Question Bauer Capitano II 480V 3 Phase to 240V Single Phase Help

[JayPBC]

Hey guys i just bought a 2003 Bauer Capitano II with 34 hours on it. It's wired to run on a 480v 3 phase motor and i want to convert it to 240v single phase so i can use it at home.
Id appreciate a list of components ill need to make the change and if you guys could recommend an electrician that could do the job here in South Florida.

 

[tbone1004]

2-ways, the lazy/not great way is to actually replace the motor with a single phase 240v motor with a soft start. That will probably cost you about $2k between the new motor/pulley and the soft starter. It will also cost more to run since the motor is less efficient. Cost to do this will be about $600 for the motor, and about the same for the soft starter. Will count the wiring portion as a wash between the two.

Alternate option is to rewire the motor for 230v which it is capable of by moving some wires around according to the dataplate on the motor itself to the "low voltage" mode, and installing a VFD like the one linked below. All that you will need is some basic wiring tools and some wire to make the plug. Depending on what you're plugging it into that could be as easy as a dryer plug from Home Depot. Will still cost you about $1500 but it will be cheaper to run since the motor is more efficient *though for a home compressor it's inconsequential* but the motor will last a lot longer.

You will put the VFD between the starter box and the pump and the box will have to be reconfigured for single phase input, but that's pretty simple.

It is highly unlikely that you will find an independent electrician that is not going to cost an arm and a leg to set up the VFD for you as those guys are typically gobbled up by companies that do work for industrial applications, but it is not terribly complicated.

Here is a link to a VFD and how to program/install it.

5 hp VFD, Single Phase to Three Phase VFD

5hp variable frequency drive, single phase to three phase VFD, 17 amps, RS485 enabled, shipping weight 4kg, manufacturer direct sale.

www.ato.com

Another good video. It is only showing a 1hp vfd running on 120v, but the same principals apply. The whole series is going to be good for you as it goes through the entire process of wiring, enclosure, etc. You already have the enclosure which is good, though like I said some adjustments will need to be made, but it is a fairly straight forward process and we can walk you through it on here with no issues.
This is the drive from Teco that you would need. It is a 10hp drive because it is rated for 3p input and you'll only be using 1p input so you need to double the capacity of the drive *technically 1.73*, and will only use R1/R2

F510-2010-C3-UE

F510-2010-C3-UE quick delivery, authorized Teco Westinghouse distributor. Offers complete line of AC Drives . Easy online ordering, rewards program, and great pricing.

www.wolfautomation.com

The VFD is the right way to do it, it may sound scary, but it's very straightforward and will save you quite a bit of money upfront and on the life of the compressor since it will be able to not only soft-start, but also soft-stop which saves a lot of wear on the compressor and motor.

 

[JayPBC]

I was looking online and a new motor is only $380 does the pulley cost over $1000? And cant i just reuse the factory pulley?

 

[Tracy]

I was looking online and a new motor is only $380 does the pulley cost over $1000? And cant i just reuse the factory pulley?

Unless you have some magical supplier, that motor shouldn't be $380. You will be between 6-800 for a new one. The pulley should be usable from the old one. You will also have to change your wires and contactor.

 

[JayPBC]

Unless you have some magical supplier, that motor shouldn't be $380. You will be between 6-800 for a new one. The pulley should be usable from the old one. You will also have to change your wires and contactor.

This is the AO Smith motor i found same specs as others ive seen running the capitano. Is there a specific motor and contactor you would recommend?

 

[Tracy]

This is the AO Smith motor i found same specs as others ive seen running the capitano. Is there a specific motor and contactor you would recommend?

That appears to be a B386 frame, not a 182T frame.
It could be made to work, but it won't bolt on.
That could be a manufacturer number, I don't know.
But I don't see 182T listed anywhere on that screen shot.

 

[JayPBC]

That appears to be a B386 frame, not a 182T frame.
It could be made to work, but it won't bolt on.
That could be a manufacturer number, I don't know.
But I don't see 182T listed anywhere on that screen shot.

The 182t is the 3phase motor i need a single phase motor.

 

[tbone1004]

This is the AO Smith motor i found same specs as others ive seen running the capitano. Is there a specific motor and contactor you would recommend?

If it has the same shaft then you can use the same pulley but like Tracy said, it won't bolt into the frame so you also need an adapter plate, and you still need a ~$600 soft starter if you want to do it safely. Starting up that much of a load is not good for your electrical system.

If you want to do it the lazy way and put a single phase motor then go right ahead, bolt this motor in, buy a soft starter, change the wiring and fuses in the panel to single phase and you're good to go, but it's not the right way to do it. You're wanting to remove an $800 industrial grade continuous duty rated motor that is designed to run things in manufacturing plants all day every day, without stopping, ever, and replace it with a happy home owner version designed for intermittent use air compressors that power cycle frequently. There is a reason that Toshiba costs over twice as much money to built and it's not because it has a fancy name on it.

 

[tbone1004]

The 182t is the 3phase motor i need a single phase motor.

but if you change the frame size then you need to change the frame mounting plates, and make sure it lines up properly and the tension is done right. People changing 3p to 1p motors are doing it the lazy way, not the right way.

In fact, in Europe it is no longer legal to sell compressors without 3p motors and VFD's on them....

 

[JayPBC]

but if you change the frame size then you need to change the frame mounting plates, and make sure it lines up properly and the tension is done right. People changing 3p to 1p motors are doing it the lazy way, not the right way.

In fact, in Europe it is no longer legal to sell compressors without 3p motors and VFD's on them....

Im not keeping the compressor im going to sell it but i doubt anyone would want it in it's current 480v setup.