It looks like it would be possibly easy to stick a mirror, or even ones head under the machine, to look for the presence or absence of a capacitor, incase the seller can't read the motor nameplate....
But what if the machine has two motors, like is the case with many planer thicknessers?
The real question here is how would you disconnect it safely...
I've never messed with consumer units, and kind of frightened of even looking at them.
I'm guessing you could bring a torch, multimeter, or phase tester that works, a three phase plug, and a 16a single phase one, a 13a just on the off chance that the wire is very thin.
Knock everything off, and you just stick a plug onto the end of the wire?
I still would be wary of doing this, even though it sounds like it could make sense, I don't trust CU's,
and I don't know anything bout electrickery.
About a year ago, our electrical technician was doing some work on the meter.
I didn't watch what he was at through the window, as I don't like to pester folks working, but I did see him do something with at least a 10 foot plastic pipe, :shock:
Presuming he was shutting off some kind of lever or switch, nothing happened but it looked scary.
Sorry I am of no help, but have seen folks mention here that one VFD can power two motors for a PT, it might have been a custom drive,
I don't think it was explained, or if it was, I didn't understand it.
Tom
I have heard