Another - Can I convert this 3 phase motor to 240V single phase?

[Tiggy_dorset]

As per title...

Are the pics enough, or do I need to go deeper?

 

[Seadog]

Not without taking it apart and changing the way the field windings are connected. It depends how confident you feel with things electric.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

I've nothing to lose really. I have the same drill at work running off 3 phase, this is a spare. I was planning on strippig it down and boxing the spare parts...or use it at home if it can be converted to single phase.
I can use a soldering iron and follow guidance from strange people on forums, if thats enough

I don't shy away from attempting things like this.

 

[AdrianH]

If you split the centre tap of the windings and brought them out you could make it work on 240 Volts via a VFD, but if you want to use at home on single phase, I would say the easiest route would be to change the motor for a single phase one, cost wise I guess very much the same as you would still need a converter with the 3 phase motor.

Adrian

 

[Seadog]

I misunderstood your original post - you want to run it on single phase 230volt. It is possible but to be honest I would leave it as 3 phase and buy a VFD. Much smoother running and the benefit of a more variable speed. But you will still need to strip the motor and reconnect the windings, which is not always easy. Alternatively fit a single phase motor.

 

[rtbcomp]

+1 for change the motor. The issue you may hit with doing that is that the pulleys may not line up and/or you may need a different belt. You may also have to modify the mounting.

If the motor has a stepped pulley on it you'll need to find a motor with the correct shaft diameter and key slot. Most likely imperial in this case, so a used motor off Ebay is going to be your best bet.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Cheers guys, simple answers and straight to the point. Too much hastle for a chunky drill like that, Ill put my efforts towards one of my winter projects of rebuilding my little mill. Ill keep the 3 phase moter and perhaps use it for my mill with VFD, or use my single phase motor for the mill. I'll decide when the time come.
Just thought if it was an easy process, I could have made use of the drill, but clearly not worth it.

I'll strip this one for a box of parts.

 

[penfold]

It depends how handy you are with electric string; the doing will take perhaps a couple of hours to dig out the star point and make off new leads, then you'll need a 6 terminal block to replace the 3 terminal block with.

 

[Chris Stevens]

I think you can use a 440 volt motor with a VFD, but the VFD will cost quite a bit more than those intended for 240/440 volt 3 phase motors.

 

[roofman]

deffo not worth the effort ...just buy a 4 pole half horse for that

 

[Newlands]

I've recently converted a 3 phase 390v motor to a 220v one, by opening it up and locating the star point, and it was easy. A chinese vfd will cost you about £100 and that will allow you to run it off a single phase supply. But that was for a lathe, where the variable speed and fwd/rev functions you get with a vfd are more useful, and the same would apply to a milling machine. If you have a spare single phase motor I would stick that on the drill, and save the 3'phase one for your mill project.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

I've recently converted a 3 phase 390v motor to a 220v one, by opening it up and locating the star point, and it was easy. A chinese vfd will cost you about £100 and that will allow you to run it off a single phase supply. But that was for a lathe, where the variable speed and fwd/rev functions you get with a vfd are more useful, and the same would apply to a milling machine. If you have a spare single phase motor I would stick that on the drill, and save the 3'phase one for your mill project.

Probably a good shout keeping the 3 phase for my mill. I have 2 single phase motors and will check the viability of using one for the drill perhaps. Otherwise it will still be a box of nice spare parts for my other drill or.....a future project

 

[rikrobson]

3 phase motors need 3 phases. You can generate a phantom phase with a capacitor but it will not generate the power that 3 phase will. It's only really any good for small constant speed applications such as db's coolant pump. You need a vfd or a rotary converter to really drive one. Or a 3 phase supply of course.

 

[Wedg1e]

I think you can use a 440 volt motor with a VFD, but the VFD will cost quite a bit more than those intended for 240/440 volt 3 phase motors.

You can, and it will