220V 50Hz Equipment vs. 230V 60Hz Equipment compressor

AI Thread Summary
Using a compressor designed for 230V 60Hz on a 220V 50Hz supply can lead to significant issues, including a 20% reduction in power and potential overheating due to increased current draw. The motor may run but will likely experience a shortened lifespan, especially under continuous use, as it is not optimized for the lower frequency. While a transformer won't resolve the incompatibility, a variable frequency drive could help, though it may be more costly than replacing the motor with one suited for 50Hz. The risk of thermal overload and motor failure increases, making it unsuitable for professional applications. Overall, using the compressor in this manner poses serious operational and safety concerns.
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If If you have a compressor designed for US 60 HZ 230 V what are the risks with applying it in 220 V 50 HZ ?

I understand there will be a ~20% derate in power but are there any safety or failure concerns ? would the lifespan of equipment change?

Do I need a transformer ? This equipment doesn't come with plugs.
 
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You will certainly have a decrease in power on the motor. You will also experience a shortened life (if it has enough power to run the compressor, it may not actually run, due to reduced torque). However, I believe it will run. However you will have the following issues. A motor designed to run at 60Hz will have reduced cooling when running at a slower 50 Hz. That same motor will probably draw more current as it was designed with an impedance match of 60Hz and not 50 Hz (this will be a compound problem as it pulls more current while running slower). So the motor will run hot, perhaps hot enough to fail very early. If it is a compressor for an air tank for a home owner, perhaps not a big deal ie it will run until it reaches pressure then shut off. You pump up tire, Compressor kicks on and off for a few times then doesn't run for hours or days (I would suggest to unplug when not in use), depending upon bleed off of pressure.
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If you are using professionally and run the system continuously, you may only get a few days (and maybe only a few hours) out of the system and experience nuisance trips on the thermal overload of the motor, making the system unbearable to use or just as likely catastrophic motor failure and you will have to replace the motor with the appropriate one. You should google the motor manufacture and look over the motor specs, perhaps this motor is dual rated (not likely, but worth a look).
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No transformer will help you, they are at a compatable voltage. A variable frequency drive would be your best solution if you definitely needed to keep the motor. However, a variable frequency drive is probably more expensive than replacing the motor with a correctly rated motor.
 
In my opinion, in order to maintain a same magnetic flux density at the same level the supply voltage value divided by frequency has to be the same. In this case will be an overvoltage of 15%.Then the laminate steel core will be saturated and the no-load current will rise-let's say- 2 times.

On the other hand, the power required by compressor will decrease with 15-20%.So, the required active power decrease to 85% but the active current will increase 4.5% [with 230/220 ratio] and adding the increased reactive current then, according to a rough calculation, 105- 110% of rated current it could be expected.
 
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