht_6637wt_907
The least messy option!!
BUT if you're planning to get a milling machine, welder, lathe that is 3 phase in the near future then I would get this>>
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRANSWAVE-SIN...Supplies_ET&hash=item230d038f07#ht_6637wt_907
The least messy option!!
He might not even have to do that, buy a 3hp 4 pole single phase motor.
Depends if it can be wired Star or Delta.
Best option if compressors worth it, otherwise pass on it or flog.
Having a fresh install of 3ph draws unwanted attention and all the palava that goes with it.
Having just gone through it 3ph install was out of the question, that only left a converter or inverter for my needs and everyones requirements are different.
Practically giving away static convertors because no one wants them, even rotary 5.5hp can be had for £150 £7.5hp £200, still no use to me thinking long term.
Went for plug and play 5.5hp 7200MA best paart of £700 plus wiring, sockets etc. May even have to have a Sine Wave filter £200 for the little cnc which gives off pure three phase exactly as it would come if hard wired to property!
Depends if it can be wired Star or Delta.
Best option if compressors worth it, otherwise pass on it or flog.
Having a fresh install of 3ph draws unwanted attention and all the palava that goes with it.
Having just gone through it 3ph install was out of the question, that only left a converter or inverter for my needs and everyones requirements are different.
Practically giving away static convertors because no one wants them, even rotary 5.5hp can be had for £150 £7.5hp £200, still no use to me thinking long term.
Went for plug and play 5.5hp 7200MA best paart of £700 plus wiring, sockets etc. May even have to have a Sine Wave filter £200 for the little cnc which gives off pure three phase exactly as it would come if hard wired to property!
Freshfabrications
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Not that this is a debate, just trying to help this guy out, however you are the person who stated in the first instance that you dissagre with my coment, statements of fact, backed up by a fair few othe posters in this thread with evidence of KNOWN COSTS based on there EXPERIENCE not OPINION. LOL
That said it is great fun hammering it out with you Al
all in good fun I hope julieanncharters
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i had mine put in the work shop 12 years ago and the whole cost to manweb was £750.
was a bargain at the time.
they jumped 3 poles from the street to get to the property.
don't think that would even cover the cost of the cable today.
house is on the same supply and eleci bills are not an issue.
i know someone else who has a farm and wanted 3 phase installing.
got a sill quote so he started ranting about the power pylons on his land.
6 months later in went the 3 phase supply and it was cheap
was a bargain at the time.
they jumped 3 poles from the street to get to the property.
don't think that would even cover the cost of the cable today.
house is on the same supply and eleci bills are not an issue.
i know someone else who has a farm and wanted 3 phase installing.
got a sill quote so he started ranting about the power pylons on his land.
6 months later in went the 3 phase supply and it was cheap
Cheers everyone, see now I thought every house had 3ph and it was then converted to single phase so wouldn't really be a big deal but just shows you what I know.
So I'm going to do what Tigler said and flog it then buy a single phase one as I only need it for air tools and I wanted to have a go at painting my project car when its finished as it had a big cfm but thanks everyone for the advice
So I'm going to do what Tigler said and flog it then buy a single phase one as I only need it for air tools and I wanted to have a go at painting my project car when its finished as it had a big cfm but thanks everyone for the advice
Luke
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For what it's worth, on my street, every 3rd house has a thick cable running to a distribution box mounted on the wall, and then two smaller wires to the two houses either side, so I reckon the phases are split that way.
The killer for me, was that the application forms specify. I forget the specifics, but it quickly turned out that 'just running 3ph to the garage' wasn't really a viable option, with a domestic property.
