Powering a bandsaw off grid

[Simon]

Hi, new member here, apologise if this has been asked previously, I've not found much info on this so far.
I'm looking to buy a bandsaw, record sabre 250 or sabre 300. I've no mains power at the workshop so it would need to be powered from a generator.
The 250 would probably be fine off current generators (2.8kw and 2.2 kw silent suitcase) as classed as 550w input and 370w output.
I'd prefer the 300 but it's classed at 1.5kw input and 1.1kw output.
Has anyone done this?
Will my generators be enough for this?
Do these bandsaws need more power on start up?
Thanks,
Simon

 

[Cabinetman]

I’m sorry I haven’t a clue but can guarantee that your question will be answered in the morning. There’s not much that can’t be solved on here.
Anyway you’re very welcome.
Ian

 

[9fingers]

Order a 3 phase model and run it via an inverter. The inverter will ensure a gentle start up and thus remove the surge load on the genny

 

[Simon]

I’m sorry I haven’t a clue but can guarantee that your question will be answered in the morning. There’s not much that can’t be solved on here.
Anyway you’re very welcome.
Ian

Thanks Ian, that's reassuring.

 

[Simon]

Order a 3 phase model and run it via an inverter. The inverter will ensure a gentle start up and thus remove the surge load on the genny

Thanks 9fingers, I had looked at 3 phase initially but, assumed I'd need to get a 3 phase generator. So could a 3 phase inverter plug into a single phase generator?
I know next to nothing of electrics, have you done this yourself?

 

[9fingers]

I have 4 3 phase machines that i regularly run from single phase mains.
I could set up an experiment running them from my genny if you like?
The largest load i have to try is 3hp 2200watts

 

[TomTrees]

What about finding a cheap old solid saw, and sticking a lawnmower or diesel engine to it?
Kris Harbor's sawmill came to mind, so had a look at his video series.
I'd guess there might be some tips there in regards to suitable engines, i.e RPM, pulley size,
if not in the video then perhaps info the comments.

There would be a few ways this could be done, perhaps finding a saw with a foot mounted motor might be the
easiest to ponder about, utilizing pillow block bearings found fairly easily.

This Meber, looks like a 600mm wheeled saw, has popped up on the bay a few times, starting at 200 quid.
Greenfield's furniture and machinery in Wales is where it were located.
Should it be listed yet again... it might be an apt choice for the job.

Though with a suitable 3 phase "dual voltage, i.e 240v option" motor, it'd would likely work with a VFD the same
as the little curve cutting saw.





All the best
Tom

 

[Simon]

That would be great , thank you!
What size generator do you have?

 

[TomTrees]

Thanks 9fingers, I had looked at 3 phase initially but, assumed I'd need to get a 3 phase generator. So could a 3 phase inverter plug into a single phase generator?
I know next to nothing of electrics, have you done this yourself?

Seems you are unaware of this document regarding all that.
It's the best I've came across.
You'll find it under Bob's signature screenshot from above.



All the best
Tom

 

[9fingers]

I've just conducted an easy experiment.

1000w honda genny is 100% happy running my three phase bandsaw 900 watt motor via a mitsubishi inverter. So you could scale up from that.

My other genny is 3150 watts but I'd have to drag out the propane cylinder as well. I could load that up with 2200watt motor and add in my bandsaw making 3100 watts.
But to be honest scaling up my results today ought to be convincing enough.

NB as Tom points out the machine you buy needs to be rewirable to 220v 3 phase ( read my motor paper to see how to recognise a dual voltage motor.

 

[Simon]

What about finding a cheap old solid saw, and sticking a lawnmower or diesel engine to it?
Kris Harbor's sawmill came to mind, so had a look at his video series.
I'd guess there might be some tips there in regards to suitable engines, i.e RPM, pulley size,
if not in the video then perhaps info the comments.

There would be a few ways this could be done, perhaps finding a saw with a foot mounted motor might be the
easiest to ponder about, utilizing pillow block bearings found fairly easily.
View attachment 29254
This Meber, looks like a 600mm wheeled saw, has popped up on the bay a few times, starting at 200 quid.
Greenfield's furniture and machinery in Wales is where it were located.
Should it be listed yet again... it might be an apt choice for the job.

Though with a suitable 3 phase "dual voltage, i.e 240v option" motor, it'd would likely work with a VFD the same
as the little curve cutting saw.



View attachment 29255

All the best
Tom

Thanks Tom, food for thought. I suspect this is beyond my particular set of skills but potentially a future project.

 

[Simon]

I've just conducted an easy experiment.

1000w honda genny is 100% happy running my three phase bandsaw 900 watt motor via a mitsubishi inverter. So you could scale up from that.

My other genny is 3150 watts but I'd have to drag out the propane cylinder as well. I could load that up with 2200watt motor and add in my bandsaw making 3100 watts.
But to be honest scaling up my results today ought to be convincing enough.

NB as Tom points out the machine you buy needs to be rewirable to 220v 3 phase ( read my motor paper to see how to recognise a dual voltage motor.

That's excellent, thank you.
I'll have a read up on that!

 

[Simon]

I've just conducted an easy experiment.

1000w honda genny is 100% happy running my three phase bandsaw 900 watt motor via a mitsubishi inverter. So you could scale up from that.

My other genny is 3150 watts but I'd have to drag out the propane cylinder as well. I could load that up with 2200watt motor and add in my bandsaw making 3100 watts.
But to be honest scaling up my results today ought to be convincing enough.

NB as Tom points out the machine you buy needs to be rewirable to 220v 3 phase ( read my motor paper to see how to recognise a dual voltage motor.

Sorry Bob, I'm using being new to the forum card, I can't find your motor paper.

 

[Mike G]

What about finding a cheap old solid saw, and sticking a lawnmower or diesel engine to it?

That's what I came here to write. I also have a lay-shaft in mind, with big canvas belts.........but...........you know.........

 

[9fingers]

The link is in the footer of every one of my posts

 

[John Brown]

The link is in the footer of every one of my posts

Hmmm. Doesn't show up for me...

 

[9fingers]

Thats strange John. Can you see other members footers? What platform are you viewing on? Maybe our tech elves can help out

The full link is https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXxPUa4dTeCREIph-c0I4X8fdzdtS/view?usp=sharing

and the footer looks like this with abbreviated link

 

[AndyT]

Signatures don't show on a phone. They can be found in a user's profile, by clicking on the name, but it's not obvious that they are in the 'about' tab

 

[9fingers]

Thanks Andy, That's a bit pants. I wonder if it can be fixed? @akirk

 

[Mike]

I can't remember what the default member preference settings are, but the signature view can be toggled on and off in the Preferences page, as shown below. I don't know what affect this has on mobile devices.

 

[AndyT]

I can't remember what the default member preference settings are, but the signature view can be toggled on and off in the Preferences page, as shown below. I don't know what affect this has on mobile devices.

View attachment 29273

Thanks for that Mike - I'd not found that setting.
However, it was already ticked.

I've tried unticking and reticking. Bob's sig (and presumably everyone else's who has one) shows up fine on a PC but not on my (android) phone.

 

[9fingers]

@Simon

Just been out to try the propane 3150w genny. With the genny set to Eco mode ie auto throttle, it runs the 900w bandsaw without increasing from idle and leaving the bandsaw running and starting my 3hp (2200w) extractor, the engine note rises during start up and then throttles back once it is running.
Based on these results I don't think you will have any problems doing what I suggested above.

HTH

Bob

@AndyT I can't see my own sig on iphone either and I have the display option ticked.

 

[Mike]

Thanks for that Mike - I'd not found that setting.
However, it was already ticked.

I've tried unticking and reticking. Bob's sig (and presumably everyone else's who has one) shows up fine on a PC but not on my (android) phone.

I did a little research, and the lack of signatures in the mobile view is intentional. I doubt the XenForo developers have any intention of changing this. There are modifications that can be made to the software that will enable viewing signatures on mobile platforms. However, I would not recommend doing this since the next incremental update could overwrite the changes.

 

[akirk]

nothing to do with mobile phones per se...
Simply to do with screen width - turn your mobile phone sideways and the signatures will all appear
reduce the width of your browser on a PC and the signatures will vanish
CSS (style) is generally based on a grid system - so that gives a set of different widths and as you move from one to another things change...
it is based on a logic that says as the width becomes narrower, so content extends down further and the signatures add extra scrolling time - so people are less likely to scroll down...

As the signatures are there in landscape and through other methods I think I will agree with Mike - not worth changing it as it will simply be overridden in subsequent updates...

 

[AndyT]

Thanks - that makes perfect sense.

 

[Ovaloe]

You know, at 500 watts uyou are down in the territory which many of today's cordless 18 to 54 volt power tools could handle...

Just a thought. In any case not sure how much run time you'd get, but maybe worth noting that deWalt markets a 54 volt cordless table saw these days when cordless mitre saws and Stihl-type cut off saws are also becoming more common in construction