Anyone own a 2 post lift ? A few qs
Discussion
I was lucky enough to be given one a while back. it was one of the first generation Bradbury 2-posters and is massively over-engineered. I had to collect it in three sections! It makes the 2-posters you see in Kiwk-Fit and Halfords look like something you'd take home on the roofrack from Ikea! Anyway, it was 3-phase so I converted it to Single phase. The other alternative is to buy an "inverter" - look round some second hand lathe-type shops - that's what people usually use inverters for. They're typically about £300. I had a suitable single phase motor so I used that instead. You will probably need to do a bit of machining work adapting the motor and mountings but it's not too complex. The biggest problem is if (like mine) the motor is inside one of the ramp towers. Generally, a (say) 2hp single phase motor is a bit bigger than a 2hp three-phase one so it might not fit. Other than that it's straightforward. If you go for using a single phase motor, make sure its a "capacitor-start" motor. There are all sorts of single phase motors available but you will need one that can start up under load. I think the last one I bought came from Northern Industrial tools (they have a website) From memory a 2hp one was about £70 and a 3hp one about £90.
It doesn't use more it just makes better use of the phases.
I think the way it works is something like this.
AC current goes one way then the other. Each reversal is a magnetic pulse in the motor. In 3 phase the pulses are staggered so you get a pulse from each phase in turn. Therefore you have 3 times the number of pulses making a stronger motor.
I'm ready to be shot down.
Steve
I think the way it works is something like this.
AC current goes one way then the other. Each reversal is a magnetic pulse in the motor. In 3 phase the pulses are staggered so you get a pulse from each phase in turn. Therefore you have 3 times the number of pulses making a stronger motor.
I'm ready to be shot down.
Steve
. Convertors are an option, but £700 on top of the cost of a lift is too much £££ for me The three phases are 120 degrees apart. Running a motor from them is simple, because you put the three phases around the outside of your motor and the spindle follows the current around, this is becuase the electricity is generated exactly the opposite way in the power station (i.e. you turn the generator, and electricity comes out)
See http://science.howstuffworks.com/power1.htm or google around a bit.
See http://science.howstuffworks.com/power1.htm or google around a bit.
steve_D said:
In the street the cable has all three phases in a multi strand cable.
May have, as opposed to has unfortunately
With electricity deregulation our beloved leaders permitted a downgrading of local supplies based on residential zoning. Just the two wires in the ground outside my house. £7k to have a new one put in from the sub-station 
This is interesting. My workshop has the usual single phase supply and meter but it also has a separate fuse board with a feed and it has 3 phase fuses etc in it. The workshop has been used commercially in the recent past. What would I need to get the 3 phase power back on? It seems the supply is already there but there isn't a meter. Is it worth using the 3 phase? I'd like a ramp but that's about all for now.
If you're lucky, a 'phone call to the 'electricity board' and three days waiting for the engineers to keep an appointment (
) (oh, and some money...)
For the reasons outlined above it's worth considering IMO, if you need to buy any machines they'll be less expensive (for equivalent quality) and the motors will be noticeably smoother than with single phase.
>> Edited by margo on Saturday 3rd April 21:04
) (oh, and some money...) For the reasons outlined above it's worth considering IMO, if you need to buy any machines they'll be less expensive (for equivalent quality) and the motors will be noticeably smoother than with single phase.
>> Edited by margo on Saturday 3rd April 21:04
I bought a 4-poster last summer for £200 from a garage that was upgrading its MOT bays. Again, this was just luck really. I think my dad might have kept the business card from a couple of blokes who were there stripping out the other two ramps, though. They specialised in refurbishing second hand ramps - I'll see if he's still got it if you like.
All I need now is a taller garage!
All I need now is a taller garage!
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff