Laser Investment Opportunity Advice Needed!

[allthatwhichis]

Time to bring in the neighbors with some extension cables...

[Pianoman]

haha, I have to figure this out guys. It will be really depressing if I go to college in 14 days without getting to see my new laser system run.

[weartronics]

Everything except the power supply box for the laser runs off standard single phase. Can I not safely run the laser alone on a 3 phase static converter? or a rotary converter?

The power supply sounds like it requires about 4kW at full power. You probably won't be able to draw this from your domestic supply (at least not from a single circuit), so you probably won't be able to run at full power. Maybe you can parallel some circuits on the same phase, or make a high current connection at the fuse box.

To run the power supply at reduced powers, neither static converter or rotary converter are likely to be necessary. If you look inside the power supply, I expect the three phases are connected to a 5-terminal bridge rectifier, which is in turn used to charge a main filter capacitor. It would be purposeless to generate three phases just to recombine them this way.

To run at low powers, you could connect active and neutral (of your single phase system) to any two of the three phase inputs. There are probably also single phase circuits connected across two of the three phase inputs inside the power supply. In that case, naturally those are the two inputs you will have to use.

Please don't attempt any of this unless you know exactly what you're doing. It sounds like you're new to this - perhaps you know somebody who can help you?

Best regards,

weartronics

[gashead]

To run at low powers, you could connect active and neutral (of your single phase system) to any two of the three phase inputs. There are probably also single phase circuits connected across two of the three phase inputs inside the power supply. In that case, naturally those are the two inputs you will have to use.

That made my ears prick up, sorry to thread jack!

I have a Spectra Physics Performa 168 whitelight at home, just sitting around all lonely wanting to be powered up.

I've been looking around for an old three phase motor to make a phase converter but the motors seem to be very expensive. (even used / rewound)

I shall pull the lid of my exciter tonight and have a lookie inside, all I want to do is get it running at idle - better than nothing..

Do you think this is possible ? or should I just make friends with someone who has three phase?

Cheers!

Nige.

[mophead]

Pianoman-

You could always load it up and bring it to cookeville, at least to fire it up.

I have 3 phase.


Since it is now in your possession, which science muesum did it come from?

[Pianoman]

Hey Mophead, I might just do that. BTW I got it at the Northgate Creative Discovery Museum Science Theater, previously owned by News Channel 9. Were you correct? Is there anyway you could possibly make a visit down here? If you know how to straight wire it from single phase, as previously mentioned by weartronics. I don't understand, why would they make the system require 3 phase (harder to get) when it just converts it right back to single phase (readily available)? *scratches head*

[jeejeedr]

why would they make the system require 3 phase (harder to get) when it just converts it right back to single phase (readily available)? *scratches head*

To be able to draw more power without the need for wires with a diameter of an inch.

[Pianoman]

ohhh, got it , makes sense. So is it SAFE to straight wire single phase to the inputs inside my power box? Also, to enable it to run at full potential, could I wire together the hot line from two wall outlets and wire it to one input, then do the same with the neutral?

[DZ]

ohhh, got it , makes sense. So is it SAFE to straight wire single phase to the inputs inside my power box? Also, to enable it to run at full potential, could I wire together the hot line from two wall outlets and wire it to one input, then do the same with the neutral?

If you want to see smoke, then I'm sure wiring like that will get the job done. First of all, the outlet in your wall is usually 15 amp max. So you'd end up eating the outlet and maybe cause your house to burn down when the wire feeding your outlet melts and sets the insulation on fire. But that would only happen if the tube actually lit, which it wont. And, you'll end up severely reducing the life of the tube when feeding the cathode with the wrong voltage. You really just have a few choices. Something around a 10HP rotary phase converter, wired directly to the mains panel in your home (220VAC) or rent a large truck drawn deisel generator. I'd get at least a 10KW 3 phase generator to run it. Here's a link to a phase converter, the only thing I don't like about them is that they are loud. http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-10-HP-ROTARY...d=p3286.c0.m14

Your best bet would be to take mophead up on his offer and let him hook it up to *real* 3 phase power. Of course, before you do all that, you might want to make sure the thing is still gas intact!

[jeejeedr]

ohhh, got it , makes sense. So is it SAFE to straight wire single phase to the inputs inside my power box? Also, to enable it to run at full potential, could I wire together the hot line from two wall outlets and wire it to one input, then do the same with the neutral?

If I were you I would find someone with three phase power, test it and then sell it. And then buy something that works on a normal 2 phase wall outlet (like diode based lasers) or a small argon or argon/krypton.