hi there,
My problem is resolvable, but it costs the money. So please give me any recommendations. I decided with the repainting of the bumper for my car. I have an air compressor and my friend borrowed his motor. Everything I need to do is to fix that motor. But I read on the nameplate that it can be used on 3 phase. Surely, in the garage I have a single. Will it work?

welcome to the forum.

No, it will not work - you cannot run a 3-phase motor from a 1-phase service entrance unless you invest in a very expensive, and very inefficient phase converter. Not recommended. Better to find a replacement motor that will work and is 1-phase.

Thank you Chris,
Yes a good VFD will cost a lot. I tried to find a new single phase motor locally on Craigslist. There is one cheap and pre-used. It is weg. I found the model’s specs too https://www.mrosupply.com/motors/ac-mot ... aec56_weg/ Can I mount it to my Craftsman compressor (90 gal)?

Depends on your pump and pulleys but 1/2hp isn't anywhere near where you wanna be For auto painting.

Yep! What hp motor was on it and what was the rpm rating?

To make matters even more complicated Motors for Air compressors are specific design.
I.E. = You cant use a Motor designed for a fan and expect it to work on a Pump.

You also need to look into direction of rotation, Shaft Dia. shaft length or depth for pulley and then you need to look at the pulley its size and its inner dia for mounting on the shaft there are adapters for different sizes shafts. then there is the mounting of the motor itself.

Air compressor pump motors are specific designs a typical 3 phase air compressor would normally be in the 7.5hp - 20 hp range a 10 hp single phase motor gonna run ya any where from $600-$1200+ easy! with the more expensive being the reality.

Finding a good used single phase 7.5hp-10hp Motor on the cheap on ebay or Craigslist is like hitting the lottery.

Ask me how I know all this stuff?
good luck


On a side note There are electric motors out there that can be wired for either 3phase or Single phase. they are constructed to use either single phase power or three phase power. You have to look at the Data plate it will say if it will do both requires rewiring motor connections to change it. But I wouldn't expect it though, Dual use motors are very expensive.

3 phase Inverters
There are Static Inverters and Rotary Inverters
A static inverter WILL NOT WORK with an Air compressor pump motor but will work fine for a Fan motor, I have one on my Paint both fan.

A rotary inverter is made using Another bigger 3 phase electric motor and will work for an Air compressor motor. BUT if your hp rating of your elect motor on your compressor is say 10hp you need at minimum a 20 hp Inverter and still would be sketchy I think, I would go with a 30hp unit. but If you think a $1200 10hp single phase motor is expensive your not going to like how expensive a Rotary phase converter is.

I have been looking for a Giant 45-50 hp 3 or 4 phase motor to build my own 3 phase power station to power a few things all at same time.

Something like this *might* work but you need to check all the other specs as Dennis mentioned:

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Electrical ... 0-1435.axd

As you can see, it gets expensive. Probably better to sell the compressor and find something else.