I built a Rotary Phase converter some time ago. The 2HP idler motor starts and runs great. The 2HP mill motor starts fine when the idler motor is running. If the idler motor is not running, there is only single phase and the mill motor will not start. Great.
Here is the bizarre thing, I discovered that when all is running there is no current in the the third phase. All the current is in L1 and L2, L3 has no current. Clearly the L3 circuit is working, as there must be power in L3 to start the Mill motor. So what the heck, why is there no current in L3 after the mill motor is running?
My sense is that the two motors are in phase and hence no current flows in L3, if so, I'm suddenly confused about how this can function...
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Thanks, |