Brian> Hi, Does anyone have any experience using motor-generator Brian> phase converters to produce 3 phase power from single phase Brian> power for running big iron? (e.g. IBM mainframe Brian> equipment). They seem reasonably priced -- about $1 per peak Brian> KW, at least on sale: http://www.phaseconverter.com I read it as $200 per kW... Brian> I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has actual real Brian> experience with or knowledge about this. I have no experience with these. However... It's not a motor generator. I'm not sure how best to describe it. The idea is that you apply mains power to one phase of a 3-phase motor, get it to spin (starter capacitor) and then the other two phases appear between the powered pins and the third pin. A rotary transformer? Probably. These things are very popular among home shop machinists, or others who want to run lathes with 3-phase motors when the power company only delivers one phase. Another alternative (I have no actual experience here either) is solid state 3 phase generators -- which may be referred to as motor speed controllers because they produce an adjustable output frequency. These would be attractive if you need something other than 50/60 Hz. For example, those of you with CDC mainframes at home may want one... paul

From: "Brian Knittel" <brian at quarterbyte.com> We used to do it at work to run a 60Hz machine of a 50Hz supply, though it was 3 phase in and out. Jim.