[SEL] Air compressor motors

[Ed stoller]

I have a similar opportunity and am thinking of using a gas engine with an 
electric clutch.

Ed
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jbcast at charter.net>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 2:14 AM
Subject: Re: [SEL] Air compressor motors


>
> ---- JIM KIRKES <jd.kirkes at verizon.net> wrote:
>> Hi Tony,
>>
>> Curt Holland had a very nice write up on making a single
>> phase to three phase converter.  I took a look at his
>> website and couldn
>> find it so maybe he can point you in the right direction.
>>
>
>> I attended a nearby community sale yesterday and ended up
>> dragging
>> home a huge behemoth of an air compressor.  It's a Curtis
>> 2-stage, 80
>> gallon upright.  It wasn't until I got it home and unloaded
>> it that I
>> realized the motor on it is 3 PHASE.  I can't run 3 phase in
>> my
>> garage, so if anyone has a single phase motor that would
>> work for
>> this application, I would be interested in buying or trading
>> for this
>> 3 phase unit.  The motor is rated at 5 HP.  I don't know
>> much about
>> the particulars of electric motors, but I'm guessing I'd
>> probably
>> need a single phase motor with more HP than the 3 phase
>> motor I'd be
>> swapping out...  Can anyone confirm that?  Here is some of
>> the
>> information on the motor tag:
>>
>> Frame- 184T
>> Horsepower- 5
>> Volts- 208-230/460
>> Amps- 14.8-14/7
>> RPM- 1725
>> NEMA nom eff. 81.5%
>> Rating- 400 AMB-Cont.
>> PF- 80%
>>
>> I'd also be interested in trading the whole compressor unit
>> for a
>> complete single phase unit if anyone is looking to upgrade.
>> I do not
>> need a compressor this large, but I got a pretty good deal
>> on it, so
>> I bought it anyway.  I won't need anything more than a 60
>> gallon
>> single stage for my uses.  I can provide pics of the motor
>> or the
>> whole compressor if anyone is interested.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> --
>> Tony Kimmell
>> Bloomington, IL
>>
> Tony, a convertor is not usually suited to a compressor. Arotary convertor 
> would require at least a 7.5hp idler motor, thiw would have to run all the 
> while the compressor is being used. A static convertor reduces the ouput 
> of the 3 phase motor so it wouldn't run the compressor, on a mill or lathe 
> you seldom need the full hp, a compressor does. Since you don't need the 
> full ouput of this compressor I would look for a 3hp moptor and a smaller 
> drive pulley. A 5hp single phase should work in place of the 3 phase with 
> the same pulley, hp is hp. It will pull more amps on the 2 legs, but the 
> total will be close to the 3 phase on three legs. The smaller motor should 
> be cheaper and easier to find, the smaller pulley will reduce the load on 
> the motor, you will have to check the amps under load to be sure it's not 
> overloaded. Ssmaller pulley =l reduced load, lower amperage,  compressor 
> turning slower, reduced output. Single phase motors are usually harder to 
> find used, most people can'!
> t use 3 phase at home.
> J.B. Castagnos
> Belle Rose, LA
>
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