If you own a machine and try to hook it into a regular plug, there’s a high chance that it won’t run. While there are many possible reasons why your equipment won’t work, it’s probably due to the motor running the machine and the power coming from the outlet. HeavyHHea machinery runs on 3 phase motor, and a standard receptacle only gives out single phase power. You need a 3 phase converter to fix your problem.

What Are Single and Three Phase Power?

To better understand phase motors and converters, it’s important to be familiar with single and three phase power. Single phase power allows enough load to transfer to a single household so other homes can receive electricity as well. It’s because of single phase power that most of the outlets today can run single phase motors.

Three phase motors, on the other hand, allow heavier loads to be transferred. This type of phase is used by power plants to transmit enough energy to power neighborhoods. Three phase power is also used by manufacturers and industriesthat use equipment requiring high voltage like air compressors and LED walls.

What’s a Converter For?

For your 3 phase motor to work on a single phase outlet, a converter must be used. These converters can eitherstart 3 phase motors using single phase power,generate power and act asa substitute motor,or use inverters to match the motor and the power’s frequency.

What Should You Consider When Buying a Three Phase Converter?

Be mindful that there are no industry standards for manufacturing phase converters. That’s why it’s highly recommended to consider the following when buying three phase converters for your equipment:

• The nameplate HP rating -This is important when figuring outthe converter’s horsepower (HP).
• The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) frame size -Compare converters based on their size instead of the HP rating. This is because different sizes of converters may have different performance even if they have the same HP.
• The weight -If you have no way of knowing the converter’s frame size, you may look at the converter’s weight instead.
• Revolutions/rotations per minute (RPM) – You need to determine at what rpm does the phase converter operate to know if it can power your specific application.
• Automatic control availability – This is a must for energy-conscious users who value energy efficiency, especially for converters that cycle on and off repeatedly.

Typically, a machine with a 3 phase motor requires 3 phase power for it to run. If an outlet that provides 3 phase power isn’t available, buying three phase converters is the best thing to do.