Varicon motor....

[307startup]

Does anyone know where I can purchase these in the states? Also, since the inverter and VFD is built into this motor, can I run it on single-phase even if it is a 3-phase motor? What about running a 460 volt motor on 230 volt source? As you prolly guessed, I am not an electronic/electrical guru. Thanks guys!

[JRaef]

It doesn't appear as though that motor is available in the US, but that is not surprising; it's difficult for EU motor manufacturers to compete here.

Motors with integrated VFDs were available here from Baldor and Marathon that I know of, or at least used to be anyway. The concept didn't take off too well, there are a lot of problems putting a VFD directly on a motor that gets into a hot nasty environment.

You can get plenty of VFDs that will accept 1 phase input and give you a 3 phase output, but usually at the same voltage, i.e. 230V 1 phase in, 230V 3 phase out. The exception is that there are a few VFDs that will accept 115V 1 phase in and provide 230V 3 phase out because they have a device called a "voltage doubler" on the front end, but that concept doesn't translate to 230V in 460V out. For that, you just buy a 240-480V 1 phase transformer and find a 480V VFD that will accept 1 phase input. Many will, some will not. In all cases with 480V VFDs (and most 230V VFDs 5HP and up), you must DOUBLE the size of the VFD compared to the motor, i.e. if you have a 5HP motor, use a 10HP VFD, otherwise the input current is too high for the VFD. 230V 3HP and under are usually already designed to accept 1 phase in without derating.

[307startup]

I have a means of getting them (legally), they are not cheap, but then again, they are damn good motors. I'm not sure what kind of shielding, cooling or airflow that Baldor or Marathon had, but it must not have been very good, because I have seen these motors in action, and with a fan attached from the factory and a die-cast housing with designed-in heatsink, these puppies don't get any warmer than your average motor...they prolly run a lot cooler. I appreciate the candor and the help with the electrical voodoo, but I have worked with these motors and researched them, and I know that they are quality. Just because some American company can't knock them off in Taiwan and re-import them for sale as an American-made product doesn't make them bad or iffy motors. I have a friend who works for a company that rebuilds electric motors of all sizes, shapes, voltages and frequencies, and I am not impressed with what most "American" companies try to pass off. Yes, I'm American, yes I'm proud to be a skilled craftsman, but the days of pride in product and craftsmanship has jumped the boat here in America. Companies sell out to corporations which morph into mega-corps and then International Behemoths...and every single stock-holder stands with his hand out, wanting his "return on investment" while trying to peddle their built-by-committee, designed by bean-counters, disposable gadget-du jour to the very same people they are underpaying and unappreciating...who actually "made" the product. In other words...I will go whereever the quality is, and I will pay whatever the price to have the best that I can afford or actually need. As such a time when American companies and American workers actually make the best "whatzit" in the world again, I will begin purchasing American. As my grandpa used to say...you can't polish a turd...and even if you did manage...what good is a shiny turd? My time is too valuable to buy this Japanese VFD and that crummy American name-brand, foreign-made 3450 rpm motor and jimmy-rig it to work ok for however and whatever my needs are...sorry for the rant, I'm sure you didn't mean it the way I took it, but it seemed a little snobbish to go from "they don't sell those here" to "they prolly aren't any good because so-and-so couldn't make their's work".