American Rotary Phase Converters FAQ's:

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• What are the advantages of American Rotary's Soft-Start phase converter?
  American Rotary's exclusive motor-integrated solid state soft-start is built directly into the rotary phase converter generator housing.  Achieving an 83% reduction in inrush (starting) current, our custom GENTEC/Baldor motor generator was granted a Soft-Start rating.
  American Rotary phase converters deliver all the power required for hard starting, heavy duty applications, along with balanced pure sine wave output and power factor correction for CNC and other voltage sensitive applications.
• Will I need to buy a starter for my American Rotary phase converter?
  No!  Save money with American Rotary phase converters with built-in motor starter and automatic controls.  The rotary phase converter will start automatically at the touch of the "START" button and is conveniently pre-wired for remote start and time delay.  There is no need to buy an external starter. 
• Are American Rotary phase converters automatic control ready?
  Yes!  Timing function available for automatic controls.
• What about CNC Phase Converters for CNC and other voltage sensitive equipment?
  All American Rotary phase converters are designed to operate CNC and other voltage sensitive equipment.  Our selection of CNC rotary phase converters are balanced under load and no-load conditions to meet the requirements of CNC and other voltage sensitive equipment.  Our phase converters are balanced under load and no-load conditions to better than +/-5%.  American Rotary's soft-start phase converter generators are manufactured with ISR (Inverter Spike Resistant) magnet wire.  The development and use of ISR magnet wire virtually eliminates the spikes that are common in CNC applications.
• Are American Rotary phase converters power factor corrected, and why is it important?
  Yes.  Power factor correction keeps the amount of current that the power company has to produce to power the rotary phase converter to a minimum, making our rotary phase converters less expensive to run in industrial areas where "real power" demand charges can occur.  American Rotary phase converters utilize our own proprietary soft-start generator, which typically eliminates demand charges. 
• Can American Rotary phase converters handle heavy-duty and hard-starting loads?
  Yes!  American Rotary phase converters are rated "Heavy-Duty", which make them ideal for instant motor reversing, tapping, and other heavily loaded and hard starting applications.
• Why do American Rotary phase converters have PowerGuard^TM Protection?
  GENTEC's PowerGuard^TM technology keeps the rotary phase converter and other equipment downstream from the phase converter from restarting when power is restored after a brownout or blackout.  This feature can be turned off for equipment that is wired to automatically start after the rotary phase converter.
• Do American Rotary phase converters have flexible mounting options?
  Yes!  American Rotary phase converter generators can be mounted in a separate room or structure away from the rotary phase converter control panel, if desired.  The phase converter control panel can also be conveniently mounted alongside existing service.  American Rotary phase converters are designed with a variety of mounting options to best suit the area they serve.
• Will American Rotary phase converters dim my neighbors lights?
  No!  American Rotary's custom soft-start phase converter generators reduce inrush current by 83%!

• Is installing rotary phase converters from American Rotary easy?
  Yes!  Busbars are easily accessible and safely located in a roomy compartment just beneath the firewall.  This simple design eliminates messy wiring and cluttered conduit boxes commonly found in rotary phase converters.  Each and every American Rotary phase converter is shipped with a complete instruction and installation manual.  There is also a step-by-step installation pictorial available on our website as well as 24/7 toll free technical support.
• Does American Rotary manufacture or distribute UL Listed Phase Converters?
  Yes!  American Rotary offers GENTEC 
  UL Listed phase converters as well as digital Phase Perfect phase converters.  
  UL Listed phase converters are often indicated in new construction.  Please visit our online store for selection, or call toll free 1-888-7GENTEC.
• Is there an emergency stop on American Rotary phase converters?
  Yes.  For operational safety, when the rotary phase converter is powered on and the LED is illuminated, the "STOP" button is raised for emergency and quick shut-off.
• Will American Rotary phase converters run multiple motor loads?
  Yes.  American Rotary phase converters are capable of running multiple motor loads which can exceed 3 X's the rated horsepower of the converter ( limited only by the current available).  Many customers buy larger rotary phase converters than they currently need in anticipation of adding additional equipment to their shop and/or business.
• Can I run a very small machine on a very large American Rotary phase converter? 
  Absolutely.  Because all American Rotary phase converters are balanced from a no-load condition, there is no minimum to the size of a motor that can safely be run with any of our rotary phase converters.
• Please define American Rotary's 
  phase converter efficiency and operating cost.
  GENTEC American Rotary phase converters are very efficient.  We define efficiency in terms of "real power" consumption, or more importantly, what the power company charges.  The national average is $.08/kWhour.  American Rotary's published "Idle Power" reflects this power.  Simply measuring the current will not reflect an accurate current because of the reactive (or recirculating) current in the phase converter system.  Our data has been obtained by actual meter tests and should be accurate for most power company meters.  Please refer to the following equation and example:

• How does American Rotary calculate phase converter efficiency?
  Cost To Run/hr = 
  Real Power (kW) x ($/kWhour)
  Example: American Rotary 10HP Soft-Start CNC Balanced/All Purpose Rotary Phase Converters
  Idle Power = .89kW (unbalanced would nearly double to 1.4kW!)
  Cost To Run = .89kW x $.08/kWhour = $.07/hour at idle.
  Note: When machine loads are applied to rotary phase converters, the idle power shifts slightly, but is considered insignificant.

• Are American Rotary phase converters loud?
  American Rotary phase converters are extremely quiet!  The bearing noise (friction) common in motors manufactured in China is virtually eliminated by utilizing precision high-speed bearings and phase converter generators manufactured entirely in the United States.  Mechanical noise (vibration) is virtually eliminated with proper mounting of the rotary phase converter and rubber isolation mounts.  Electromagnetic noise (humming or buzzing) is eliminated by strictly balancing the currents and voltages of the phase converter.  Aerodynamic noise (whirring), common in TEFC stock motors, is greatly reduced by the extremely efficient motor-cooling method used by our custom phase converter generators.  Learn more >

• What are rotary phase converters?
  Rotary phase converters are electrical devices used to converter single phase power to three phase power for the purpose of running 3-phase equipment at or near 100% of its rated horsepower.
• What are static phase converters?
  Static phase converters simply act as a means to start an electric motor. Once that motor has been started, the static phase converter disengages - leaving the electric motor to run on single-phase power. The power is unbalanced and though it does work, the equipment can only operate up to about two-thirds the rated horsepower before forcing too much current through the motor windings.  The unbalanced output and "single-phasing" of a 3-phase motor is hard on 3-phase equipment and may shorten the life of the motor itself. While fine to use in some applications, static phase converters are inefficient and tend to be hard on 3-phase equipment and therefore, their use is limited.
• Phase Perfect^® phase converters?
  Digital solid-state phase converters, or simply, digital phase converters are the ultimate in phase converter technology. Phase Perfect^® has led the industry in this technology by monitoring the phase conversion process by using a digital signal processor (DSP) and then continually adjusting the input and output of the converter to maintain a perfectly balanced power condition under all load conditions.  Learn more >
• What if I still have questions about phase converters?
  Please feel free to call us toll free 1-888-743-6832, or email us at sales@AmericanRotary.com. Our staff is available 24/7 to answer your questions! Please also visit the "Articles" section of our website for more information.

• Who Can Use Phase Converters?
  Phase converters are most commonly used in home, hobby, commercial, or industrial settings where utility 3-phase power is not available, or is too expensive to install or use. Phase converters convert single-phase power into three-phase power. Phase converters are a very cost-effective way to power three-phase electric motors, and they come with simple and easy to use installation manuals. Phase converters are rated using the maximum horsepower that they can handle. A true phase converter supplies an electrical current in all three phases of operation of an electric motor. Due to the consistent energy flow, the electric motor will operate at or near its full horsepower capacity.
• Are American Rotary Phase Converters right for my application?
  American Rotary manufactures and distributes the largest selection of phase converter in the world.  As the only phase converter company to offer every type of phase converter, you can be absolutely sure that our only motive is to recommend the best phase converter for your specific application.
• What types of equipment do American Rotary phase converters run?
  By balancing the output, phase converters can be used on any type of equipment.  Common uses include woodworking, metalworking, CNC (computer numerically controlled), food processing, welders, ovens, grinders, sanders, mills, lathes, planers, mixers, and much more. You will want to verify that the phase converter is rated for the specific kilowatts (kW) that your equipment or machine requires. Our technical support team is available 24/7 toll free at 1-888-743-6832 to answer any questions you might have, and to help you properly size a rotary phase converter for your specific application.  See more >