440v to 220 conversion?

Atlas Knife Company

Atlas Knife Company

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Feb 16, 2010
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I've been offered a 25HP hydraulic pump motor, but it is 440V. Is there any chance I can make it work with 220V at a lower power, or is that the reason it is free? I don't know what kind it is, and I don't have it yet. I'm sure it's big and heavy, and I want to do a little homework before I hire a bunch of guys to lift it!
 
That's going to be a 3phase motor. Typically to run a motor that size off 220V, you'd use a rotary phase converter. General rule is to go the next size up from your motor, so you'd be looking at a 30hp converter--- which is going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500-2500.

You could use that 25hp motor to build a super duty rotary phase converter, which would allow you to buy machinery with 3 phase motors (i.e. mills, lathes, welders, etc. )that's a more realistic idea for a knife shop. Otherwise, I really can't think of anything you'd need a 25 hp motor for in a knife shop.
 
I agree with what Nick says but you will need to check into whether or not this motor has a dual voltage rating. Some motors can be wired for 110/220, 220/440, etc... some cannot.
 
Look on the motor plate. It will tell you if it can be run on 220v or not. If not it has to be rewound. That is why there are a bunch of high voltage motors out there really cheap. Remember you need 55 amps to run a 25hp motor on 220 3 phase.
 
If it's free, take it, sell it or scrap it and use the cash for useful stuff.

25 HP is huge and with 3 phase 440v you won't be able to power it at home.

Maybe you could, but it would take a transformer and phase converter, and those won't be free.
 
That'd be one monstrous motor... sheeeesh. My 7.5hp is 250lbs, and I thought THAT was plenty heavy...
 
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