Posted: 5/9/2009 12:51:14 PM EDT
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Can a motor built for a AC power source be adapted to use a DC power source? I would like to run a large water pump on DC power. The pump has a 8.5 hp 230v , 15 amp motor.
Can this be done? |
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What would your power source be?
You can run a AC motor on DC power but you need a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) which converts the AC line into DC load. You cannot just hook up a DC to a AC motor and make it run, the windings and stator are set up for AC at 60hz. |
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Quoted: Can a motor built for a AC power source be adapted to use a DC power source? I would like to run a large water pump on DC power. The pump has a 8.5 hp 230v , 15 amp motor. Can this be done? This is a cap start/cap run single phase motor. No way to do it directly. That is a 30 ampere motor at 230 VAC. You would need 530 amperes at 12 volts. The average automotive battery will last about 2 minutes. |
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Quoted:
Can a motor built for a AC power source be adapted to use a DC power source? I would like to run a large water pump on DC power. The pump has a 8.5 hp 230v , 15 amp motor. A) depends on how the motor is constructed, but in very general––No, AC motors are designed for AC of a particular frequency. THis includes Induction and Synchronous motors. B) if you go the inverter route, You are going to need 760W/HP*8.5HP = 6,460 Watt inverter and probably another 25% for startup surges. |
I was hoping that a few trolling motor batteries could power this thing. Oh well. Looks like 'plan C' will have to be developed.
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Quoted:
Not easily or efficently. Why not buy a small genny to run your pump? I had a small, cheap gen set I bought at a chinese tool sale for $99 I lost in my divorce, that thing was a work horse. A generator is not an option for this application. It has to be battery powered. Thanks for the reply though. 
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