Using a US manufactured digital phase conveter in the UK

jim hardy

no, you'll connect incoming neutral to either L1 orL2. It would be white wire here in US.

and safety ground to frame. That would be green wire here.

............

The voltage triangle will be equilateral with one point earthed.
120 degrees is complement of 60, extend your phasors?.....

jim hardy

Draw base of 240 volt triangle two ways

1. earthed at one end (UK)
2. Earthed in middle (US)

then geometry gives phase to earth voltages:

UK: 0, 240,240
US: -120, +120, 208

i think.

Need more coffee.

but if your load does not need that neutral wire, as a delta wound motor wouldn't, it need not exist.

old jim

English Frank

Late evening in England and my brain is in turmoil!

Notwithstanding the excellent advise I am receiving in these threads and bearing in mind that I am about to send a payment of $3100 to purchase the Phase Perfect PT330, I do need full assurances from Phase Perfect that this unit will connect to the UK power supply. The good people at PP state that I can hook 230v and a 0V Zero to inputs L1 & L2. but looking at figure 6 in the 'Operation and Installation Manual - PT Series' none of the three diagrams seem to show such a connection - or is this 'non electrician' missing something?
As a picture paints a thousand words, could somebody add the correct electrical symbols (diagram) representing the UK's 230V and 0V (neutral) to the inputs L1 &L2 of figure 1 and a representation of a 220V 3P motor (Delta) to T1, T2 & T3. I will then send this drawing to PP and request their confirmation that the US will not obliterate England when I switch on the installed PT330.

jim hardy

no, you are correct none of their drawings shows that.

I am an absolute klutz with drawing by computer. get too frustrated.
Were i home i'd draw it with pencil and paper, scan and post as a jpg for you.
But i am on grandkids' laptop 1000 miles from home....

Were i in your shoes i'd do the same thing you suggest , get them to say your intended hookup is okay first. You might even give them actual voltage readings L-N, L-G and N-G in your shop.

AND i'd suggest in a handwritten letter to their marketing director that they amend their drawings for UK customers.
Folks heavy into a subject, like they doubtless are, too often forget what it was like when they too were unfamilair with the details.
To them the phrase "give it zero and 240" is a complete answer but it leaves us outsiders encumbered by doubt.
Just look how many hours you have invested in understanding this. One picture is worth 10^3 words and it's an ounce of prevention too.

old jim

EDIT PS i applaud your thoroughness, and the understanding of electrical that you have demonstrated.
I suspect your woodworking shows similar attention to detail.
My daughter and i just refinished her Grandmother's dresser, hand built decades ago by Grandpa out of solid 1" walnut from the old farm in Missouri. I think you would approve.

old jim

English Frank

Thank you to all who have replied to this topic. I have now imported and installed the PT330 Phase Perfect phase convertor and it is working perfectly, in fact far more efficiently that the old static and rotary types generally found in the UK. As the output voltage of the convertor was designed for use in the US and its output is 240V 3-phase, I simply reconfigured the terminal links on my 3-phase motors from 415V to 240V.

jim hardy

Great news ! Congratulations to you sir !

and thanks for the feedback - news of a success is always uplifting.