Three phase at home

[JRushing]

Just wanted to inquire how many of you are operating your 3 phase sirens
From home. I'm. We here and did some reading. Seems kinda mixed
Some say its expensive and difficult , others say there is a simple way to do it.
I would like to settle on this before I look for a siren so that I will know what to look for.
I really like the carter air raid siren(dual tone) although finding that has seemed
Impossible haha any suggestions of a similar easier found siren?

Thanks a lot

[holler]

I have a three phase generator that I run my stuff off of. I've also got a large solid state converter that I haven't had time to install yet.

I asked the power company about getting an open delta to feed my shop, and figured I would get a price break since I buy so many poles from them. Cost would be $20 per foot of over head + transformer + meter + high electric rates and meter charges. Total came up to about $20,000.

Two best ways to do it are buy/build a rotary phase converter or buy a used three phase generator. The generator has the added bonus of being to able to run your house when the lights go out. Needs to be at least 10kva for sirens though.

Link that shows how to build a rotary phase converter out of a used three phase motor. Sirens will need at least 20 horsepower of idler motor. 30 is better. BTW you don't need to add a buck-boost transformer like that guy did.
http://www.laserfx.com/Backstage.LaserF ... nvert.html

BTW where are you located at? I know some people in different places around the country who have used motors that would make good idlers.

Stay away from static phase converters unless they are the transformer type. The Ronk Add-A-Phase and Gentec T-3 are good transformer converters. Occasionally a used Add-A-Phase will pop up on ebay or craigslist.

[JRushing]

So more practically I'd wanna find a single phase siren?
Sounds like my quest just got more difficult

Any suggestions for a newbie on siren make /model
Prefer something easily found( asking a lot I know)

[holler]

Well where are you at? I know a guy who has lots of single phase banshees and penetrators. Selling them for a good price also.

[kx250rider]

It's hard to get power companies to give 3-phase service, as you almost have to show a legitimate need (not just a hobby). Best bet is to get a rotary phase converter with a 10hp rating, if you want to have 3-phase power at home. Or as Holler says, you can get a 3-phase generator. I have a big one (50kw), but the cost to get one like that is about the same as getting 3-phase power service installed. I got my generator for a good price from a contractor gone out of business, but it was still $10K. (We needed it for business purposes, so it's not like we spent that for fun).

Charles

[holler]

If you go with a rotary phase converter then you need to make sure it's sized for the motor of the siren. Generally it takes a 20 horsepower converter to run a 10 horsepower siren, due to the heavy load.

You can pick up military surplus generators fairly cheap. Mine is a 10KW 120/208 3 phase unit and only costs me $1500.

[JRushing]

I'm in the charlotte nc area
I just looked on YouTube and the banshee sounds pretty awesome
I'd settle for one of those , what's an average price?
I won't need a controller setup I'd much rather do it manually
What kind of amperage do they pull?

[LukeH]

Do you have a 75 horse or bigger tractor with a power take off? We have a 3 phase generator at the farm, i believe it is the same size as Jeb's, we run our manure system at the farm with it when the power is out. They come up at farm auctions fairly cheap between 1-3k a pop.