Originally Posted by
Tim Cardinal
I'm picking up a 8in General jointer tomorrow that has a 3 phase motor. Any thoughts on VFD inverters? When I lived in Minnesota all my machines where 3 phase and I built a rotary phase converter, It worked well but my electrician friend said the VFD was the way to go.
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Tim
Is the 8" jointer the only 3 phase equipment that you plan on buying anytime in the near future? Around here 3Phase equipment often goes really cheap at auctions. Buying multiple decent quality VFDs can be costly especially for motors bigger than 3HP(i.e. 5HP dust collector or table saw).
For instance, I purchased at a local government auction a 14" Delta Unisaw for $150 (5HP 3PH), 12 Oliver Jointer (3HP 3PH) for $50, and 20" Oliver Planer (3HP 3PH) for $50. Since then I found a used American Rotary 10HP RPC with power panel in Atlanta for $350 from another woodshop hobbyist. This RPC setup should allow me run other 3 phase woodworking equipment for the cost of adding another wire & plug. Nothing about RPC you didn't already know.