phase converters for big iron

[Paul Koning]

>>>>> "Brian" == Brian Knittel <brian at quarterbyte.com> writes:

 Brian> Hi, Does anyone have any experience using motor-generator
 Brian> phase converters to produce 3 phase power from single phase
 Brian> power for running big iron? (e.g. IBM mainframe
 Brian> equipment). They seem reasonably priced -- about $1 per peak
 Brian> KW, at least on sale: http://www.phaseconverter.com

I read it as $200 per kW...

 Brian> I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has actual real
 Brian> experience with or knowledge about this.

I have no experience with these.  However...

It's not a motor generator.  I'm not sure how best to describe it.
The idea is that you apply mains power to one phase of a 3-phase
motor, get it to spin (starter capacitor) and then the other two
phases appear between the powered pins and the third pin.  A rotary
transformer?  Probably.

These things are very popular among home shop machinists, or others
who want to run lathes with 3-phase motors when the power company only
delivers one phase.

Another alternative (I have no actual experience here either) is solid
state 3 phase generators -- which may be referred to as motor speed
controllers because they produce an adjustable output frequency.
These would be attractive if you need something other than 50/60 Hz.
For example, those of you with CDC mainframes at home may want one...

    paul