Electrical – Powering 220V-to-neutral appliance from 120V split-phase

120-240v240velectrical

I have a 5kW appliance that normally accepts 3-phase power, but can also run on 220V. The manufacturer indicates that when running on single-phase 220V, to connect 220V hot to all three input phases as shown in the picture below:
220V connection diagram

I am in the US, however, so I don't have a single 220/240V hot conductor with respect to neutral. How can I power this thing?

Technically I can see that a solution would be to use a 1:1 transformer to turn the two hots into a single 240V phase with respect to neutral, but I am not sure if that is how this kind of appliance is typically powered. What is the normal way to do this?

Best Answer

Its made to operate on 5-continent power, in which 400V "wye" 3-phase is delivered to the neighborhood, then each house gets 1 phase + neutral (230V), or more than one phase if load warrants. The device is designed to support using 3 phases separately, so they can be evenly loaded.

Whether this is well insulated enough to use in North American/Philippines split phase 240V, with no neutral and center-tap ground, is a question for the manufacturer.

And the manufacturer's reputation.

Note the sections of US NEC:

110.2 Equipment shall be approved. [by UL or other responsible testing lab, or some equivalent satisfactory to your local authority].

110.3 Equipment shall installed and used according to its labeling and instructions.

Your insurance company has a say too, if shabby, unlisted equipment caused your fire, they don't need to pay. That's why UL is called Underwriter's Laboratories.