Esteem/Pheer and Setting up 220v

A

AlphaMoose

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So I've officially been talked out of buying a KMG in favor of the Esteem or Pheer. Sounds like that VFD setup will ultimately be something I'm gonna want. My question here is sadly noobish but please bear with me as I have no personal experience with a real belt grinder.
So by the looks of it. The VFD and motor require two power inputs? (I know. I'm sorry.) And while one can run 120 (the motor) the VFD requires 220v. My question is do I HAVE to wire up a new circuit in my house to support a 220v when I already have a 120/220v step up/down transformer?

Also does anyone have a preference for Pheer vs Esteem? Considering anything using 120v is gonna be much appreciated.
 
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The motors that come with these grinders are 220V three phase, so they can run variable speed. And in the case of a disc grinder, variable and reversible.
That is the purpose of have a VFD - most situations only have 220V single phase.
The variable frequency drive converts regular residential single phase into three phase.
You only need one power input.
 
Both the Esteem and Pheer are nice grinders and use the KBAC-27 VFD which will run off of 110V 1ph input for the 1-1/2hp motor and 220V 1ph for the 2hp motor.
 
The VFD will use an input voltage, make sure you have the input voltage available for the drive you are getting (*sounds like you have 120volts available). The output will (*or should) match the motor you are also getting.

VFD's are really cool for all the work, time, and electrical knowledge they save many crafts, and that they bring power to machines that use to be exclusive to commercial power supplied facilities. Love those little single phase input VFD's.
 
get 240vac to your work area. if you shop, you can find 3hp VFD for less than $250 delivered http://dealerselectric.com/L510-203-H1-N.asp. TECO, Hitachi, Fuji, Siemens, Leeson, Allen Bradley all make industrial grade VFDs. I don't understand the fascination with KB other than it is what some grinder makers want to sell you. a NEMA 4 enclosure is nice, but if you locate the VFD on the wall above and to the side of your grinder, an IP20 enclosure will last just as long.
scott
 
You only need one outlet. If you can get 220 to where your grinder will be, do it. If you get the esteem just tell Brett to wire it for 110 or 220 because he does the wiring for you. If you get the pheer, I believe there are wiring diagrams on his website for both.
 
Depending on which VFD you're getting, some of them can be run on 110. The VFD will convert the output voltage to 220 for the 3 phase motor.
 
Scott wrote:
f you locate the VFD on the wall above and to the side of your grinder, an IP20 enclosure will last just as long.
Click to expand...
Scott, I do respect your opinion and find myself in agreement with you many many times, but this time, please allow me to disagree on the "last just as long" portion of your statement. It might, and it might not.

Yes, I do run a Chinese NEMA 1 (IP20) VFD and it's mounted to the left of my grinder, but is on the same table. I find the filters I've installed over the air intakes do get metal dust on the filters. Without the filters I don't think it would last too long. Now, if you mount the VFD on the way 20 ft away it will last ok. I hope it does anyway - my lathe has a TECO NEMA 1 VFD mounted on the wall and has been living just fine for the last 4 yrs with no filters on it.

For hobby use, I do think the Chinese NEMA 1 VFDs at $110 or so shipped offer a very viable budget choice. For a full time knifemaker that is using the grinder for hours EVERY day....... I really think I'd bite the bullet for the extra expense of a NEMA 4 enclosed VFD.

Ken H>
 
I run my esteem / vfd on 110, and honestly, have never bottomed it out. YMMV based on how you grind. I don't "hog" like some videos I've seen. I also don't do production runs...
 
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