I am looking for sources for VFD controllers and 3 phase motors for a some projects Dave and I are working on.
We need a list of suppliers here...
1. Where are some places for a VFD Drive (frequency speed controller) with 230v in and 3phase out? Rated for up 2hp?
2. Must have a NEMA 4 enclosure option.
3. ...and a good place for a TEFC 1750rpm 3phase 230v frequency motor with C face plate?
I've been to www.factorymation.com and their FM50 http://www.factorymation.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.13/.f is not bad. If you make your own enclosure, it's probably one of the best deals out there. Throw in the enclosure with external POT and reverse and the Drive shoots up to $422. Which isn't terrible for that kind of equipment but I'm hoping to dig up some other choices.
Some basics for non-motor heads.
Your house has 1 phase current. Many/most(?) commercial use motors use 3phase power as it works more efficiently with the motor.
You can control a motor speed via DC controller which varies voltage to speed things up or down....or you can control a motor with frequency (your household current is 120cycle). Change the frequency and you change the speed. Frequency motors are generally quite a bit cheaper than DC wound motors.
A VFD Drive is an electronic gadget that does several things depending on your needs. It will:convert house hold 1phase into 3 phase. It will regulate frequency to control a motor. It does other things too but that is all we generally care about.
A VFD motor changes speed by having the input frequency change. A huge advantage a VFD setup has over a DC setup is you get nearly full torque through out most of the speed range. A DC motor loses torque as you slow it down.
A DC motor setup is generally cheaper since it generally doesn't need an external controller and even it does, they are fairly simple compared to a VFD Drive. There are also different types of DC motors. Some have high quality permanent magnets (usually more expensive) and some convert the input AC into DC internally which causes up to 30% loss in power due to heat.
Bottom line, DC motor setups are cheaper. If you can afford a VFD setup, it is the way to go.
We need a list of suppliers here...
1. Where are some places for a VFD Drive (frequency speed controller) with 230v in and 3phase out? Rated for up 2hp?
2. Must have a NEMA 4 enclosure option.
3. ...and a good place for a TEFC 1750rpm 3phase 230v frequency motor with C face plate?
I've been to www.factorymation.com and their FM50 http://www.factorymation.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.13/.f is not bad. If you make your own enclosure, it's probably one of the best deals out there. Throw in the enclosure with external POT and reverse and the Drive shoots up to $422. Which isn't terrible for that kind of equipment but I'm hoping to dig up some other choices.
Some basics for non-motor heads.
Your house has 1 phase current. Many/most(?) commercial use motors use 3phase power as it works more efficiently with the motor.
You can control a motor speed via DC controller which varies voltage to speed things up or down....or you can control a motor with frequency (your household current is 120cycle). Change the frequency and you change the speed. Frequency motors are generally quite a bit cheaper than DC wound motors.
A VFD Drive is an electronic gadget that does several things depending on your needs. It will:convert house hold 1phase into 3 phase. It will regulate frequency to control a motor. It does other things too but that is all we generally care about.
A VFD motor changes speed by having the input frequency change. A huge advantage a VFD setup has over a DC setup is you get nearly full torque through out most of the speed range. A DC motor loses torque as you slow it down.
A DC motor setup is generally cheaper since it generally doesn't need an external controller and even it does, they are fairly simple compared to a VFD Drive. There are also different types of DC motors. Some have high quality permanent magnets (usually more expensive) and some convert the input AC into DC internally which causes up to 30% loss in power due to heat.
Bottom line, DC motor setups are cheaper. If you can afford a VFD setup, it is the way to go.