Shop Electrical Strategies: How I wired My Shop for both Single and Three Phase Power
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Shop Electrical Strategies: How I wired My Shop for both Single and Three Phase Power
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Keith's comment at 24:11 "if you think that is the last three phase machine that you'll ever buy, you're probably kidding yourself" is so true. I started with a lathe, then acquired a Bridgeport and because I already had three phase in my shop, a lonely DoAll bandsaw followed me home.
@@ralphgesler5110 I already do that with cars. Haha
I just throw amazon VFDs on anything non digital. IE 3ton 5hp horizontal and 2hp lathe. Precise speed control, never change belts, soft start.
I do have a 44KW digital RPC for my 3020CNC mill dedicated.
As a Certified Journeyman Electrician in CA I understand all the disclaimers you HAVE to do....I would trust you to wire any industrial shop Keith. You have a firm grasp of all the concepts involved and, in your explanation, you always used the proper terminology.
I know, right? I do industrial/commercial atm, done heaps of resi in the past, and I would 100% let Keith run a circuit in my shop.
So good to see a prominent youtuber give excellent education including disclaimers and safety.
Well, I didn’t think my respect for you could get higher. As an Australian industrial/commercial electrician, I enjoyed this tour and your approach to your setup. Cheers.
Nice to see the worksite supervisor come by for a visit!
Great video Keith! Very similar to how I am wiring my shop. My uncle was a commercial electrician, and he told me long ago that when wiring a large space to use sub panels. I have two sub panels in my house for distant circuits, and in my shop the main panel and the sub panel each service half of the shop. I am building a woodshop, and so-far have no need for three phase, but that may come up sometime in the future. Another thing he said to always upsize the wire. If a circuit calls for 14 ga. use 12 ga. He said that way I can eliminate resistance which is wasted energy. I have power to the main panel only so-far, so I have a bit of wiring ahead...
Im working on bringing 3 phase into my shop and have tons of questions. One less now! thank you very much for another great video Keith.
Well done Keith. Integrating a sponsor message is challenging and IMO you did this very well.
Our shop here(Australia) ended up getting 3 phase, but not because of the machines(The lathe still runs off it's VFD because we like the speed controller/soft start) , but because getting more than 80A(240v) in on a domestic street requires going 3 phase and by the time the workshop and house requirements were all added up it was well over that limit.
The differences around the world is always fascinating. Unless you are in a rural area, getting 3 phase is easy and doesn't cost any more beyond the extra copper/breakers. Plus the power companies like having the loads spread more evenly.
Thanks for the 3 phase tour. My first home shop I installed a 20HP RotoPhase converter and was setup a lot like yours. I only had 7 3ph machines from 5-15 Hp. 20HP phase converter could run up to 60 hp. A one man shop I maxed out at 22.5, 15 hp planer and a 7.5 dust collector.
Best part was the converter uses very little power when there’s no load on it. Mine ran from 7am until 8-9pm.
To be honest, one day he came in and the phase converter did not start, he called "American Rotary" and they shipped him a controller board and that fixed it. Ron W4BIN
I hope Keith is recovering well. I don't mind the talking head video because its still interesting. I wouldn't mind hearing Keith just telling a story while he's sweeping up the shop haha.
Thanks for the video - you provided a lot of good information. A couple of comments:
Voltage/Current Table: Before building a shop, create a table of the voltages and the associated currents that will be used in your shop. This is especially important when using three phase higher current machines. Recommend listing each machine and its voltages and current requirements. Also create a listing of voltage/current requirements for each outlet and lighting circuits. This table will be a useful tool when talking with an electrician.
Separate Single Phase From Three Phase Power. Keith’s shop did a good job of keeping the single phase separate from the three phase. Makes modifying the power easier at a later date. (The old keeping the apples and oranges separate story.)
VFD’s And GFCI: The latest electrical code may require a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection for 220 Volt circuits. Nuisance GFCI trips may occur when a GFCI feeds a VFD.
Amazing video, Keith! I love that you pointed out, many times, that the setup you used is what works for YOU. Are people going to complain about the plug to American Rotary? Yeah, probably, but the fact is, they are a sponsor of your channel. I see no issues with promoting them. Thank you for making clear in the beginning that this was not an instructional video on how to wire a shop, and to consult a licensed electrician if someone is looking to do the same thing. I love seeing these videos because you are passionate about quality and safety. I'm hoping to eventually build a similar shop, if I can afford it. Right now, not so much. Mine will be primarily woodworking, but who knows. I've been looking at lathes, mills, and other machines and dreaming about learning how to use them, repair them, and make things with them. Loved the photobomb by Ginger. Hope you're recovering well. Stay healthy and we'll see you on the next one.
Thanks for the shop tour Keith. It's nice to see the big picture. I'm a wood working guy not a metal working guy but I have been watching your channel for quite a while now. I really enjoy what you do and it's nice to see how it's done.
I hope that you are recovering well from your latest surgery and I look forward to seeing more from you this year.
Glad to see you are promoting anything that provides revenue for the channel. The amount of information and knowledge you continue to share with us is invaluable. More tools, please!
I always wondered what American Rotary sold as I see their note on all of your videos. Thanks for going through your shop electricals for us.
Thanks Keith! I love this. Its very well planned. Thanks also to American Rotary! Great stuff. I love the idea of having the RPC outside in a weatherproof box. I think I need a 40 amp RPC now.
thougher than I ever was. First time I caught one leg of 440 working on an American Radial drill. Years later I caught two legs and thought I was dead!
Nice explanation Keith. I am getting closer to having my shop. My plan is to go with an American Rotary phase converter. Like the use of the multiple distribution panels. Running single lines at distance can be a lot cheaper than multiple from a single panel. Especially today. Thanks for sharing and here is wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!
I especially like his main / sub panel approach. Not only did it reduce his initial cost and installation difficulty it made potential fault isolation much easier.
Your collection of antique machinist chests reminds me of my fathers' WW2 tool chest. The one with the Vintage Machinery sign on it is the one I have.
Thanks for the information Keith. I also power my shop with an American Rotary phase converter that I picked up at their factory over 6 years ago. They were very helpful with advise in sizing my converter and load center. I have been very pleased with the converter and also have had no problems.
Well said and well done. I have an American Rotary 5hp and it is large enough for me. I have an equipment box that plugs into the wall in an official 220 plug. The box feeds the rotary through various breakers and contactors. First 220 single to 220 three with a semi wild phase. That is placed under control of contactors (like relays but industrial) and then under control to a bank of 6 transformers that generate 380 3-phase for my two surface grinders. I run one at a time and the three motors are under 5hp. Big machines larger then a full size mill, but one motor for grinding one for hydraulics, another for vacuum.
Psssst---Secret ! One of the reasons that I enjoy your videos is hearing honest, factual, forthright explanations of things. In that respect this is one of your best. If the world had more people who would "tell it like it is" the way you do, we would all be much better off. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year! (As for American Rotary-you could not have a better, more honest, and believable spokesperson than Keth Ruckerf- thank you for supporting him!)
Thank - you Professor Rucker! A very thorough description of the three phase solution for your shop.
hey Keith, thanks for the great video. Ill add it to the notes in my video :)
Here in the Netherlands you are allowed to it all yourself, as long as it is after the main fuse/meter installed by the power company. Insurance might have something to say though, if you have an electrical fire and did some stupid things...
The smallest residential power connection you can get here is 3x25A at 230V, or 400V if using all three phases for power. There are some houses that still have the old 1x35A at 230V connection, that sucks with the 'electrification' of everything. Individual circuits are all 16A and everything needs to be on a RCD; you are allowed to put 4 circuits on one RCD.
Thanks Keith. Appreciate your input.
I have 12 VFDs in my shop running my machines. The total cost of them was about 1/3 the cost of a rotary phase converter. The big drawback of a rotary phase converter is the electrical cost to run it when it is either idling or only feeding a few machines. This can be 4 to 5 KW on a larger machine. My largest VFD is 15 hp and feeds a surface grinder. The grinder has 4 three phase motors in it and the single VFD feeds them all. That VFD cost $650. Most of them were a little over $100. You do need to be careful as some of the newer ones can't feed multiple motors or even output voltage unless they are connected to motor. They even make VFDs that can be feed with 120V single phase and output 220V three phase.
Used rpc’s are equally as affordable, just sayin. Facebook marketplace is a great place to find them in one’s localish area.
@@Spaceman_spliff That's not my point. They are loud and a terrible waste of energy. If one of you pieces of equipment uses 1 hp, why have a 30hp RPC running.
Thaks for the nice overviewe of how your shop is wired.
I got American rotary and when I did, I told them I found them because of your channel. I never got a discount though. There was some miscommunication with them as well because I didn't understand their systems and I ended up with a motor mount box instead of a wall mount, but it worked out still, I have the box mounted on the wall, above the motor. So far, it's worked great. Their instructions are really nice but they aren't really aimed at the novice electrician. It took me quite a while to figure out what I was doing and 3 days later I had it up and running. I think they need to update their instructions and make them 3 year old friendly, take this wire here, and put it there and do this and that to it...
So far, it's worked great. I only have 2 machines right now but will be adding a 3rd and I don't think I will be adding any more machines requiring 3 phase power. Overall I'm very happy with the set up I got from them.
Happy new year from your Scottish fans :)
Nice planning. My dream shop was setup much like yours. 3 phase in my shop was a shop built rotary converter (I spent many years in industry and it was well balanced) I ran 2 panels also, one for each side of the building. Nicely explained. You are correct about 3 phase machinery, it is addicting to buy quality equipment for much less than new hobby grade machines. I moved from Calif where I had built my shop to Georgia where I am in the process of starting all over again. Howdy Neighbor from the N.W corner of Ga :D
Also if you're building a new shop plan it out you can do underground across the shop Save money on wiring Thanks for the video
Good video. One of the things I wish I did is run some conduit under the concrete floor from one end of the building to the other so I could have pulled wire. I did do that on a barn I put grain in so I could run the unloading system. It works good and I just put a rope in the PVC when I was putting it together.
Well hats off to you for doing your own Electrical wiring in your shop, I enjoyed watching this clip as you explain the process you went through. This 36-year I.B.E.W electrician appreciates it.
I'm so happy that I have 3 phase 400 volt in my garage here out int the countryside of Sweden. I run my wood splitter and the cuting saw direct from the mains and it's just wonderful. I can't understand why there is so hard to get 3-phase in us.. We have it even in the apartments in Sweden, standard 400V 3 phase and thats what you run the stoves from and even some washingmashines.. It's some differences between US and Europe for sure.. Love to you and your family and have a great happy new 2023.
We here in the US are living with decisions made, generally, in the 1880 to 1920 or so period.
One thing I can suggest when doing any electrical job is to be sure to install MORE receptables than code requires and always install 4 recepticles per box. Today, we are overwhelmed with many electric devices from chargers to worklights, desk lights etc. and having to use extension cords ofter spending all that money on electrical work just isn't the way to go. Recepticles and a box are well under $5 each and usually don't involve additional wire so like Keith has done, space them at the right height and about 10 to 12 feet apart for a comfortable shop layout. Shop floorplans tend to change and when that happens, not enough recepticles will surely cause headaches.
You are correct that the number of machines will grow after you go three phase. I now have three pieces of equipment with seven powered motors between them and the cost of VFDs would far surpass what I have in my phase converter system.
very good description of your electrical systems that a novice like me can understand, thank you.
Happy new year
in Germany, many residential buildings already have three-phase power. So 3x 230 V = 400 V AC
I don't know exactly, but I think we have 63 amp backup fuses.
That would mean 25kw in total. But the individual circuits are secured with 16 amps 3.7 kW
fyi: 63A @ 3x 400V is ~43kW (I know because my car drinks that)
When the voltage line-neutral is 230 V, the voltage between two phase lines (from different phases) is 230 times the square root of 3. 230x1,73=398 which we round off to 400 V. 63 A is very much for a one family house, a villa. For those 25-32 A main fuses (three of them) is more normal but of course you get more for a larger building. For 3-phase, 16 A is usually the smallest fuse and it can supply up to 11 kW 3-phase power at a power factor of 1. The formula for 3-phase power is P=U x I x pf x sqrt(3) where pf is the power factor (cosφ) and U is the line-to-line voltage (e.g. 400 V).
@@NotAMinifig That's correct if the power factor is 1 like for a heating element or maybe your car charger (seems like a good one, most electronics have lower power factor than that). For electric motors a power factor of around 0,85 is normal and then you only get 37 kW from 63 A 400 V 3~.
You should put an awning over the converter.
Great job of explaining the why and how, thank you.
Keith, what a joy to listen to you!! Greetings from The Netherlands :-)
Happy new year from the UK Keith
This was great information about electrical service in the shop and especially about 3 phase power options. Thanks
Excellent video. You are very clear and articulate about all the subjects you speak about. Thank you.
Keith, Very very well done video and electrical system! You made the right choices. One thing you may have incorrectly stated is that you can put a single pole breaker in your three phase panel. According to your sponsor, the output of the phase converter is delta, so three phase three wire. Since you didn’t mention buying a transformer, I’m thinking that is what is in your panel. So, either 240v single phase or 240v three phase out of the panel. Very respectfully, Kevin
Nice setup my area of Indiana is the same as yours you can do your own electrical work from the meter inside I’ve wired a few things we had a phase converter on the farm to run the big fans on the drier and grain bins it looked like a electric motor and a generator had a baby lol 😂 thanks for sharing
This was well timed as I am figuring out what I need for my new lathe and I am getting a knee mill soon. Thanks! 🤠⚒🔥
Thanks for all the information
I do have 3-phase in my shop but I do also run multiple machine with VFD cause I like the features of soft start, brak and change rpm just by push of the button...
No plans for 3 ph but definitely going to leverage the sub panel idea. Thanks.
It would be interesting to see a view of the whole shop.
Copper chips today? Joking!
Good opening of the video, telling about rules and the need for licensed people to do such jobs.
400 Amp services? At 120 volt? Good God. What's the thickness of the incoming cable? US looks like a huge copper mine with all those thick cables.
The 110 volt AC grid was closed down some 80 - 100 years ago and single phase 220 became standard. Later raised to 230 volt.
3 phase is standard for villas, likely even for apartments now days. The oven, washing machine, the dryer commonly use 3 phase.
Fine ending of the video. Well told Keith!
Happy New Year Keith and to your family. Clear explanation and very much appreciated.
I have 6 breaker panels in my shop but it is one step more complex since I have panels for both 240V 3 phase and 480V 3 phase at the same time.
Hi Keith - New Shirt, nice Interesting lecture. As usual nicely explained. That sho is awesome. You did an impressive job of it. Looking forwrd to the next project. Healthy, Prosperous new year and you will surely be happy.
Really helpful video, and very timely, as I'm working on the design for my new shop. Thank you!
Also, I'm super jealous of your power access. 400A! I managed to get 200A service for my whole house, which will also need to feed the shop, and even that was a fight with my local utility. They really don't like anything more than 150A service here, at least on retrofits.
i have 3 machines on my converter they work great
5hp engine lathe 15x48
5hp knee mill
2hp 12inch bench grinder
Happy New Year! Hope you are doing well. Thanks.
Keith and to your family happy holidays also very good video on that and I wish you a speedy get well soon I love your videos even though I'm not a one who does metal work or late work I did it when I was in high school but I still enjoy watching all your videos and watching you work on the old locomotive all right this is Bob from Vero Beach Florida God bless have a great New Year's and can't wait for all your new videos to come out once you get well I hope surgery went good okay God bless and have a great week and day
Thank you for sharing.👍
In retrospect, you could have run distribution conduits in the slab both to exterior walls and the various posts within the shop…..
Happy New Year from germany.
American rotary I am sure is a great product and is a sponsor but… You skipped a digital whole shop phase converter like phase perfect. I switched from a rotary phase converter 20 years ago for three reasons. Number one was noise as I had to have it in my basement. Number two was it can be turned on upon entering the shop and it is available without constantly switching it on or off as you need power for your machines and you can turn multiple machines on and off without regard to their HP. Number three is that it produces better 3 phase power than the power company produces, only has a 2% loss of efficiency and provides full horsepower to all machines. It may be more expensive than a rotary phase converter but for me it was well worth it. I have no financial interest in any phase converting products.
Hope you're on the mend Keith and enjoying the new year!
Good deal! Enjoyed watching, thanks for your time and experience.
@1:52 Absolutely! If you are not 100.5% sure you know what you are doing DON'T DO IT! I am a Mechanical Engineer by profession (now retired). I know a lot about electrical equipment and have done some "unorthodox" home appliance things in the past, always researching my old textbooks (which I still have). If I have ANY doubt, I STOP and do more research, or in some cases hire a licensed electrician! The Electrons are NOT always your friends! 😱
Also, in many areas here in the USA an electrician doesn’t have a license if (s)he works for an electrical firm. The owner, or head of the firm has the license, but the people working there do not. So if you know, or meet someone who says they are an electrician, and that they can legally do your work, be careful and make sure that where you are, that person is correct, if they’re doing it off the books of whomever they work for. If you don’t care, because it’s cheaper, if you find it’s going to be inspected, because this must be filed, most everywhere, then understand that it may have to be done from scratch with a licensed firm.
There are many VFDs designed for single phase 220-240. I have four. I used them to replace the single phase 220 motors with inverter ready three phase motors for speed change plus some of the other features such as slow start and braking. For many uses, a VFD is an excellent choice. The only real problem is using them with old motors not designed for them if you expect to vary the speed. They’re fine if you just run them at 60 Hz. Since most people want them for cari speed use, something a rotary converter can’t do, then you really should only do that with inverter ready motors. I always buy new ones and replace what’s there, whether single phase or three phase. Expensive? Sure, but it’s the only way to get variable speeds other than with gear heads or belts.
Happy New Year! Thanks for your explanations to your electrical installation at your workshop :-) Living in Germany, it kind of astonishes me, what effort you put in the generation of three phase power in the US. For everey household in Germany, it is totally normal to have three phase power available directly from the grid. Rotary phase converters are mostly unknown in Europe, except Variable Frequency Drives with only on phase input (for lower power machines). I think VFDs with three phase in- and output are nevertheless more common here in Europe.
Your "astonishment" at why the US decided to set up our power distribution network differently from the way that Germany chose to set up their system came down to distance. My state of Oregon is roughly the same size, geographically, as Germany. Massachusetts is well over 2000 miles, not kilometers away. As I understand "things," the distances involved had much to do with the decisions made.
@@5x535 The distribution lines are all 3 phase, so your savings are only a vinding in the transformer and the cable from transformer to your home. I'm happy to live in Denmark where we have 400V/3 phase everywhere. 240V between live and neutral.
3 phase is only available in select areas of our country. Mainly industrial high density areas of every town. Your ignorance of our countries geography is astonishing. We have millions of miles of wiring feeding our huge agricultural areas of the country as well as remote sparsely populated areas that do not have 3 phase available. If we were to let’s say get in a war and have everything destroyed and have a totally unappreciated country rebuild us we would probably change. In the mean time enjoy your electrical system as we enjoy ours as we developed it for the world to learn from.
@@bruceanderson9461 The reason the US and Canada don't have 3 phase is because the system was designed for light bulbs in the early days, not for electric motors. When it was discovered that 3 phase +neutral was a better system North America was out of luck. The singe phase and 3 phase system could not be combined in one system. 2 more wires do not make it that much more expensive. The same poles, the same crew the same route. 3 phase needs 2 more, but thinner, wires. The most economical is 3 phase, ask any farmer. And yes Europe was electrified later, but they choose the better system. And yes if you had to rebuilt the North American system from scratch, it would be European style for sure.
@@bertzegers7682 Thanks for making my point in a different way. We all would make better choices after others did all the pioneering work. It’s not practical for us to change at this point unless everything is destroyed.
Also need to remember that when single phasing a VFD, you will need to double the capacity of it normally (so a 20 HP VFD needed for a 10HP motor).
Why would that be?
@@Sixta16 The VFD input rectifier has to handle all the current over 1 phase instead of 3 phases. VFD has 3 inputs for AC. It expects the current spread out over 3 phases (or "lines"/"paths") through the rectification circuitry, since a VFD first converts the incoming AC into DC.
Simplifying further, If you don't use the other paths (i.e. using single phase instead of 3 phase input) then you need each path to be bigger to handle it all on one path. By doubling the VFD rating, that works out about right to make 1 of the incoming paths big enough for all the incoming current.
As a European with 400v three phase everywhere and never seeing more than 16 or max 32 amp services i am always baffled by the high current services in North America. 400amps! What size are those conductors ?
As a Canadian I’m baffled that you have 400V phase-to-phase in a residential settings. Seems a bit excessive and unsafe to me.
A single 500mcm or two 3/0 cables will provide 400A. Of course that is to the panel. The 20A outlets would have 12ga going to them.
@@beefchicken As a retired electrician from Europe, now living in North America, I can tell you that the European system 3x400 and 230 to neutral + ground is superior to the North American system. All residential buildings are fed 3x400 and 230 to neutral. But in most homes only one live wire and the neutral are used so 230 volt. In a residential street: first home L1+N second home L2+N third home L3+N and repeat and repeat. All fed from a in-ground cable from a transformer in the subdivision. If a family wants 3 phase for more power or for a shop, then a 3 phase panel is used. (the power company replaces the meter for a 3 phase meter, that is all). Transformers are 10.000 volt in, in a loop to 3x400/230 out. 10.000 volt cable in the ground. In towns the high voltage cables over 100.000 volt are in the ground and are oil cooled. In the Netherlands only transmission wires are above ground. Never a Power outage! When I saw the North American system I was shocked! And not from the current. The system in North America is crap and there is no way to get it even close to the 3 phase European standard.
Just changed out a failed 3 phase Square D bolt in 277/480 30A breaker. A new replacement was $545 ea. before sales tax. Used breakers around here are $400 cash. Just a FYI for anyone with 3 phase dreams.
Buy them in EU. You can get a DIN mounted breaker for 15$
Makes me grateful for European supply voltages.
So basically bro has like 7 different panels for a one man shop. Amazing.
In the country i live in its legal to change a socket. You can do your own wiring if you get a licensed electrcian to inspecet and start up the system.
But its hard to get some one to do that becouse the one that did the inspection and flip the switch is reliable for any faults like electrical fire, shorts , ground faults etc.
Happy New Year from Georgia
Again, you need to use a white board. It would also come in handy when explaining lathe work.
Morning Keith.
Hey Keith, are any of your machines direct wired to the system? Or are you running a plug based system for all of your machines? Do you ever worry about the older motors of some of your machines getting damaged by pulling too much? I’ve read that old machines/motors like to be direct wired, but you’re a titan of vintage machinery, and despite you not being g a licensed electrician, I trust your judgement (and experience with the set up) quite a bit. Thanks, and hope you’re doing well!
Good ol'common sence, great info Keith, great video, keep'um coming..
For VFDs if you go with a modern quality unit you really do not need to overrate them for the HP these days. I love the Hitachi WJ200 series VFDs and setting them up is really a breeze after looking through the manual a couple times.
Enjoyed, Happy New Year, keep up the good work.....
Even if you own a building used for commercial or industrial purpose, it is seldom legal to do your own wiring if you are not currently licensed. You are free to risk your property and yourself, but you are not free to risk employees or customers. If you sell the building, you also must honestly disclose where you altered the electrical at the buyer's request.
Keith’s shop is literally in his back yard. It’s not a commercial or industrial space.
12:25 Ah, that's the Abom Adventures outlet!
for us, it is good to have a certified electrician in the family ... because there is one in the family that has no business doing electrical work.
there are static converters, they also have to be 'tuned' to the load. do your research before committing to one.
Also about VFDs: they tend to be cheaper (for the same output) when you have three phase input, and 550V output becomes an option.
I wish I was competent with that sort of thing.
Great video. I wish that I had seen it before I acquired all of my 3 phase machinery. I currently have 7, all running on VFDs. The advantage though of the VFD is digital speed control at the machine. To achieve this with your setup do you not still require a VFD? Thanks for this video and all of your other ones. They are great!
Nice!
Great and very informative video.
Here in Europe, we have three phases in every residential house.
I just upgraded my three phase from a 7.5 hp rotary phase converter to a 30 hp. The worst part was running the wire!
happy new year Ginger!
As the price of electricity in the UK ive now gone to a diesel generator, ok im a farmer so i can get agri diesel (red) but even with road diesel it is just cheaper than having the wires brought it from the supplier
A power board and several sub boards is the way to do it in larger workshops...
It's easier for faultfinding and periodic testing too...
What I wouldn't approve of is socket outlets adjacent to each other on different phases...
Footnote:
High frequency battens over rotating machinery as well...
(Strobascopic effects).....very important...
☹🇬🇧
An actual transformer would also viable options for the amount of machines you have. Not sure if your local electrical Co. would allow in your area
Just a note of caution. A 40 hp American Rotary phase convertor will not start a 40 hp motor. It will only start a 20 hp motor. Be very careful and diligent in what you buy.
One question. When describing your 3-phase panel you mentioned that it only currently has 3-phase breakers installed. You could, if needed, install a single phase breaker if you needed another single phase circuit, which makes sense. But then you seemed to mention that you could get a 220V two-wire circuit out of the same panel by just installing 2 breakers. That doesn't make sense, because the two phases are 120 degrees out of phase, not 180 degrees, or did I just misinterpret what you were describing?
You’re correct; if it’s a wye fed 3 phase panel, he would get 208V phase to phase, 120V phase to neutral. Almost everything sold in North America for use with our 240V split phase power will also tolerate the 208V phase-to-phase voltage of our three phase system.
Thanks dear from #PowerLearningChannel
Awesome video Great work !