ADDITIONAL NOTES ON WIRING:
It is important to have adequate single-phase electrical service. The actual single phase current
that will flow through the converter is approximately 1.73 times the three-phase current. The
National Electric Code requires 2.5 times the three-phase load current to allow for starting current
and a margin of safety. This is a good conservative calculation to determine your single phase
branch circuit wire size and breaker size.
The power required to run the phase converter is very small and is negligible in figuring out the
power required. The power required is calculated based on the load only.
Wire can never be sized too large, but too small of wire can impede performance and even keep
the converter from starting properly. Increase wire size one size for every 50 feet of run and round
up.
3.0 OPERATION & MAINTENANCE
3.1 STARTING & STOPPING
Larson Electronics phase converters are started by turning the rotary switch to the start position.
The starting sequence is automatic and the switch needs only to be turned to start and released.
The switch should return to the run position on its own. Stopping the phase converter is done in a
similar manner, by turning the switch to the stop position. As with most electrical equipment,
frequent stops and starts are harder on the rotary phase converter than steady operation. The
rotary phase converter is extremely low cost to operate at idle (with no three-phase load), and this
is preferable to a high level of stopping and starting. If your load situation dictates that the rotary
phase converter must be started and stopped frequently, call us about our On Demand with Delay
Off kit for optimum product operation.
3.2 CHECKING VOLTAGES
Measuring Voltage is the easiest way to test to see if the phase converter is working properly.
When voltages are balanced on the three 3-phase lines, currents are balanced.
Measuring
current is more difficult as there are different types of current present in the running phase
converter such as regenerative current.
Voltage Measurements:
Measure L1 to L2
This is your single phase voltage as supplied from the utility. To get the
(T1 to T2)
most accurate voltage measurements, make sure that the converter is on
and the load is applied.
Measure L1/T1 to T3 This is the voltage between the manufactured line (T3) and one of the
single phase lines. This voltage should be up to 5% higher than the T1 to
T2 single-phase voltage.
Measure L2/T2 to T3 This voltage is the least important. It should also be within 5%.
This
voltage will drop when a load is applied.
