Also better add that the inverters aren't "permanent installations" either, they're on 13A plugs..... Also I did the shed wiring before the new codes came in and an electrician mate who saw it said "You don't believe in doing things by halves do you?"..... I used to run the whole shed off a single 13A extension lead, which it would still be legal to do and as the total load in the shed doesn't exceed this technically it would be safe to.... However I prefer having 100A armoured cable running under the path to a dedicated 40A RCD in the house box and have the old house box acting as local MCB's fior the shed.... The shed now has two lighting circuits..... chrisc -----Original Message----- From: modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Crosskey Sent: 06 February 2006 09:19 To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [modeleng] Re: FW: Question about phase converters Hi Andy, Hmmm... Yeah I checked the manual..... From personal experience I've not had a problem running 3/4 HP motors off 4HP inverters or 1/4HP motors off 1HP inverters (none of them Siemens, IIRC I've got a 1HP Hitachi, a 2HP Danfoss and a 4HP LG). Also I'm not beyond doing power wiring, as long as you make sure everything that can sensibly be earthed is earthed and over-rate the wire by a factor of 4 (everything in my shed that can be 60A or 100A armoured cable is) and add some common sense then you are cooking with charcoal..... Basically my inverters run to 3-phase outlet sockets so I can swap what is plugged into them, the 1HP and 4HP also serve a 3-phase disconnect switch that goes to the lathe (1HP) and mill (4HP) respectively as they are the most common loads on those units and I picked up the switch boxes for free when a factory cleared out... they're the big old style thing that looks like a door handle on a 1 foot square 4" deep box..... Remote controls for inverters are almost standard these days, button for start, knob for speed, big button for off...... Chrisc -----Original Message----- From: modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Andrew Houston Sent: 03 February 2006 19:15 To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [modeleng] Re: FW: Question about phase converters Chris Some good points about Inverters (Correctly termed Variable Frequency Drives) vs Converters. However, they are essentially meant to be "One Machine, One VFD" "You don't have to have tailored loads on an inverter" - read the Siemens installation and commissioning instructions for their 540 series ! "add some plugs or switches to change machines over and build a mobile control box to run it with" - sorry, I don't like the sound of that wrt Safety, EMC, manufacturers recommendations, IEE Wiring Regulations, etc, etc. Andy (Chartered Electrical Engineer keeping electricity live and safe) -----Original Message----- From: modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Crosskey Sent: 03 February 2006 18:28 To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [modeleng] FW: Question about phase converters Another attempt with rtf -----Original Message----- From: Chris Crosskey Sent: 03 February 2006 18:22 To: 'modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: RE: [modeleng] Question about phase converters Hi Steve, <Opinionated Rant> You've been told rubbish, solid state gives you infinite control over speed (within the limits of your motor to cope with it), all a rotary phase converter gives you is an expensive space consuming spinning transformer. For me I couldn't live without inverters, plus the fact that good ones can be had on ebay for peanuts while atavistic retards pay silly money for rotaries is just another plus in their favour </Opinionated Rant> I personally prefer inverters because of the speed control, you can individual ones on a per machine basis, as long as you aren't going over about 7.5kW (10HP) then an inverter will be a lot cheaper. Also you don't have to have tailored loads on an inverter, so if you're only using one machine at a time just by one big enough to cope with the biggest thing you use and add some plugs or switches to change machines over and build a mobile control box to run it with.... Chris Crosskey -----Original Message----- From: modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sehwuk@xxxxxxx Sent: 02 February 2006 19:52 To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [modeleng] Question about phase converters Chaps My first post and it's a question for any and all to answer :- Has anybody out there got, or used, phase converters ?. I'm just on the verge of building the new workshop for an attempt at a 41/2" Burrell but will need bigger machinery than I have at the moment, which really means going to 3 phase. I have heard good and bad things abut these bits of kit but would rather hear from people in the know (as it were). I have definately been told that a rotary will be better than a solid state. ALL replies, good or bad, will be most welcome. Steve Bodgers Retreat, Burwell MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. 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