I need a little help troubleshooting a 50 hp phase converter I installed in my shop. The motor is a explosion proof water pump house variety. 125A at 230 and 65A at 480. 1786 rpm. I had a custom phase converter panel professionally made for it. I have 200 amp service at my shop panel, 125 amp breaker installed, and I added two additional 750uf start capacitors. The motor groans to try and start, but does not trip the breaker. I let it try for about ten seconds and it spun up a little, then shut it down with a small puff of smoke out of the base. I was told today that a locked rotor current for a 50hp motor like mine can pull up to 1000 amps for a quick moment when it’s trying to start.
Things I have already done.
-brought the motor to my work, hooked it up to 480 volt on the high side wiring. The motor spun up perfectly, and ran smooth. So it’s know working.
- increased all my wire gauge to 00 humongous
-added two extra start caps to the 6 I already had.
- increased my breaker size to 125 amp.
-no other large load on any other breaker in the shop
- no load on the motor at start up.
I have two seperate laser I want to run. Both have their own seperate step up transformers. One 315 volt and one at 480 volt. Both will be operated separately if I can ever get everything working properly. Any help would be apreaciated. I’m not sure if this is the correct forum to post in.