3 phase to 1 phase questions

Jody Treadway

Jody Treadway

Croc wearing fool
Moderator
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Hendersonville, NC
Got a shot at a parts washer that would be super useful in my shop. Problem is it is 3 phase, my shop is wired for single phase
Here's the ID tag on the washer in question.
IMG_20230523_122322927_HDR.jpg


What am I looking at to convert this to single 220 for use in my shop? This is a long term tool, so I'm not opposed to spending a little money. But how much it would cost will dictate how good a deal the washer actually is.
 
You would need a phase converter to provide 3phase power, and a step up transformer to get 460v. I'd guess $500-800 range for both if you shop around. If your shop is in an industrial area, it might be really easy to get 3 phase direct from the power company also.

I'm guessing it's just a pump and maybe a spinner or agitator motor, you might would be better off to swap them out since it's a pretty low load and small motor.
 
Transformer might be more than I remember. You used to could pick em up for a couple hundred bucks. But now they appear to be a lot more. Also, I just looked up the specs, and the 230v single phase version of that machine is 38 amps, so you may need a bigger phase converter than I was thinking. I figured a $5-600ish phase converter and $100-200 transformer. But probably at least double that.
 
awheelterd said:
11amps on 460 is a lot of juice. It got heating elements or something?
Click to expand...
Yep.
cougarchemical.com

Cuda SJ-15 Series Top-Load Parts Washers

The newest addition to the Cuda top load line-up, the SJ-15 uses a patented spray wash technology which eliminates the need for a drive motor, gears and pulleys. Using a water-propelled spray arm with 23 nozzles that spin around a stationary parts basket,parts are hit from every angle while...
cougarchemical.com cougarchemical.com
 
Here is what I got... American Rotary AR5 5HP. $595 plus tax on Amazon (American Rotary store). I'll take $350 for mine. New, hooked up one time, could not start my overhead crane with a load hanging. Had to get an ARX model. American Rotary gave me a fair deal to upgrade. Could either keep this one and sell to recover some cost, or return on my dime, so I kept it. If it will work for you, I got a buddy that goes to Flat Rock some, or I can get it to your place in Raleigh.

Amazon product ASIN B010UNLISE
 
Gonna speak to my landlord tomorrow and see what he has to say.
One of these will save me a small fortune in brake cleaner and other aerosol products. Had one at my dealer back in the day. Very, very handy.
 
Jody Treadway said:
Gonna speak to my landlord tomorrow and see what he has to say.
One of these will save me a small fortune in brake cleaner and other aerosol products. Had one at my dealer back in the day. Very, very handy.
Click to expand...
Will this one do aluminum well? I might be interested if it doesn't work out for you.
 
Last edited:
kaiser715 said:
Here is what I got... American Rotary AR5 5HP. $595 plus tax on Amazon (American Rotary store). I'll take $350 for mine. New, hooked up one time, could not start my overhead crane with a load hanging. Had to get an ARX model. American Rotary gave me a fair deal to upgrade. Could either keep this one and sell to recover some cost, or return on my dime, so I kept it. If it will work for you, I got a buddy that goes to Flat Rock some, or I can get it to your place in Raleigh.

Amazon product ASIN B010UNLISE
Click to expand...
That's not going to have the mustard for his load. He's going to need something twice as big.
 
awheelterd said:
That's not going to have the mustard for his load. He's going to need something twice as big.
Click to expand...
Yes maybe. Depends on how big the motor is, and if the heating element could be rewired for single phase since it's probably just resistive. Somebody like @braxton357 might have some kuhnowledge on the topic since he's a part time stripper and full time electrologist.
 
Yes maybe. Depends on how big the motor is, and if the heating element could be rewired for single phase since it's probably just resistive. Somebody like @braxton357 might have some kuhnowledge on the topic since he's a part time stripper and full time electrologist.

AR 5 is rated for 7 amps - his machine says it draws 11a.
Now maybe that’s max heat and max circ and there could be a way to limit the heat output… but gut feel is the ar5 isn’t big enough. At best it’s marginally big enough and will never satisfy a baller like Sir Treadway
 
jeepinmatt said:
Yes maybe. Depends on how big the motor is, and if the heating element could be rewired for single phase since it's probably just resistive. Somebody like @braxton357 might have some kuhnowledge on the topic since he's a part time stripper and full time electrologist.
Click to expand...
You start getting into all that and it definitely isn't worth it. I'd buy the right size converter. This is a @Ron question
 
awheelterd said:
Will this one do aluminum well? I might be interested if it doesn't work out for you.
Click to expand...
The caustic you use to clean steel/iron parts sparkling clean will f up aluminum, and the solution you use for aluminum doesn't do a great job on steel, generally you'd only do transmission or tcase housings in one machine and diffs/brakes etc in another.


Says it's a 3hp motor and there's a 90% chance it can be rewired low voltage so that rpc would work, the heating element you'd probably have to buy the correct one for single phase low voltage, 3 ph heating elements are wired differently than single ph and you'd only have half the heat going from 460 to 240 then probably a third of that because likely only one element would be working. You could ask cuda about buying a single phase element set
 
braxton357 said:
The caustic you use to clean steel/iron parts sparkling clean will f up aluminum, and the solution you use for aluminum doesn't do a great job on steel, generally you'd only do transmission or tcase housings in one machine and diffs/brakes etc in another.


Says it's a 3hp motor and there's a 90% chance it can be rewired low voltage so that rpc would work, the heating element you'd probably have to buy the correct one for single phase low voltage, 3 ph heating elements are wired differently than single ph and you'd only have half the heat going from 460 to 240 then probably a third of that because likely only one element would be working. You could ask cuda about buying a single phase element set
Click to expand...
Yeah I use caustic a work and like you said, it's fantastic for steel and stainless, not so friendly with the aluminum though 😂

I didn't know if all the jets and heat cold .made up for the lack of high power chemicals in something like this. We have a lot of greasy aluminum parts that always need cleaning.
 
awheelterd said:
You start getting into all that and it definitely isn't worth it. I'd buy the right size converter. This is a @Ron question
Click to expand...
But he's an electrical engineer, not an electrologist. Both are smart guys and will give you a correct answer:
Ron said:
AR 5 is rated for 7 amps - his machine says it draws 11a.
Now maybe that’s max heat and max circ and there could be a way to limit the heat output… but gut feel is the ar5 isn’t big enough. At best it’s marginally big enough and will never satisfy a baller like Sir Treadway
Click to expand...
In other words, the simplest answer is probably a 20hp phase converter, but at like $2000, and you still need a step up transformer.
braxton357 said:
Says it's a 3hp motor and there's a 90% chance it can be rewired low voltage so that rpc would work, the heating element you'd probably have to buy the correct one for single phase low voltage, 3 ph heating elements are wired differently than single ph and you'd only have half the heat going from 460 to 240 then probably a third of that because likely only one element would be working. You could ask cuda about buying a single phase element set
Click to expand...
But you can also fiddle with it, and find a way to make it work a lot cheaper.

Smartest thing would probably be to just find a single phase version. End up at the same final cost if you value your time.
 
jeepinmatt said:
But he's an electrical engineer, not an electrologist. Both are smart guys and will give you a correct answer:

In other words, the simplest answer is probably a 20hp phase converter, but at like $2000, and you still need a step up transformer.

But you can also fiddle with it, and find a way to make it work a lot cheaper.

Smartest thing would probably be to just find a single phase version. End up at the same final cost if you value your time.
Click to expand...
I’ve never even been on a train other than tweetsie…much less drove one
 
jeepinmatt said:
But he's an electrical engineer, not an electrologist. Both are smart guys and will give you a correct answer:

In other words, the simplest answer is probably a 20hp phase converter, but at like $2000, and you still need a step up transformer.

But you can also fiddle with it, and find a way to make it work a lot cheaper.

Smartest thing would probably be to just find a single phase version. End up at the same final cost if you value your time.
Click to expand...

The pump itself probably doesn't pull many amps, the heating elements being pure resistance loads don't care about phase you could rewire them in a single phase configuration but you'd still only have half the heat... which might be enough? Maybe worth a try, Jody needs a phase converter so he can buy a Bridgeport anyway
 
braxton357 said:
The pump itself probably doesn't pull many amps, the heating elements being pure resistance loads don't care about phase you could rewire them in a single phase configuration but you'd still only have half the heat... which might be enough? Maybe worth a try, Jody needs a phase converter so he can buy a Bridgeport anyway
Click to expand...
And I have a bridgeport for sale...:cool:
 
Gonna pass on it.
The added cost and aggravation offsets the good price. Even if I added 3 phase to my shop (commercial location) when I build a shop at my house, it won't be 3 phase
I'll PM JohnstonCounty, aka @awheelterd about the washer if he's interested.
 
Back
Top