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Power issues.

Redneck7 said:
Rob is the owner of the shop that rebuilds electric motors that is helping me out. He's sourced me a 3 phase motor and is giving me a vfd for free.

I still got some measuring to do to see if the motor will fit, so far it looks like it will.
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Ah, I see.

Sometimes you have to make a new motor mounting bracket or source new pulleys.
 
Redneck7 said:
Thanks guys for all the replies, I'm gonna have to look into the 3 phase motor possibility.

For the question about why I want to use the generator. My property only has a 65amp panel and its filled up. Maxed out and lights already dim when I use a circular saw, and have lots of lights on in the house. Also my panel is not to code, and it does need to get moved. Its just not on the radar at the moment. I already had the generator from when my dad passed, I just assumed being a whisper watt, it would work. the lathe is in a building far away from the power and down in the trees. For the cost to update my panel and move it, then trench new power down to the barn, I could build a new garage and then put the right power in there for the cabin and the garage. (that more on the radar than anything)

I'm gonna have to talk with some friends that are electricians and see what some options are.
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I have a 70 amp pole breaker switch which powers the house and shop. My largest motor is a 5hp single phase drawing 25 amps FLA. It runs the air compressor on a 40 amp breaker. My lathe is 5hp 3phase and runs the VFD off a 15 amp breaker. All 220 volt.
I have an 8000 watt diesel power plant for backup, and note that to start the 2hp table saw on the genset, I have to hold the mag switch start button in for 1 and a half minutes for the motor to get to speed. Generators are often under powered to keep from roasting the generator head. For 7kw your generator would need to be 10hp diesel at least.
 
It's am inline 3 cylinder Kubota diesel engine. Not sure it's hp rating. Talking more with Rob and he thinks the motor on the lathe is pooched or something else. So back to trouble shooting.
 
I've got an electric motor on a big bifold door that I run with a generator and I don't remember the specifics but I had to have a way big generator to run it properly as the starting amps required such. I was told that people would use smaller generators and they seemed to work initially but they would somehow fry out the motor by having too small of a generator.
 
Redneck7 said:
It's am inline 3 cylinder Kubota diesel engine. Not sure it's hp rating. Talking more with Rob and he thinks the motor on the lathe is pooched or something else. So back to trouble shooting.
Click to expand...
That would explain some things, if the motor croaked. If you here a very slight hum, starter motor switch may be at fault, and by hand turning it, it will start up...in either direction you turn it. I'm pretty sure the 3 hp Bota is 10 hp, very nice little engine.
 
Well last update! So the lathe works on the house power and on generator power, the generator won't turn the fastest rpm of 1550.

I thought the issue was the power kill switch. So I started poking around there and literally poked the green light lens that says power... it's a light but it's also a button to turn the power on...

I'm very relieved that the lathe works. Thanks for all the help everyone. I appreciate your time and knowledge. I'll start a new thread when I start getting projects done and such.
 
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