Woodworking Shop Phase Converters
Power Every Machine in Your Shop
✅ Lifetime Warranty
🇺🇸 Made in USA
⚡ 50+ Years Experience
📞 Free Sizing Help
Running a woodworking shop on single-phase power? Whether you're a one-man cabinet shop or a full production facility, three-phase woodworking equipment delivers more torque, smoother cuts, and longer tool life. A properly sized phase converter lets you run table saws, planers, jointers, shapers, wide belt sanders, and dust collectors — all from your existing single-phase service.
Phoenix Phase Converters has been manufacturing industrial-grade rotary phase converters for woodworking shops since 1974. We understand the unique demands of wood shops — multiple machines, staggered startups, high-inertia loads, and massive dust collection systems. Our converters are built for it, backed by a lifetime warranty and over 50 years of engineering expertise.
Why Woodworking Shops Need Phase Converters
Three-phase woodworking equipment is universally preferred by professional woodworkers, and for good reason:
⚡ Superior Motor Performance
Three-phase motors produce smoother, more consistent torque than single-phase motors. This translates directly to cleaner cuts, better surface finishes, and fewer burn marks on your stock.
🏭 Commercial-Grade Equipment
The best table saws (Powermatic, SawStop Industrial, Martin), planers (Weinig, Powermatic), jointers, and wide belt sanders are built with three-phase motors. A phase converter gives you access to this professional equipment regardless of your utility service.
🔌 Multiple Machine Operation
This is the biggest advantage. One rotary phase converter can power your entire shop through a three-phase sub-panel — table saw, jointer, planer, shaper, dust collector, and more. No need for individual converters on each machine.
🔋 Energy Efficiency
Three-phase motors are inherently more efficient than single-phase equivalents. Over years of daily use, the energy savings add up — especially on high-draw machines like wide belt sanders and dust collectors.
🛡️ Longer Equipment Life
Three-phase motors run cooler and have simpler construction (no centrifugal switch, no start capacitor). They last significantly longer with less maintenance than comparable single-phase motors.
Common Woodworking Shop Equipment & Sizing
💡 Sizing Tip: For woodworking shops, the sizing rule is straightforward: size your converter for the largest single motor you'll run, then add horsepower for any machines that will run simultaneously. Most shops don't run everything at once — you're typically running one main machine plus dust collection.
Woodworking Equipment Sizing Guide
| Machine | Typical Motor HP | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Table Saw (Cabinet) | 3-7.5 HP | Highest inrush in most shops. Size for this first. |
| Jointer (8"-16") | 2-5 HP | Moderate startup load. |
| Planer (15"-25") | 3-7.5 HP | Heavy load during deep cuts. Size generously. |
| Shaper / Router Table | 3-7.5 HP | High RPM, moderate inrush. |
| Wide Belt Sander (24"-52") | 10-25 HP | Often the biggest motor in the shop. Can be the sizing driver. |
| Bandsaw (Resaw) | 3-5 HP | Moderate load, easy on converters. |
| Dust Collector (Cyclone) | 3-10 HP | Runs continuously with every machine. Always include in sizing. |
| Edge Bander | 2-5 HP | Multiple motors; check total nameplate HP. |
| CNC Router | 5-15 HP | If present, may be the sizing driver. See our CNC phase converter page. |
Example Shop Setups
🪵 Small Cabinet Shop (One-Man Operation):
5 HP table saw + 3 HP jointer + 3 HP planer + 5 HP dust collector
Typical simultaneous load: table saw + dust collector = 10 HP
Recommended: 10-15 HP converter
🏭 Mid-Size Production Shop:
7.5 HP table saw + 5 HP jointer + 5 HP planer + 5 HP shaper + 7.5 HP dust collector
Typical simultaneous load: 2-3 machines + dust collector = 15-20 HP
Recommended: 20-30 HP converter
🏗️ Full Production / Millwork Shop:
7.5 HP table saw + 5 HP jointer + 7.5 HP planer + 20 HP wide belt sander + 5 HP shaper + 10 HP dust collector + CNC router
Typical simultaneous load: wide belt sander + dust collector + one other machine = 30-40 HP
Recommended: 40-60 HP converter (consider DualZone)
Recommended Phase Converter Models for Woodworking
NL Series — Standard Rotary
230V to 230V
The most popular choice for woodworking shops. Converts single-phase 230V to balanced three-phase 230V — exactly what most woodworking equipment requires. Features NEMA 4 sealed enclosure (keeps out sawdust), TEFC cast iron generator, voltage monitor, and automatic restart after power outages. Available from 3 HP to 100+ HP.
View Collection →PL Series — Panel + Magnetic Starter
230V with Push-Button Control
Adds a built-in magnetic starter for push-button on/off control. Ideal for shops that want a clean, professional start/stop interface. The magnetic starter also provides overload protection for your converter motor — an extra layer of safety in a dusty shop environment.
View Collection →DualZone Series — Wide HP Range
For Shops with Mixed Equipment
If your equipment ranges from a 3 HP jointer to a 25 HP wide belt sander, the DualZone converter has two operating zones: a low zone for lighter machines and a high zone for your biggest loads. It automatically adjusts, delivering the right amount of power. Saves significant energy in shops with a wide spread of motor sizes.
View Collection →
🔄 Also Available: AutoStart Series
The AutoStart converter senses when you turn on a machine and starts the converter automatically — no separate switch to remember. When all machines are off, the converter shuts itself down. Great for shops where you don't want to think about the converter — just flip on your table saw and get to work.
Why Sawdust and Sealed Enclosures Matter
⚠️ Shop Environment Warning: Woodworking shops are harsh environments for electrical equipment. Fine sawdust is conductive, abrasive, and gets into everything. That's why every Phoenix Phase Converter features a NEMA 4 sealed enclosure — the same rating used for outdoor and washdown environments. Our enclosures keep sawdust, chips, and moisture away from the electrical components and generator motor. Combined with our TEFC (Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled) cast iron generator, your converter will run for decades in a dusty shop without issue.
One Converter, Whole Shop: How It Works
The most cost-effective setup for any woodworking shop is a single rotary phase converter feeding a three-phase sub-panel. Here's how it works:
1. Install the Converter: Mount it near your main electrical panel or in a utility area.
2. Run Single-Phase In: Connect your single-phase service to the converter's input.
3. Three-Phase Sub-Panel: Run three-phase output from the converter to a sub-panel.
4. Wire Your Machines: Connect each woodworking machine to the three-phase sub-panel with individual breakers.
5. Use as Needed: Turn on any combination of machines — the converter provides balanced three-phase power to all of them simultaneously.
This is far more economical and practical than buying separate phase converters or VFDs for each machine. One investment powers your entire shop, and as you add machines, you simply add circuits to the sub-panel.
Frequently Asked Questions — Woodworking Phase Converters
Can I run all my machines at once?
You can run any combination of machines as long as the total simultaneous HP doesn't exceed your converter's rating. In practice, most woodworkers only run one or two machines at a time plus dust collection. That's why a 15-20 HP converter handles the majority of cabinet shops.
Will the phase converter handle my dust collector starting up?
Absolutely. Dust collectors have moderate inrush current — much less than compressors or table saws. We account for dust collector startup when sizing your converter. Many shops leave the dust collector running continuously during work hours.
I'm building a new shop — should I get three-phase utility or a converter?
Unless you're running extremely heavy equipment (50+ HP continuously), a phase converter is almost always more cost-effective. Utility three-phase extensions cost $20,000-$150,000+ depending on distance. A converter for a well-equipped woodworking shop typically runs $2,500-$10,000 — and it's portable if you ever move your shop.
What if I add bigger equipment later?
Plan ahead when possible. If you think you might add a wide belt sander or CNC router in the future, size your converter for that eventual load now. It's more economical than upgrading later. Call us at 800-417-6568 — we'll help you plan for both current and future equipment.
Get Expert Woodworking Shop Sizing — Free
Every shop is different. Send us your equipment list with motor HP ratings, and our engineers will size the perfect converter setup for your woodworking shop — at no charge. We've sized thousands of wood shops over the past 50 years.
📞 800-417-6568
Phoenix Phase Converters — Powering woodworking shops since 1974. Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty.