Craftman renovation advice

[JohnSlow]

help with advice please!
ready to finish the renovation of my air compressor, Craftman. Got a single phase input to 3ph output VFD for 152$... So far Im way under buying just a nice branded electric motor.. A single ph 1.5 from baldors or leesons is approx 400dollars. Have looked at Baldors, and found one that is more or less compatible https://www.mrosupply.com/product/26177-Baldor_Electric_Motors-Motors_AC_Motors_General_Purpose
what do you think of this Baldor brand? or is Leeson better?
Thanks!

 

[machinisttx]

I guess I'm confused. Why did you buy a VFD if you're also buying a new motor?

The motor you linked to is a general duty motor, not a compressor motor. There is a difference.

 

[Vanimal]

i dont think a vfd will handle the startup load of a compressor without being grossly oversized. generally, you have to ramp up the acelleration as well as ramp down to stop (however you probably wont need to ramp down with that kind of physical load on the motor). this doesnt work so hot when there is a constant load from the get-go.
vfd's are good for stuff like fans and machinery where the motor is already spinning before the load is applied, in my experience. and when they're ran on single phase, they typically need to be derated by 1/3-1/2. for example, if you're running a 5hp motor, you'll probably want to have a 7.5hp vfd at a minimum or it's going to fault on you constantly.
as for brands, both leeson and baldor are fine. but i'd get a used one, you can find them at surplus yards and all over ebay for a fraction of the price, and industrial motors hardly ever go bad if sized and wired correctly. do yourself a favor, get a single phase motor if you're running it on single phase. i have a garage full of 3 phase machinery running on vfd's and my 80gal 5hp compressor is single phase, for a reason.