Three-phase Conversion

A practical guide to running three-phase equipment on single-phase electricity supplies.

Often, model engineers buy industrial workshop equipment, such as lathes, drilling machines and milling machines, but they usually require a three-phase electricity supply. Although ready-built phase converters are available, they can often cost as much or even more than the equipment purchased. This book provides an invaluable source of practical guidance on how anyone can find out the type of electrical equipment they have, and how to convert it to allow it to run on a single-phase supply. Whilst many boooks on the subject give just some ideas on methods of conversion, this one provides exact calculations for each method to ensure that the best performance is achieved, without compromising safety or risking burning out motors or other equipment. Step-by-step instructions with photographs and diagrams make simple what would be thought of as difficult or complex. Worked examples of the few required calculations are given and cover electricity supplies in America, Europe and the rest of the world. Explanations of what test equipment is needed are given, along with instructions on how to build some useful test equipment at low cost. Finally, it does at least advise on which equipment cannot be converted at all.

About the Author

Graham Astbury is a Chartered Engineer, who has recently retired after a career providing expert advice on process safety in the chemical industry. With a lifelong interest in both electrical engineering and model engineering, he started re-winding motors and transformers whilst still at school, and has spent the last few years researching into phase conversion methods for his own workshop.