MODIFIED ROTARY PHASE CONVERTER

INTRODUCTION
Focus of the PM
Preventive maintenance (or preventive maintenance) is maintenance that is
regularly performed on a piece of equipment to lessen the likelihood of it failing. It is
performed while the equipment is still working so that it does not break down
unexpectedly. In terms of the complexity of this maintenance strategy, it falls between
reactive (or run-to-failure) maintenance and predictive maintenance.
Preventive Maintenance Programs are not limited to the equipment used in industrial
companies. These plans are applied to all the equipment that are utilized for various
purposes, including the trainers used by universities for engineering and industrial
technology purposes. Trainers are needed to be maintained properly since these
equipment are used by students to apply conceptual lessons in practice.
One of the instruments or equipment that need preventive maintenance is virtual
instrument. A virtual instrument is a personal computer application that utilizes existing
sensors, transducers or actuators to process the signals and present the information in
a format desired by the user. A virtual instrument consists of an industry-standard
computer or workstation equipped with powerful application software, cost-effective
hardware such as plug-in boards, and driver software, which together perform the
functions of traditional instruments. Virtual instruments represent a fundamental shift
from traditional hardware-centered instrumentation systems to software-centered
systems that exploit the computing power, productivity, display, and connectivity
capabilities of popular desktop computers and workstations. Although the PC and
integrated circuit technology have experienced significant advances in the last two
decades, it is software that truly provides the leverage to build on this powerful
hardware foundation to create virtual instruments, providing better ways to innovate and
significantly reduce cost. With virtual instruments, engineers and scientists build
measurement and automation systems that suit their needs exactly (user-defined)
instead of being limited by traditional fixed-function instruments (vendor-defined).

Overall Objective
The overall objective of the paper is to create a preventive maintenance program
for the virtual instrument which can be used by the people in the Electrical Engineering
Department. Such program may be used not only by the laboratory technician, but also
other individuals that are authorized in handling the equipment.

Specific Objectives
 The following objectives are also sought to be attained in the program:
1. To discuss general maintenance tasks and schedules for the Virtual
Instrument equipment;
2. To examine the components of the Virtual Instrument and discuss the
actions to perform during maintenance checking (replacements, addition,
priorities);
3. To explain the necessary procedures and request forms needed to be
accomplished when conducting a maintenance assessment;
4. To present tables regarding the tasks and duties in the Preventive
Maintenance Program, assignments and responsibilities of the people in
maintenance program, and other details that are necessary for the
accomplishment of the program; and
5. To discuss other important details regarding the Preventive Maintenance
Program.

Level of Maintenance & Related Cost Factors

 Equipment Use
o
o
 Equipment Design
o
 Standards
o

 Condition of the Equipment

 Operational Considerations
Condition What to look for Corrective action
Check power source with a
Converter does voltmeter.
Restore power. Reset main
not start. No L-1 to L-2 should read 230
breaker and replace with correct
sound. volts If converter does not
size if too small.
make any sound it is probably
NOT getting power.
 Check the fuses by removing
them and testing with a
continuity checker or
ohmmeter. A better test is to Replace fuses if needed.
look for a voltage reading on
the load side of the fuses with
the converter turned on.

Check for loose terminals. Be

Tighten or re-terminate as
sure lugs are not crimped on
required.
cable insulation.
Be sure that no load device
is starting. The converter Turn off all loads and re-start the
should be running before converter.
any load is placed on it
Be sure that the incoming
single-phase lines (L-1 and
L-2) are properly connected Connect the power source to L-1
Converter hums to L-1 and L-2 in the and L-2 in the converter. Connect
but does not start. converter junction box. Do T-3 to the load only.
not connect either incoming
line to T-3 of the converter.
Replace any capacitors that are
open, bulged or leaking. If
The converter may have failed
otherwise the capacitor is not
capacitors. Each capacitor
defective, the timer-delay relay
should be checked with an
has the problem. Turn the knob of
ohmmeter or capacitor tester
the timer on the mark not greater
than “0.5”
Converter
attempts to start Check the single-phase
and breaker trips service calculations in to
Replace with larger breaker if
or breaker trips determine if the breaker
necessary
after converter is feeding the converter is
started and load large enough.
is added.
 Check the line voltage (L-1 to
Load(s) always
L-2) with an analog voltmeter
trip overloads
during start and determine the Increase supply line cable size.
during or shortly
amount of line voltage drop.
after startup

Check the converter output

If the L2 to T3 voltage remains
voltages under load
below 210 volts, the converter may
Load does not conditions. L1 to L2 should
be too small for the
start or run remain within a few volts of
application. Contact factory for
properly. 230. L2 to T3 may drop
recommendations or possible
momentarily below 180 (but
exchange.
recover to 220 or above.
Test for failed capacitors.
Blown fuses in IMPORTANT - SEE NOTE Replace any failed capacitors,
converter or * Check for wires touching correct wiring issues, snug-up
disconnect switch ground, loose fuse holder fuse holder connections
connections
 *IMPORTANT! DO NOT ASSUME CAPACITORS ARE DISCHARGED
BECAUSE POWER TO CONVERTER IS OFF. MANUALLY DISCHARGE
CAPACITORS BEFORE ATTEMPTING SERVICE