Can a 230v3-Phase Compressor be used with household 210v

[Tidybuoy]

I just got a free compressor after we shut down one of our plants. It's an Ingersoll Rand, 60gal, 5hp, 230v 3-phase. It's practically new and has a 2018 manufacturer date.

Now that I got that thing home, I was planning on installing it outside behind my garage. But I am not familiar with 3-phase and I have no idea if this will work using normal dryer 220v power.

With this being used infrequently, I want to know if this can be converted to work on 220 or will I need to buy a 220 motor for this.

BTW, what is 3 phase anyway?

[fastfredracing]

I believe that there is some sort of convertor for this . A frequency convertor maybe ?

[javadog]

3 phase motors won't work on a single phase household dryer circuit.

[cabmandone]

Sure but you have to buy what I think is a fairly expensive thing called a phase converter I have a friend that owns a 3 phase compressor running on a phase converter. Probably cheaper to buy a motor and be done with it.

https://www.phoenixphaseconverters.com/Shop/default/5-hp-rotary-phase-converter-gp5nl-single-phase-to-three-phase-converter.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping&utm_content=&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm9D0BRCMARIsAIfvfIYBLvggRyBaOKvGxs4r Ve2GXAkHVkvjiR-G75ZdHeAK1YDTu_RQz7EaAi2ZEALw_wcB

[cabmandone]

Might be about a wash but with the motor you'd have new one where with the phase converter you'd have an expensive converter and an old motor.

https://www.grainger.com/product/36VF05?gclid=Cj0KCQjwm9D0BRCMARIsAIfvfIZ6uwOxIUqCw 4BMSRZwo-g3C64wdzzISUr7gDN8oNnphSKKCBLfN30aAs2uEALw_wcB&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwm9D0BRCMARIsAIfvfIZ6uwOxIUqCw4BMSRZw o-g3C64wdzzISUr7gDN8oNnphSKKCBLfN30aAs2uEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!402184945814!!!g!469669561187!


Less expensive option for a motor.

https://www.ebay.com/p/15030523310?iid=273295622070

[billybek]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=367324

[LWJ]

My Dad has a converter gizmo. It works. I'm not impressed.

Seems complicated and very Mickey Mouse.

[red-beard]

In the old days, you used a rotating phase converter. Fancy way of saying a large single phase motor with a synchronous generator on the other end.

These days they are not expensive.

1 phase to 3 phase converter for 5 HP - $499

https://www.driveswarehouse.com/ode-3-320153-1042

[Shaun @ Tru6]

wire in a buck boost transformer.

[LWJ]

Red Beard may have described the thing my Dad has. Sounds right.

Old tech. Listen to Red Beard and others.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by red-beard

In the old days, you used a rotating phase converter. Fancy way of saying a large single phase motor with a synchronous generator on the other end.

These days they are not expensive.

1 phase to 3 phase converter for 5 HP - $499

https://www.driveswarehouse.com/ode-3-320153-1042

Son of a.. where were these when I needed one. I have the capacitor and rotating motor version. Simple but noisy and uses power all the while it’s turned on.

[908/930]

You can also use a inverter drive, you can control motor speed with these. I am using two TECO A510 for equipment and they work very well. Overkill for a compressor though.

For a compressor probably better to find a single phase motor, make sure the relay that turns on the motor can take the extra current, it will be higher. Good possibility that the motor dimensions including mount plate will be slightly different also, nothing ever easy.

3 phase is used normally for industry, more efficient then residential single phase, not sure how to describe but has three AC waveforms vs two, so three hot lines.

[red-beard]

The phase converter drive I suggested has some additional advantages:

Soft start - reduces inrush current
Unity Power factor
This does have speed control built in, so you could run the motor at slower speed, maybe better matching the flow and reducing the start/stop cycle on the system. Probably would require a pressure transmitter and a little programming on the unit.

[gwmac]

Check out VFD variable frequency drive.
work great and chaper than a rotary phase converter

[Tidybuoy]

I will wait until I hear back from our maintenance manager. He told me that all I need is a transformer that attaches to the compressor and it would be around $100 bucks.

I'm not sure I believe him yet but these guys are dealing with electrical issues all the time as we have a lot of huge electrical machines and I know that our plant operates on 440v and 230v as well as common voltages. All of this is over my head but we do have licensed electrical engineers here and so I will wait until I hear back. I'll report back on what they say.

None of this is urgent for me but at some point, I want to get this compressor installed and plumbed into my garage.

[908/930]

There is also a device called a static phase converter they are not that costly but you would loose about 1.5hp from the motor, could run a smaller pulley on the motor and loose some cfm.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

back in the day, you would put a wheelbarrow wheel on your "3 phase generator motor", two phases in with a R/C circuit and it starts to growl, time to kick start the motor with the wheel, then you get psuedo three phase to put through a wye transformer. lots of home garages had this setup

[unclebilly]

This is actually cheap and easy to do.

I am running my 3 phase engine lathe off 230v single phase.

My lathe is 3HP, so I needed a 5HP (4kW) inverter VFD to concert the voltage. You need to oversize the VFD by 30% to make this work. Throw out the chinglish manual it comes with and look on YouTube for programming instructions...

This is what I have.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/UPDATED-220V-4KW-5HP-VARIABLE-FREQUENCY-DRIVE-INVERTER-VFD-NEW/182935786653?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item2a97d2949d:g:SQMAAOSwvApaH2Ni

[sc_rufctr]

I wouldn't mess around... Just call and electrician and find out if 3 phase power is available in your area. (This is an option all over Australia. I'm guessing the same is true for the US)

If it is he can run a 3 phase power outlet directly from your meter to the pace you want to install your compressor.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I wouldn't mess around... Just call and electrician and find out if 3 phase power is available in your area. (This is an option all over Australia. I'm guessing the same is true for the US)

If it is he can run a 3 phase power outlet directly from your meter to the pace you want to install your compressor.

Not so much in the US. In industrial areas for sure, but very rarely available in residential areas.