220v Motor Wiring

[Dave100456]

Advice please:

I have an American electric motor sold configured for 220v 50Hz. In its connection box it has about 8 wires some of which are joined and insulated there are also two terminal connectors with wires going in at one side; these are labelled "Line 1" and "Line 2".
Am I correct in assuming these are live and neutral and does it matter which way round they are connected?
Thanks

 

[Billjratt]

Without a pic -probably
No

 

[TamT]

line 1 and 2 correct live and neutral
Doesnt matter which way round they are connected.
If its american I would expect it was be designed for a 60hz system. But still usable on 50hz unless the rpm is of importance.

 

[Dave100456]

Thank you both. It seemed too simple to be correct!
Cheers
Dave

 

[Bodach na mara]

Americans have a two-phase system with two 110 volt (RMS) live lines on opposite phases. We have a live line at 230 or 240 volts and a neutral line which is effectively tied to earth (but I avoid touching it.) So you can use L1 and L2 connected to Live and Neutral as both will be insulated from the casing. It will not matter which way round they are connected.

 

[Dave100456]

Thanks for the explanation Ken, much appreciated.

 

[earlybird]

Advice please:

I have an American electric motor sold configured for 220v 50Hz.

If it's 220v 50HZ, I'd have thought it more likely to be for the European market than American, which is 60Hz.

 

[VicMallows]

As long as it IS rated for 50Hz it should be fine. However if it is an induction motor actually designed and rated for 60Hz you may find that it runs hot under load when used on 50Hz. This is essentially due to magnetic saturation at the lower frequency (less material is needed to make a motor for a higher frequency).

 

[Jean]

Induction motors need more than one phase to set up the rotating field, with various ways of achieving it, and earlier reply suggests the American system supplie from two separate 110 volt phases, and on that basis, no it won't work from a singe phase 230 volt UK supply, unless it has suitable built in start arragements.

 

[VicMallows]

American domestic supplies are not 'two phase', they are 220v center-tapped single phase. Yes, a single phase induction motor needs a phase shift to get it turning, normally achieved by a capacitor. (alternatively you can spin it by hand in whichever direction you would like it to turn ..... as I do with my grinding wheel since the capacitor failed ).

 

[superheat6k]

The phase shift on a low torque motor might be achieved by a shaded pole. Polarity won't matter, but might need a run capacitor if any torque is required, and if high start torque then a start capacitor and drop out relay too.

A reasonable explanation of how the capacitors work in a single phase motor is available here in the section on single phase compressors ...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qhkkox4xfaoqc5o/ThermaCom Field Compressor Guide.pdf?dl=0