hi all,

im looking at getting a 2 poster ramp very very soon, however its 3 phase, i dont have 3 phase in my garage only mains, how could i convert my mains into 3 phase? oor convert the ramp?

havent a clue when it comes to this?

ta

get a phase converter or change the motor.
could be cheaper to change the motor unless you get a used converter.

I thought all commercial premises had 3 phase available, if not actually connected. Ask your electricity supplier.

nope, i defo have no 3 phase, i was starting to think about getting a converter, but wouldnt know what one to go for

Once upon a time a friend of mine needed 3 phase in his workshop that was adjacent to his house. What he found was that the neighbours each side were also single phase but each was on a different phase of the same supply. Don't ask how he found that out - way beyond my understanding - but he was obviously correct. What he did was persuade each of his neighbours to let him tap into their mains electric through a meter so he could pay them (gernerously) for the electric he had used.

It worked. Big Pete (as we knew him) had 3-phase in his workshop for years

Snod

Yes Snod. It "could" be done, but a bit iffy. Finding out who is on what phase in an urban environment (underground cable as opposed to easy-to-trace overhead) could be fun. Sometimes during a power cut, it's a transformer fault and only one phase goes tits up. That's why some folks in the same road have juice and others don't. They try to balance the phases equally. Adjacent houses with one on and one off would be the pointer.

Getting the leccy board to convert a workshop(?) from single to 3 phase would cost the poor sap on the wrong end of the meter megabucks !

A 3 phase converter (of the right capacity) won't be cheap either. A few years ago I wanted one that would handle (briefly) up to 6kw. The prices were a joke !! I went back to sleep pronto!

surprising how many don't esp. new build small ish ones.
where i was on cleveland st. only 2 out of 16 units had 3 phase.

costs about £10k, from what i remember, to have it put in.

3 phase converter can cost up to £1k bud. Maweb will charge you around £2-£3k for a 3phase supply putting in.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VARIABLE-FREQ...ents_Supplies_ET&hash=item3cae5e1a33

would this not do?

the motor for the ramp iss a 1.5kw 2800rpm?

Over to you Sanchez. Some of the specs on this have me flummoxed big time ! (Nothing new there then !)

The alternative is to see if someone will change the motor to single phase and change the switchgear. If its only 1.5KW it makes you wonder why they chose 3-phase anyway!

prob would be cheaper if that converter works?, i can get a motor for about £105

well the ebay item looks ok but not sure about it will have enough power to drive a ramp (id have to see the stats on the ramp.

We use 3 phase motors as they are alot quicker on start up and more controlable.

is says it can drive a hoist? i went for the 2.2 kw as the ramps only 1.5 so i guess it would (should?) be ok?

cheers buddy!

Yer, and its not like it will be on constantly, just when you raise and lower the ramp. I think if you were to buy it for a compressor it wouldnt last too long! Up date us with this when you get it bud, quite interested in one me self!

bought the ramp now, picking it up from chorley tuesday i think, will throw the money in the bank monday and buy it once ive got the ramp home safe!

has supply cost come down? sure when i spoke to my landlord he said £10k? maybe that was to have it put in the other 6 units on my side?

so are we happy that convertor will work? ont want to buy it if it wont work, its like pissing 100 away

I'm more electronics than electrical by trade but there are a couple of weird things in the spec ....

3 phase is invariable specified as between phase voltage which is 400V, whereas this specifies 250V but doesn't seem have a neutral connection which is where 250V comes from (any phase to neutral)

A motor is an inductive load, any power device normally gives some sort of indication of whether it will cope with an inductive load.

Perhaps an electrical person can give more info.

Whatever you do, if you use it, don't be tempted to change the frequency from 50Hz, whilst it may look like it just changes the speed of the motor, it is often the case that a 50Hz motor will produce lots more heat if not used at 50Hz and hence self-destruct.

Soz that I'm raising more questions than answers.

cheers buddy! just dont want no nasty suprises! does anyone know where i can pick these up locally?
dont mind spending a few extra quid

We are at the moment recieving between 210 and 260volts in to our houses depending on how clos you are to the substation. 3phase and no neutral and 3 phase and neutral dictate what kind of star/delta motors you are going to use, its tricky for me to explain as it took me a long time to get my head around it from the basics up but the input voltage on the converter should be ok. I think for £100 its worth a shot as it should resell again on the bay surely?

cheers for the advice bud!

what would i need to know so we could be 100% acurate it would work?

In the middle of the ad, the guy says he is happy to tell you how to use it. Just say you have a 3-phase motor, will this drive it from a single phase supply.

I should say that my gut feeling is that this will do the job and it is an incredible price.

Normal 3-phase converters are around £300, and can be got down to about £200. Variable frequency convertoers are normally a lot dearer - not that you need variable frequency.

i like your gut feeling

Then it is agreed, chris oh great guinnee pig of the convertors, do yee taketh the challenge?

one hath messaged thee seller and ya'll shalt see,

Interesting conversation chaps. Good luck Chris'

i had a reply and it would be fine, however a freind popped by today and you'll never guess what he had in the boot so got an expensive one for nowt vertually

ha ha, class, dont suppose he has any more does he

i know saves the wait for delivery!

dont think so buddy!

There's luck for you!