Selecting the right type of rotary phase converter for your distinct needs can be challenging. But Phoenix Phase Converters makes it easy to help you make that choice. 

Recently, one of our customers contacted us to ask about running a press brake and a lathe using a single-phase power connection. This incident offers highly valuable insights for anyone wanting to learn about phase converters. So, let’s begin understanding this issue. 

Understanding The Power Needs of The Equipment 

While purchasing a phase converter, it is important to understand the power requirement of the equipment you are going to use. You should know the horsepower (HP) rating of the equipment before planning to purchase a converter. 

In our customer’s case, we need to run a press brake that has a 5 HP motor and a 3 HP lathe.

The general rule of thumb is:

  • The standard practice for machines like a press brake is to double the horsepower of the motor to find the correct size of the phase converter. 

  • For example, a 5 HP press brake motor would require a 10 HP rotary phase converter. 

This process of doubling accounts for the inrush current during motor startup, which ensures that the equipment is running smoothly and provides reliable performance. 

Running Multiple Machines

A fun fact that surprises many customers is that they can run multiple machines simultaneously using a single appropriately-sized phase converter. Our team has discussed this during the call with the customer that starting both the lathe and press brake at the same time would require calculating the total starting load of: 

  • 5 HP (brake) + 3 HP (lathe) = 8 HP starting load.

  • When we follow the “double the load” rule, a 15 HP phase converter would be sufficient to comfortably handle starting both of them simultaneously. 

However, if we are starting the machines individually, a 10 HP phase converter can be enough. 

Scalability for Future Growth

At Phoenix Phase Converters, modularity is always on our minds while designing our systems. In case your power demands increase, you do not have to worry about replacing the entire converter. You simply need to add another unit in parallel to increase the system’s capacity. 

For instance: 

  • You can create a 20 HP system by pairing two 10 HP phase converters. 

This provides flexibility and protects your investment while making expansion easy. 

Industrial Grade Quality You Can Trust

Our phase converters are specially designed to deliver industrial-grade performance. Key features of these converters include the following: 

  • The phase converters come with heavy-duty frames and sealed enclosures. This helps resist dust and other contaminants to keep the interior clean and maintain its reliability over time. 

  • Our converters offer quiet operation, measured at around 40 decibels at 10 feet. A lot of our customers are amazed at the quietness of our phase converters compared to the loud “jet engine” noise of the inferior or older models. 

Our brand is known for powering critical applications like elevators and CNC machines to ensure reliability and effective noise control. 

Advanced Features: Auto Start and Load Detection

At Phoenix Phase Converters, we offer Auto-start phase converters for applications like air compressors or unmanned machinery. These converters feature our patented load detection technology. 

This technology automatically starts and stops the converter based on the equipment demand. This enhances the overall energy efficiency and system longevity, making it a worthy investment. 

Quality That Pays for Itself

We know that it is a crucial decision to select the right phase converter. This is the reason why our brand focuses on providing you with supreme quality at highly affordable prices. Our product ranges are engineered to serve long-term solutions to support the success of your business. 

When you choose Phoenix Phase Converters, you are not only purchasing a piece of machinery, but you are also ensuring the ability to work without any interruptions. It also helps safeguard your livelihood. 

Ready to Get Started?

Selecting the right phase converter size does not have to be a complicated process. Whether you are trying to run a single machine or build a scalable workshop, Phoenix Phase Converters has the perfect solution for every such need. 

Contact us today and connect with our experts who can guide you through sizing, setup, and selecting the right phase converter for your distinct equipment needs.