I think it was Pete Moss that came out to sort my static inverter problems. Apparently he does not live to far from me so popped over on a Saturday morning. (I am between Lichfield and Burton on Trent so not very close to Transwave premises.)

Phase convertors have a "ghost" phase. If your machine has its control circuit connected to the ghost phase it won't energise the control gear. Try swapping the phases about to see if it makes any difference.

Martin

David

I presume this is the Mk 1 version of the 1024 with three speed motor. If so you probably won't be able to get it running on a static converter. I believe its technically possible to set things up so they work but you really need to know what you are doing.

Assuming the Transwave is 440 (nominal) volt output convert it (more or less) to a rotary converter by adding a pilot motor direct to the output of the converter. The pilot motor runs when the converter is switched on giving a much better approximation to real three phase. A 5 HP motor would be best. You may well need to alter the internal capacitors on the Transwave for best results. I'd be unsurprised to discover that absolute best performance needs extra switches to select the most appropriate set of capacitors for each speed.

Even with a pilot motor its advisable to ensure that the control gear is fed from the direct, transformer output phase rather than one of the generated ones. Also need to check whether Smart & Brown fitted 240 volt or 440 volt control gear. Later ones like mine could have either. 240 volt control gear needs a decently stable neutral to work well. Something converters aren't particularly good at when the motor is running up to speed.

Those 3 speed motors a lovely electrical machines but they do put horrid loads on the supply circuit as they start up and accelerate towards running speed. No issue with the national grid behind the plug but converters are something of an electrical con trick with very little capability for the abnormal.

Clive.

David

First take look at **LINK** and verify whether yours is a MK 1 with the 3 speed motor or a MK 2 VSL with single speed motor and variable speed belt drive. I don't know when the MK2 VSL version of the 1024 was introduced but late 1970's has the right feel. If it is a MK2 life is much, much easier.

A static converter will still struggle on a MK2 because there is no clutch so it has to run up the spindle and drive every time. Simply adding a pilot motor should sort that.

Talk to Transwave, they are helpful folk and have the experience to know the best way to drive whichever motor you have.

In similar circumstances on another breed of machine, albeit with a two speed rather than three speed motor, simply adding a 5 HP pilot motor to a 4KW static converter got things running well enough. That was a MotoRun converter but a Transwave is essentially similar.

I run my 1024 VSL off a 220 V in / 440 V out VFD box from Drives Direct. Mine is 10 HP "whole shop" unit permanently set to 50 Hz and runs everything a treat. Very expensive but, so far as the machines are concerned its proper 3 phase from the grid. A smaller, single machine, VFD works fine on the VSL too but you do need to re-jig the controls to operate the VFD direct.

I suggest you sign up with the Smart & Brown group on Yahoo as there are members with direct experience of setting up static or rotary converters on the 1024.

Clive.

Edited By Clive Foster on 16/09/2017 18:05:51

Not sure if this will be of any help to you,but here goes,anyway.

I had a static converter,on loan,some time ago,to see if it would run my planer and spindle moulder. I t would not .,just gave a buzzing noise when I pressed the starters [each machine had 4hp motors ] Would run my lathe and mill OK 1/2 hp each,even both together. Got fed up and bought a rotary converter,set it up and away she went !

Now I just switch on and get stuck in. I think you may be better off to just buy a rotary job and be finished with it. There is no messing about adjusting anything to suit loads.

David

Three motors on a VSL so rotary is the easiest way by far.

Do talk to Transwave first because a rotary is pretty much just a static converter with a permanently connected pilot motor and it may be possible to convert yours for less money overall than selling the static one and buying a rotary.

Big disadvantage of rotaries is that there is another motor buzzing round which can be annoying. Whatever you do don't put it on a shelf or its likely to set the whole workshop going. Found that out the hard way!

Clive.

Thankyou for that detail Matt. I will give it another check and see what I can do further.

Cheers,

Dave.