[Gnome]

I have recently purchased a cnc mill that came with a Mitsubishi Freqrol-A024 Variable frequency drive (2.2 KW output) to control the 3 horsepower 3 phase spindle motor. Now i know that most VFD's can be run on single phase power and that it will output around 2/3 the total rated power of the motor but i'm wondering if there are any potential problems with running it on single phase instead of 3 phase.

Basically im wondering if:
1.) will ANY vfd will run on single phase or is there a chance i will blow it up?
2.) would i be better off running the vfd from a surplus 3-phase motor that tacks on the 3 leg of power - even if i didn't balance the phase and voltage outputs (ie: if i made a rotary phase converter with a pull cord and a normal motor and then just ran this straight into my VFD). Would this be better or possibly worse without the voltage and phase being regulated?

Thanks.

[Karl_T]

I'm running botha monarch 10EE and an Excello CNC nmill on VFD with single phase. No problems.

I was told that the derating isn't even necessary in the smaller drives. My 10EE is a 5 hp VFD and a 5 hp spindle.

Karl

[murphy625]

Three Phase is almost always better than single phase..

Get / Make a phase converter... There maybe other things you will need it for also.

Just my 2 cents.
Murphy

[Gnome]

So does this mean that running any small vfd on single phase power will not damage it?

[Al_The_Man]

Most VFD have plenty of protection in them, some (vary rare) need three phases to run, All the mitsubishi I have used you can run on single phase up to around 5hp.
Most have a preference on the input terminals for the single phase input, on mitsubishi it is R S of RST terminals.
Al.

[Gnome]

Thanks for the help. i think i might end up going with a rotary phase converter becuase i need to run some other 3 phase machinery