Italian motor, American electricity

[Mark Gibney]

I got in an older Italian bandsaw with the original motor.

The motor is three phase, 4 hp, 50 hz, 380 V, 1420 rpm.

The three phase panel at the shop is 240 V.

Can I run this motor, and if not is it feasible to have it modified?

Thanks, Mark

469516

[Wes Grass]

380 is 220 each leg. Had a Swiss wire edm that needed it. Transformer was the solution. My cnc lathe would prefer 208, so another transformer to step it down from 240.

There's something I read that says the transformer only needs to be rated for the difference in current between the 2 voltages. But not knowing, or even now understanding it, I went with an expensive small coffee table of iron and copper.

Might be worth looking into. But then again, you don't need a 60A supply. 'Buck-Boost' is what you're looking for. Maybe.

[Richard Coers]

50Hz is a deal too. American power is 60Hz. Per the website: http://www.50hz60hz.com/what-happens-if-50hz-motor-is-driven-at-60hz.html
It will run with following problems for a 50Hz motor running on 60Hz (http://www.50hz60hz.com/60hz-motor-running-on-50hz-power-supply.html):


The core loss will increase and cause over heating of core.
As the core loss will increase, the Power Factor of motor will reduce.
The motor speed will be higher, so shaft load will increase. Motor will be overloaded at rated load.
Motor will produce magnetic humming sound.
Motor Bearing life will be reduced (marginal) for more speed and more load.
Dielectric Stress on insulation will increase due to higher frequency, causes marginal reduction of life of motor insulation.

[Warren Lake]

you have an Italian Motor and Armenian electricity ?

The reason it hums is cause it doesnt know the words

[Ronald Blue]

you have an Italian Motor and Armenian electricity ?

The reason it hums is cause it doesnt know the words

If I was drinking coffee I would have spit it out on that one. That's funny stuff Warren. Laugh of the day!

[George Makra]

If I were you I would just swap out the motor to a regular US NEMA motor.
I am currently wiring up a two headed planer that requires 125 amps at 400 volts
There is 220 three phase and the salesman talked them into a setup transformer.
The required input amps is 400 amps to make 400 volts at 125 amps.
That required 500 MCM cable (awfully expensive )and will provide heat for the winter months but summer time is gonna be miserable.

[Greg Quenneville]

I cant read the right side of the data plate whereit probably shows the terminal connections for 220v. If that is the case, get a 4hp vfd to run on your 220-240v single phase input, open up the motor connection box and change the connecting strips to the 220v configuration and job done.

[Jim Becker]

Transformer or a motor swap is the solution. Given the cost of a transformer and the 50 to 60 hertz thing, a motor swap would be somewhat attractive to me in this situation.

[Brian Holcombe]

Swapping to a metric motor of the same frame size would probably be easier than switching to nema.

[Erik Loza]

Back in my Italian days, there was a customer in Barbados (?) who purchased an edgebander from us. Apparently, they run on 50Hz down there. I recall explaining to him that it would be ideal if we just ordered a 50Hz machine from the factory. Couldn't hang with the lead time or something, so insisted on taking a 60Hz machine we had in the US. I think the motors burned out within a year or two.

Erik

[Mark Gibney]

Thanks all, a motor (and pulley) swap it shall be.
Special thanks to Warren!

[Warren Lake]

ill be appearing at the Burger King till saturday.

Back up plan in case the cabinetmaking thing doesnt work out