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A pump question. 1 phase, 3 phase, VFD oh my....

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  • A pump question. 1 phase, 3 phase, VFD oh my....

    I am looking to purchase a pump. An attractive option has been to look on Bid on Equipment, which would require us to buy the VFD separately. If memory serves, I believe that a VFD will only work with a 3 phase motor. If this is so, then I should be excluding single phase motor? Is there a special VFD that works with single phase power (all we have in our building) to drive a 3 phase motor? Thanks for any guidance.
    Bill Walden
    Oddball Brewing Co.
    Suncook, NH

  • #2
    Yes. I have a VFD that accepts 110V and converts it to 220V 3-phase to run our pumps.

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    • #3
      Clarification

      Originally posted by bwalden234 View Post
      I am looking to purchase a pump. An attractive option has been to look on Bid on Equipment, which would require us to buy the VFD separately. If memory serves, I believe that a VFD will only work with a 3 phase motor. If this is so, then I should be excluding single phase motor? Is there a special VFD that works with single phase power (all we have in our building) to drive a 3 phase motor? Thanks for any guidance.
      Any unintended misleads need to be avoided.

      No you cannot run a SINGLE PHASE motor on a VFD.

      YES you can run some VFDs which are oversized correctly on SINGLE phase power to supply a 3 phase motor.

      VFD motors are always 3 phase.
      Warren Turner
      Industrial Engineering Technician
      HVACR-Electrical Systems Specialist
      Moab Brewery
      The Thought Police are Attempting to Suppress Free Speech and Sugar coat everything. This is both Cowardice and Treason given to their own kind.

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      • #4
        Thank You....

        That simplifies things a lot, there were a number of pumps on bid on equipment but they were mostly 3 phase. Any other guidance would be welcome. are there brands to stay away from?
        Bill Walden
        Oddball Brewing Co.
        Suncook, NH

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        • #5
          Buying a used pump online.

          There are many good brands of pumps available but make sure you can get parts and seals for any used pump you buy.

          Stay away from Chinese pumps unless you know the seals are readily available, like a C-series copy.

          Some good pumps would be the Fristam FPX or Alfa Laval LKH or Solid-C series pumps. These are premium pumps so they will be quite expensive and seals are expensive but last very well.

          The easiest seals to get are for the C series pumps. These are inexpensive and good work horse pumps and the seals and parts are interchangeable between Tri-clover, Topline, Ampco, Waukesha, Bradford, Q-pump, Purity and probably a few more I can't think of right now.

          Of course Thomsen pumps are OK but they are an old design and not very efficient. If you get a very good deal on a newer one great but stay away from something looking old and beat up.

          I would stay away from Waukesha 200 series pumps, they use a more expensive and less common JM style motor and the seals are expensive. ( I know there will be Waukesha lovers out there who will blast me for this post).

          Some other OK pumps but not as popular and or as easy to services would be G&H or Alfa Laval GHH series and APV V2 series pumps.

          Stay away from APV Puma, no parts available any more.

          I hope this helps. If you see something that catches your eye let me know and I will give you my opinion on it. (if you want it of course) :-)

          Or you could always get a new one from us. ;-)
          Your CPE Systems Team!
          CPE Systems Inc.
          800-668-2268
          CPEsystems.com
          Thinkpumps.com
          sales@cpesystems.com

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