Converting 220V 1HP Motor Down to 110V

hello all

years ago I had bought a dust collector, a medium size dust
collector, Torrit, that came with a “Marathon” 1 hp motor but it was
220 volt, at that time I took out all the electric and replaced it
with a “Baldor” 115 volt 1 hp and wireing/switch. I was told that
there was a converter to convert the 220 volt to run on 110V but the
converter itself would cost as much as a complete change of motor
and wireing. So after 15 or so years I been sitting on this 220 volt
great motor, and was wondering if anyone out there has changed or
converted a 220 down to 110 volt, with out a converter. say
switching wires or conections. anyone?

Hratch

Yes I have done this but only on motors that indicated how to do it.
There is a difference in how the motor is wound and I am not sure all
motors would survive the attempt. In the case of my air compressor, I
had to go the other way, 3 hp 110 to 220 the 110 just didn’t have
enough kick to get it going all the time so I change it to operate
220. I have had no problems with it since.

See if you can find a plate on the motor with the
contact the manufactures site for or maybe a place that
rebuilds electric motors could look at it and tell you how to do it
or if it could be done. This is not something I would feel I could
tell you correctly in an email.

Terry

If you are in the states or Canada, 220 to 110 is easy. 220 has two
hot wires with a return while 110 has one hot wire with a return. We
are not including the ground wire in this discussion, but it is a
must to be safe. Just start with a able with the 110 plug on it and
work your way back to the motor, if I had the schematic for your
collector, I could draw you the new circuit and a physical wiring
diagram.

This is the simplest terms for non electrical folks.

Jerry

So after 15 or so years I been sitting on this 220 volt great
motor, and was wondering if anyone out there has changed or
converted a 220 down to 110 volt, with out a converter. say
switching wires or conections. anyone? 

For the most part, you would be far better served by going to your
local motor dealer and seeing if you can get a trade or credit for
the 220 motor against an equivalent 110v motor. There are ways to
convert such a motor, but they are not generally recommended, nor are
they a DIY project for anyone without real electrical experience.
Basically, if the motor wasn’t built as a dual voltage motor, then
either have a dryer style cord put on it and plug it into a dryer
outlet, or ditch it altogether.

(I’m a jewelry hobbiest, but I’ve been working with electric motors
for 20 years)

Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL
@Ron_Charlotte1 OR afn03234@afn.org

Hello Hratch,

I’ve done the conversion a few times, 220 to 110 and the other way
also. It was always simple - But not because I know anything about
anything. So I can’t actually tell you how to do it on your motor,

The motors I had to deal with all came with little wiring diagrams.
They are usually on or inside the little junction box where the wires
come in, or on or inside the switch housing, or on the metal tag that
shows the voltage/amps/rpm etc. Usually it was a case of just
switching one or two wires from one post to another. As I say, it is
simple if you have the schematic. So look for the schematic diagram
and if you can’t find it anywhere then I think a motor shop could do
it very easily and cheaply. If you’re determined to do it yourself
you probably have to call the manufacturer to get a schematic from
them. But it should be only about a ten minute job.

Good luck.
Marty

Basically, if the motor wasn't built as a dual voltage motor, then
either have a dryer style cord put on it and plug it into a dryer
outlet, or ditch it altogether. (I'm a jewelry hobbiest, but I've
been working with electric motors for 20 years) 

Going to as heavy an outlet as a dryer or Kitchen stove outlet is
potentially dangerous overkill. Many “window style” Air Conditioners
are 220 VAC at 20, 25, or 30 Amp. If not very familiar with house
wiring, leave it to a licensed professional, it should be a rather
quick job?

Ed

The 220 volt motor may be a 3 phase motor. If it is 3 phase, it
can’t be run on 110 volts without auxillary equipment such as a phase
converter. If it’s not 3 phase, it should not be difficult to
configure it for 110 volts, but the amperage will be double what it
is on 220 volts.

Tim

Going to as heavy an outlet as a dryer or Kitchen stove outlet is
potentially dangerous overkill. Many "window style" Air
Conditioners are 220 VAC at 20, 25, or 30 Amp. If not very familiar
with house wiring, leave it to a licensed professional, it should
be a rather quick job? 

The only difference is the gauge of wire of the cord and plugset
involved. The wiring is identical. Even plugged into a 40amp
circuit, a motor can only draw it’s designed current (assuming proper
wiring and function). Please not that I strongly discourage trying to
use a non-multi-voltage motor for other than the voltage(s) it’s
built for. Again, this is not a DIY project for most people.

Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL
@Ron_Charlotte1 OR afn03234@afn.org

Haratch, Converting the motor to another voltage is super easy IF the
motor is manufactured for multivoltage use. The way to determine if
it is “multi-volts” is to look on the manufacturers’ nameplate that
is mounted or stamped onto the motor housing. There will be specific
info there, including voltage, amps, service factor, frame, etc. If
there is more than one value listed in the Voltage category, such as
220/110, this indicates the wiring is such that it can be rewired for
either voltage. Note the current required to run it changes also.
Usually this type motor (i am assuming it is a capacitor start/
single phase ac motor) will have a wiring illustration under the
wiring cover to show you which wires to connect for the appropriate
voltage. It boils down to having two sets of windings wired in series
for high voltage and wired in parallel for lower voltage. Look at
this site: http://www.elec-toolbox.com/ take the "useful
link to see a wiring diagram for a 3 phase motor - the industrial
standard. Unfortunately they dont show a single phase, cap start
motor. Another alternative would be to take the motor to a local
motor rewinder. He/She can probably tell you (by looking at it ) if
the motor can be rewired for another voltage. Also, any electrical
maintenance person worth his salt (hospital, factory, city power
worker) should be able to do the same.

steve

When I was starting out I used to get salvaged furnace motors, these
are 220 VAC motors that had something wrong with one side of the
windings or the hookup board. Sometimes I fixed the problem and had a
220 motor, but most of the time I just has a 110 motor that cost
nothing.

If you have some idea of how to wire power to motors, you can make a
bidirectional 110vac easily.

Jerry

If there is no label on the motor which indicates the high / low
voltage wiring, you may find a diagram in a little booklet called
Ugli’s electrical reference. I got mine at an electrical supply
house. When you halve the voltage you double the amperage, so plan
your wiring accordingly. Usually the wiring is tagged with numbers,
that is the standard not the coloring.

Dan Wellman

To Everyone who responded to this tread of mine

Thank you.

-I just got off the phone with an electric motor distr. service
company.

-I did go on line to the Marathon electric company (the mtgr), they do
have a nice site, I left a message there. no answer yet. but the
service repair company basically said it can’t be done BECAUSE, I
neglected to check the phase of the motor, so here is the deal, right
off of the motors chart plate, it is 3 phase instead of 1, it is
230/460 volts instead of 220 the ambient is 60, I have an industrial
monster and can’t really use it anywhere without the 3 phase system
in the building.the 220 line I have is apparently single phase. I
asked if they would do trade ins the answer was no.

So thanks again to everyone who helped.

Hratch

Hratch, you can use a phase converter to change your 220v single
phase into 3phase power. To see what is available you could check out
EBAY for phase converters.

Hartch,

There are several possible ways to generate three phase from single
phase. Depending on what the load is will determine what the best
method is. I use several machine tools in my shop that have three
phase motors and use two different methods to do this. I have a
milling machine that I run from a VFD (variable Frequency Drive)
which is a solid state frequency converter that takes single phase
220V and outputs three phase at a variable frequency so I can
control the motor speed from the front panel of the VFD. I have a
lathe that I run from a rotary phase converter that is able to
provide 240 V three phase output from 220V single phase input.

VFD’s cost about $200 for some of the smaller ones and my rotary
phase converter was about $400 for a 3 HP model. Anyway there are
quite a few ways to accomplish what you want to do. I missed what
application you are using the motor for. I can offer some more
tailored suggestions if you provide some more about the
motors use.

Jim

James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

360-756-6550

Hi Hratch,

My wife Karen asked me to look at your posting. I do not know the
horsepower of your motor in question but if it is a fractional
horsepower motor, you might replace it with a blower motor from a
discarded furnace or other source. I doubt you will find a
manufacturer that would help you in any way as your motor sounds like
it is used instead of new and therefore a problem for them to sell.

I suggest you contact and electrical recycling company in your area
and try to trade it in for possibly two motors that are single phase
as three phase motors are more saleable for commercial/industrial
applications and garner a higher price.

Remember to keep to the same RPM (Revolutions per minute) or you
will have to change pulley size to maintain the same performance with
your machine application.

Differences in 208, 220, 230, or 240 volts are not a problem and
will subsequently vary your full load current by the same percentage
as the voltage difference.

The frame size on your present motor should be the same as the motor
you end up with or you may have to modify the mounting and/or the
pulley shaft diameter.

Regards,
Dan Bahr, Master Electrician for Machineworx

Hello Jim

welp Initially I was trying to set up a 12 or 14 inch diamond
lapidary saw, the motor is 3 phase now at 1 hp and 3460rpm I have
single phase running through the studio, and you say this VFD let’s
the motor be at a variable speeds? I don’t think of the diamond saw
as haveing too heavy a load. but it will be cuting 5x7 rocks or a
little bigger.

Hratch

Hey Dan

Thanks for the info.

my need for the actual exchange for the dust collector motor was met
years ago with a baldor of the same atirbutes but the phase being
single. My need for making this motor the “1 HP 3 phase” to work for
me stems from the fact that I had this thing sitting in my studio
collecting dust,it was never really used;I never used in the 15-20
years and where I bought it from was preowned by a weekend woodshop
guy.

thanks again
H

So the plot thickens!

Indeed 3 phase motors don’t run worth a darn on single phase current
and certainly not just 110V single. On the other hand there is a
market for used 3ph motors but the price is relatively low. For those
who are interested there is recently an electronic device available
to convert 240V single phase to 3ph that even gives you a broad range
of speed control at essentially full power. If you happen to have a
machine shop along with your studio that can be a great way to go.

It’s no surprise that Marathon (excellent motors) isn’t interested
in your trade but a local motor repair shop very likely would be,
especially used for used.

Good luck,
Dr. Mac

You can buy a 3 phase converter to step down the current to your
needs- Look on line or call Granger, Harbor Freight, or a large
machine sales company.

3 phase costs less to operate. This is way all the big machine shops
are 3 phase.

A converter will run $300-500 range (I think)

Art