ELECTRICAL HELP! Can a 2 Phase 220V outlet be converted to a 3 phase?

Question

I have some equiment that requires 3 phase 220 voltage. The equipment had been running on 3 20amp(I think) breakers at work. I have a 2 phase 220 outlet mounted directly beneath the control panel. It is connected to 2 70amp breakers. Is this something that could easily be rewired to work for 3 phase? I know the obvious, turn off the power before doing anything.

Answer 1

no. this would require the power company coming in and running you a seperate 3 phase service.

Answer 2

Easy to do with a single capacator. Connect the two leads of regular 220 to two leads on the motor of the 3 phase, the third lead take about a 65 MF capacator and connect that to either of the 220 leads. Try the 65MF first, then drop back to the needed capacatance by watching the voltage on the 220 line that you have added the capacator to. Adjust capacatance till you hit near the 220 across all the 3 leads.

Basically, that is what those expensive Converters do only they will handle huge loads. You, I assume are doing small loads ie. either a single motor or a control panel based on what you say above. .

Answer 3

No you can't. In order to have a 3 phase you need the 3d wire from the power company. The voltage "varies" on this phase. That is what makes a 3 phase unit run. You also need a 3 phase circuit breaker. Anything less won't get you what you want.

God Bless You :)

Answer 4

There is an easier approach then buying 3-phase power. You can get a phase generator. It's basically a motor with a capacitor bank that generate's 3-phase power from single phase power. I think grainger stocks them, you can also build one. You've got to know what class of service your 3-phase motor is in, the current draw and running and peak current that it's going to draw to select a phase converter. One thing to be carefull of, though, is that these tend to inject nasty harmonics back into the grid. If you have a close neighbor who has a lot of refrigeration compressors (like a grocery store) they might be in for a rude surprise.

Talk to an industrial electrician about this. Since you're only really running a motor on it (I think) then a rotary phase generator is probably what you need. If you have something real complex, then you might want a digital phase converter. I don't know much about those. Good luck.

Answer 5

First of all, if you are at home you probably don't have 3 phase power available. So your out of luck. There is no such thing as 2 phase 220V. It is single phase. You have to have 3 phase from the power comany which more than likely you don't.
Clint
Master Electrician

Answer 6

John nailed it with the phase generator, unless you're willing to spend serious coin for the 3 phase service upgrade. BTW...just because its 3 phase, does NOT mean its strictly 480 volts. 120/208 3 ph. services happen every day. The other configuration is 277/480 volts.

Answer 7

NO

3 phase has to be brought in from the main pole and have a special fuse fitted. It also uses differnt plugs fittings and anything connected must be higher grade wire. 3 Phase is 480 Volts., phasing Depending where the Pole transformer is it could be quite costly to have put on. There is also a 3 phase pole fuse that has to be fitted

Answer 8

Yes, but it takes a converter, I have been around 3 of them, and they all make a lot of noise.

I see ads for them in Harbor Frt, Cummins flyers, I note they are much cheaper than they were 20 years ago.

But its not as simple as just plugging in to an outlet that you now have.

Answer 9

You get converters. I don't know about them (commercial aspects), but you get them