Posted: 8/6/2008 3:11:13 PM EDT
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Looks like I'm going to be picking up a lathe tonight... 220 3 phase. I will be throwing this in my garage, not to far from my dryer. Is there a way to convert single phase 220 to 3 phase 220 in a residential area?... safely... |
| I'm not an electrician, but I can answer this--no! Your home is almost certainly a <edit:> single-phase service. You will have to pay big bucks to the power company to run you a new three-phase service, then replace your breaker box to accomodate the third phase. |
Here's your answer. I doubt they will drop you 3 phase service just for one piece of equipment that won't get used all that much. It's not worth their cost or yours. |
Big +1 on this... You can buy a phase converter Ect... Your electric bill will go through the roof |
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Don't bother contacting your utility. It would be tens of thousands to install a new transformer bank and 3 phase gear in your house. Also don't bother with rotary phase converters. They are obsolete. Changing the motor is also a non-optimal solution as three phase motors are better and run smoother. What you want is a single phase to three phase variable frequency drive. They are so cheap now it is crazy. here or here |
Most home service in this area is single phase. I've not heard of 2 phase but I could be wrong. |
Oh hell yes--brain fart, sorry.  Better go edit. 
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Hey, back off! He's not an electrician! 
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He sounds like the one at Home Depot
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you can get phase converter at your local Graingers.it will be sized by motor hp and very simple to install
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no such thing as 2 phase
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Yeah, but my dad worked for over 40 years for Wisconsin Poor Light, and he would kick my ass for that little gaffe.  He retired as the Northern Area District Meter Man--that's the guy who hooks up three-phase services. The line crew runs the wires to the meter head, and the electricians run the building wiring to the meter, and my old man hooked it all together. Think McDonald's and similar.  Edit:
No, MUCH worse--I bought a book at Menard's then wired my own house. 
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It's still referred to as a single phase service. I don't know why, but there is no such thing as a "two-phase service" from what I understand. I personify the cliche--"a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." 
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I use a rotary phase converter to power my vertical milling machine.
It does eat some power when you are chewing away through inch thick stainless, but the good news is you CAN chew through inch thick stainless.  At idle the power consumption of the phase converter is minimal. Note that they do make some noise. ETA follow instructions carefully. Make sure there is no load on a phase converter when you start it up, i.e. have your machine turned off. Starting them with a load will draw a huge amount of power. To prevent blowing out my converter, my electrician installed some fuses in the switch box that controls the converter (as recommended by the manufacturer). Start converter - Power up machine - Power down machine - Stop converter. |
I've always wondered why they never called it 2 phase...... |