Not to worry, Brian. That 20 amps you see with a clamp on meter is highly
reactive - meaning the real draw (voltage and current in phase) is much
less. Even a perfectly "balanced" 7-1/2 HP rotary will show 20 amps, or so,
reactive current in the 3rd leg when running unloaded. It's the nature of
the beast, so to speak. Same as with the 80 amps you saw on the 20 HP
motor - it was largely reactive current and had little bad effect, other
than heating up the wiring if you didn't take that into account.

Bob Swinney
"Brian Lawson" wrote in message
...
Hey Gunner,

I was going to use a 20HP motor too. I kicked it into gear with a
pony motor, and it was drawing 80 plus amps. I've settled for a
7-1/2HP, which is still drawing 20 or so.

Take care.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 03:52:18 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

On 25 Aug 2004 13:18:31 -0700, jim rozen
wrote:


You have to understand that most of the designs you
see are highly optimized. Using an oversized idler
motor that is started with a pony motor means you
don't need any power factor correction, no balancing,
and no starting circuitry.

It gets built for free, runs forever, and never
has to be thought about. Example is the patented
"jim's stone age converter" seen he

http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/_2000_retired_files/Conv.jpg

Got a wiring diagram? Ive got a 20hp 3600rpm Western Electric waiting
to be turned into a RPC. Pony motors Ive got by the score.

Gunner, who was given a Hardinge DV-59 today. Disassembled but
complete....sigh

Anyone need any Federal air gauges? Got about a dozen of them G

Schaublin Lever action tailstock with built in collet holder in the
nose of the ram?

Scored today.... VBG)


"In my humble opinion, the petty carping levied against Bush by
the Democrats proves again, it is better to have your eye plucked
out by an eagle than to be nibbled to death by ducks." - Norman
Liebmann