Thas', ok, Gunner. Getcherself a 50 HP 230V single-phase idler motor and
we'll try to help you figure out ways to start it. Jim Rozen would say use
a 35 HP pony for the task. Ooops, wait - there may be a problem starting
the 35 HP pony. Maybe you could spin it up with a 10 or 15 HP machine.

I'd say install separate service with 1000 amp breakers and then find about
3500 uFd of start caps; Oh! and maybe around 1500 uFd of run capacitance -
that is if you didn't want it finely balanced, ala the "Fitch method";
that'd take a bit more.

Or consider this: Just wrap a heavy rope around the idler's shaft and pull,
pull pull! If the welder has a 220v outlet receptacle, plug the idler motor
into that. Then when things come up to speed disconnect the AC mains and
you'll have perpetual motion.

Bob Swinney


"Gunner" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:17:31 -0500, Don Foreman
wrote:

I forgot to answer the general question of how big an idler for a
3-phase welder. A singlephase Idealarc 250 draws 86 amps max at
230V. That's 19780 VA, or about what a 25 HP 230V singlephase motor
would draw, so I'd think you'd need at least a 50HP idler.


I was afraid of that..sigh..

Thanks for the info

Gunner



On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 08:38:07 GMT, Gunner
wrote:


Anyone know how big a rotary converter it would take to run a Lincoln
Idealarc 250, 3phase welder?

Gunner

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