Single phase VFD

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unky_gumbi

Joined
Aug 28, 2009
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7,951
I have been looking into motors for a KMG clone. Due to money concerns converting my house over to 3 phase power is out of the question as is making a rotary phase converter. I have been told that there is no such thing as a 120 single phase VFD, is that true and if not where would I find one for a 1-1.5hp single phase 120V motor. I just like the idea of a VFD over pulleys and that is the way I want to go.

This is going to be my winter project once I recover from my elbow surgery, finishing the full sized forge will be my recovery project.
 
You're in luck! VFDs typically run on single phase power and convert it to three phase power to the motor. Three phase is preferred for speed control as it is easier to implement and maintains near 100% torque at low speeds.

Bottom line. Buy a VFD, connect it to a 3 phase motor, plug it into 120 or 240 single phase outlet and you are good to go.

BTW, I have a couple of Rob's units, one for my KMG and another for the 9 inch disk grinder. They are top quality and easy to set up and if you do have a problem Rob is always there to help.

Dan Kaschner
 
unky_gumbi said:
I have been told that there is no such thing as a 120 single phase VFD...
Click to expand...

Bull's balls !

VFD's with a 120 v single phase inputs are rare.
220v single phase is much more common.

The KBAC-27D Part # 9520 that Rob sells is unique in that it takes a 120v input for motors 1.5 HP and lower so you can set it up to plug into a normal outlet.The Manual

It is also Nema 4, meaning it is sealed and has the heat sink built into the case of the VFD enclosure.


The cheaper Teco FM50 units that you see everybody using here are NEMA 1 and 220V single phase input.
If you have 220 close by and are willing to build the VFD into an enclosure, you can save a couple of hundred $.

The KBAC-27D is the only one I have found that takes a 120 volt input. I love the plug and play portability of using any outlet
(..actually up to 1.5 HP on 120 v input and up to 2 HP on 220v input)

I bought a KBAC-27D, but haven't hooked it up yet.

This is the lowest online price I have found
http://www.kb-electronics-controls.com/_product_15403/9520_-_KBAC-27D_Gray_Inverter

I purchased my KBAC-27D in Canada ...I assumed that if I got it locally, i could inspect it before handing over the cash...and that I wouldn't really save anything after all the shipping, duties and taxes were added.

This is the only stocking dealer listed for Manitoba

Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
KVA Dynamo Inc.
Phone: (204) 237-4490
Fax: (204) 233-5306

There are tons more threads about this controller and nice wiring and setup tutorials on the KMG website.
 
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Well I found what I need locally total cost will be about a grand, roughly the same as Rob's with exchange and shipping

It would be an all Baldor set up using a M3554T 1.5hp motor and a VS1ST11P5-0T

So that is what I know I can get locally, now to look at 12345678910's links
 
A grand!:eek:

Got a new 3 phase 2HP for about 200$ I think and ordered a TECO VFD for 150$US. A little wire, a box to put it in and a few switches and stuff and voila!

Search for Teco on here you'll get a few threads, particularly a good one from Nathan.
 
unky_gumbi said:
Well I found what I need locally total cost will be about a grand, roughly the same as Rob's with exchange and shipping

It would be an all Baldor set up using a M3554T 1.5hp motor and a VS1ST11P5-0T

So that is what I know I can get locally, now to look at 12345678910's links
Click to expand...

We use a micro drive like that in our shop ventilator its 115 input, it works nicely. though you might be able to save a few bucks and still get good service from a Yaskawa V7, not my favorite brand, but its has given us few problems.

edit; opps, transposed numbers, that made the point invalid.. additional info removed.
 
unky_gumbi said:
Well I found what I need locally total cost will be about a grand, roughly the same as Rob's with exchange and shipping

It would be an all Baldor set up using a M3554T 1.5hp motor and a VS1ST11P5-0T

So that is what I know I can get locally, now to look at 12345678910's links
Click to expand...
http://www.danfoss.com/Sweden/NewsA...ves/F8675892-65B1-4525-B650-4B80DE194583.html

The IP20 enclosure has been developed for applications where the drive is placed in a panel or cabinet
(designed to keep your fingers out of the electrics, but that is all)

If you are paying that much for the VFD, I would want NEMA4 protection.


and

Ebay really pisses me off with the fake bidders people use to inflate auctions, but I found some 'buy it now' used motors for a decent price 100 to 150 plus 50 shipping...
 
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Not sure where 123456789's info comnes from, but single phase input/three phase output VFD's are common. A look on ebay will turn up hundreds of them. When you purchase one, make sure you are getting a single pahes in/3 phase out. For a 1-1.5HP motor, you can use a 120VAC unit. The 220VAC units are better( and will last longer) if you can add a 220 outlet in your shop. Almost all houses wit 120V wiring actually have the ability for 220V circuits.
 
bladsmth said:

Not sure where 123456789's info comnes from, but single phase input/three phase output VFD's are common.

A look on ebay will turn up hundreds of them. When you purchase one, make sure you are getting a single pahes in/3 phase out. For a 1-1.5HP motor, you can use a 120VAC unit. The 220VAC units are better( and will last longer) if you can add a 220 outlet in your shop. Almost all houses wit 120V wiring actually have the ability for 220V circuits.
Click to expand...


"Not sure where 123456789's info comnes from, but single phase input/three phase output VFD's are common."
I didn't say that...

What I said was that 110v single phase inputs are not as common as 220 volt single phase inputs


What I meant was that
...if he was told by Sombody??? that "there is no such thing as a 120 single phase VFD..." to be sure that the person he was talking to understood single phase input, not output...

When I say they are rare, of all the low priced Teco FM50 units i looked into, I haven't found one that will do 110 volt input...
 
I have one that will, it's a little Teco I use to run my surface grinder.

1hp on 110v, I thought 1hp was the max for 110v though...

Look at dealers electric dot com
 
bladsmth said:
Not sure where 123456789's info comnes from, but single phase input/three phase output VFD's are common. A look on ebay will turn up hundreds of them. When you purchase one, make sure you are getting a single pahes in/3 phase out. For a 1-1.5HP motor, you can use a 120VAC unit. The 220VAC units are better( and will last longer) if you can add a 220 outlet in your shop. Almost all houses wit 120V wiring actually have the ability for 220V circuits.
Click to expand...

You can use a VFD that is 3 phase in/3 phase out. IT DOES NOT have to be single phase in/3 phase out.
if you find a 3 phase in/3 phase out it will work just fine with 220 single phase in. You do have to de-rate the drive by 50%. What that means is that if you need a 2 hp drive and you have a 3 phase in/3 phase out VFD, it will have to be rated at 4 hp.
Also, you better going by amps not hp when your looking for VFD's.

Also the Yaskawa V7 is an older model, the J1000 is a very good, relatively inexpensive drive. Yaskawa sells more drive than any other manufacturer as well as some of the most reliable drives around.

Michael
www.adammichaelknives.com
 
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I shouldn't have countered your claim in that manner - Sorry. I think I was misreading your post.
I agree the 120V units are less common than 220V ones, but I wouldn't call them rare.

Yes,1HP is usually the max for a 120V unit.
 
1Hp (continuous duty) is about max for 120 VAC because 99% of the 120V outlets are 15 or 20 amps max and you can't get much more than 1Hp from 20 amps of power!

Now back to your regularly scheduled debate...
 
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