Single-phase utility is a hard stop for three-phase motors at irrigation sites across most of rural America. AuxPower™ solves it by combining a digital phase converter and a full-feature VFD into a single, pre-wired enclosure.
The Single-Phase Problem
Three-phase power is the standard for commercial and agricultural motors above a few horsepower. It's more efficient, costs less per unit of power delivered, and extends motor life. But in rural areas — at the well, the pivot corner, the remote pump station — three-phase utility often isn't available.
The traditional workaround is a phase converter: a standalone unit that synthesizes a third leg of power from single-phase, giving you the three-phase output your motor needs. If you also need variable speed control to run a pump then need a separate VFD in front of the motor. Two products, two vendors, two quotes, and often two trips to the site.
AuxPower™ is built for one job and built for it well: bringing three-phase power to rural single-pivot irrigation off the single-phase service you already have. One unit does the phase conversion, the variable-speed drive, and constant-pressure control — so you spend your time growing, not wiring boxes together.
How Phase Converting VFD's Work
A phase converting variable frequency drive takes single-phase AC input, rectifies it to a DC bus, and then uses an inverter to synthesize three-phase AC output. The output has variable frequency to control motor speed. Unlike three-phase VFD's, purpose designed phase converting VFD's have oversized current carrying components on the input to handle drawing the required power from the single-phase supply.
How Digital Phase Converters Work
A digital phase converter passes the two conductors of the single-phase input straight through to the output as two legs of the three-phase supply and rectifies a portion of that input to a DC bus feeding an inverter that synthesizes the missing third leg. Digital signal processing regulates the manufactured leg in real time, holding all three line-to-line voltages balanced and 120 degrees apart at full line voltage and utility frequency. The output is balanced, fixed-frequency three-phase power suitable for any standard three-phase load.
AuxPower™: One Unit, Both Functions
AuxPower™ performs phase conversion and variable frequency drive control in a single integrated unit.
Perfect Pressure™ Built In
Every AuxPower™ unit ships with Perfect Pressure™ constant-pressure control as standard — no additional controller, no external wiring. Connect a 4–20 mA pressure transducer to the drive's analog input and run through the setup wizard. The drive reads system pressure in real time and varies pump speed to hold setpoint within ±1 PSI regardless of demand.
For pivot and irrigation applications, the same control loop manages pump speed against flow demand, reducing energy consumption during low-demand periods and eliminating water hammer from hard starts.
Applications
AuxPower™ was designed especially for rural single pivot irrigation systems.
Specs At A Glance
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| HP Range | 20–125 HP (1LH Series) |
| Input Voltage | Single-phase 240V |
| Output | Balanced three-phase, variable frequency |
| Harmonic Distortion | IEEE 519 compliant (AFE) |
| Enclosure | NEMA 3R, outdoor rated |
| Listing | UL 508A |
| Perfect Pressure™ | Standard, no additional controller |
| Phase Connect | Optional cellular remote monitoring |
