7 Nov
2016
7 Nov
'16
11:04 a.m.
Yes, that's how the 360's (at least mid-range)
were set up. You could tell,
the converter-inverter was INSANELY loud, at a massively piercing audio
frequency. The key was that this one unit gave regulated AC power to all
Wild!
We tried to get a 370/145 running at a guy's
house. That had the 17 KVA
motor generator set in the back (WAY more than a 145 needed, but they
apparently used one MG set for a range of machines). But, he only had 60 A
240V single-phase service, and we couldn't even spin up the MG set with no
load. We built a static phase converter, but the imaginary current was over
60 A. Well, NO SURPRISE, if we'd just read the nameplate we would have known
it was a fool's errand. The 3-phase line current on the thing was about 55 A,
per 3-PHASE LINE, so running it off SINGLE-PHASE, the line current would HAVE
to be 1.7 X that much, wouldn't it? OF course!
We should have just scrapped the original 415 Hz power supplies and got our
hands on a bank of 5V supplies and adapted them. The thing ran off +1.2 and
-3 V supplies at 390 A, although I think that was for the max configuration,
this one had minimal internal memory, so should have been less.
Ah yea, the laser show geeks IIRC would run full 200A household service
just to get 30A 3phase off of rotary converters. A used diesel generator
set might be another option, or if you're REALLY lucky getting 3 phase
from the utility without paying crazy (probably only
going to work if
you're next to commercial user that already has 3ph step down
already in
place.)
Hmmm it shouldn't be that hard in this day and age to come up with that
kind of current assuming switchers would be clean enough. I have a home
use LED video screen I assembled/am finishing from Chinese modules that
runs on 480 amps @ 5vdc, power supplies set me back maybe $300 or less.
Could probably adjust them down or get similar units or higher quality
stuff from surplus (Pioneer Magnetics, etc)
--
Ethan O'Toole