electric motor help

[tuckermtn]

I am trying to understand the faceplate on the motor that came with the GAST vac pump I just picked up.

the part I don't understand is it is called a "industrial duty fractional motor". what is a fractional motor?

I am trying to swap this motor out b/c its a 3 phase and I need a 1 phase.

plan on putting it on ebay but need to understand what a fractional motor is so I can accurately describe it.

[red maples]

believe me I am no professional on th e subject but I do know that a fractional horsepower motor is just a term for an electric motor that runs on low voltage I think its 750 watts or less or is it 745 I forget but its just considered a low voltage motor thats all.

so in your description I would just put

"3 phase 1.5 hp fractional horsepower motor" and the usual info...anyone who is looking for 1 I am sure they would know what it is. At least I hope so anyway.

[TapME]

before you go and change out the motor look at the 3 phase converter boxes that they have today. It's not like they use to be, just a small box that the power goes to first before the motor. The price is not to bad also.

[lpakiz]

Remember if you do use a static phase converter that you will not have full name-plate horsepower. This is because you are only powering up 2 of the 3 inputs. The phase converter only helps start the motor by supplying an "artificial" 3rd phase. After it is running, the phase converter doesn't do anything.
You can replace this 3 phase motor with any 1725 RPM 1.5 HP single phase motor

[tuckermtn]

another thought- can you get a regular generator to put out three phase power?

I looked at the phase converters but not being very good at understanding electricity, can't make heads or tails of the static vs rotary phase converters- and what is a soft or normal load.

think the easiest is just going to be to swap motors...

[sapsucker78]

Take the motor off and take it to your local motor shop. Tell them you want a replacement singal phase motor and ask if they will take yours in on trade. If not go with your ebay plan and post a pic of the name plate like you did here.:)

[3rdgen.maple]

Red is correct a fractional motor is 746 watts or less. The reasoning behind the production of a fractional motor is they are exempt from some Us energy policy. So it gets them around some government red tape therefore cheaper to make. And Tuckermnt you can buy a regular 3 phase generator. But keep in mind going with an electric motor gets you away from baby sitting a gas tank. If that is the way for you to go I would suggest selling the motor and just getting a gas engine to run it. Unless of course you are like me. The more toys the better lol. I actually have the same concern as you seeing how Im sitting on a setup with a 3 phase motor on it. Some decisions are to be made. I will tell you this though. If your 3 phase motor ever fails it is cheaper to get it rebuilt than buying a new motor, If a single phase motor fails it is cheaper to by a new one but still more money than a rebuild job on a 3 phase motor. But seeing how you are only looking at 1.5 hp I would switch it out for a single seeing how they are priced right. The one Im sitting on is 7hp.