IF you might get a vertical head sometime, you will need a change-over switch as the motor needs to turn the other way for both the Mkll and lll heads (have to think about the Mkl).

Sean – I assume that your motor was a capacitor start machine. I can't tell from your photo what the various wires connect to in your motor, but it's possible that you have got it connected so that the start winding is permanently energised and not being disconnected by the centrifugal switch (or other starting cut out). I suggest you trace ALL the wires out to see where they are going/coming from. Having the start winding permanently connected will result in overheating and burning the winding out.

What you need to do from your original set up is to reverse the polarity of the start winding relative to what it was when you first got it.

I suggest you get hold of the Workshop Practice Series Books no.s 16 and 24 by Jim Cox – Electric Motors and Electric Motors in the Workshop, they will explain just about everything you will need to know.

You say its a single phase motor but since the windings are labelled U, V and W it looks suspiciously like most three phase motors do.

As is happens my Austrian mill was manufactured and supplied as standard with a three phase motor bodged to run on single phase with a capacitor. The mill was known to be hard to start when in the high geared spindle speed because the motor (wired in that way) did not produce its full power. I fitted a VFD and would have to have my arm twisted to go back to single phase.

Ian P

Sean

As you say colour blindness is a hindrance with electrical wiring but that combined with your admitted lack of wiring expertise is a recipe for a (minor) disaster.

I am fairly convinced you have a three phase motor and it is possible to run it of a single phase supply. A quick Google search shows many hits of wiring diagrams etc, most also mention that the motor will only produce about two thirds the power of its rating plate specification.

If you are unsure about which wire goes where, it would be best to consult the original supplier or competent electrician as it may save you damaging the motor, (it does not take too long to compromise the insulation)

Ian P

As there are 6 wires disappearing into the motor, I'm with Ian, you have a 3 phase motor. Can you post a photo of the motor plate?

Do what Ian P did. Get a VFD and run your motor as it should be used with a 3 phase supply. This will give you lots of advantages over a single phase motor. There are lots of threads covering this.

Martin C

Agreed, it is a three phase motor, it can be run on 230v single phase but will probably overheat, as you have found.

The single phase method is called the Steinmetz method. Our friend Google will find quite a few useful results.

I notice that Sean says that he has a 1 hp motor, but isn't that only a half horsepower motor? It reads 0.37KW on the nameplate.

Edited By V8Eng on 29/07/2017 21:02:34

There are loads on eBay. If you just search for 'inverter' you'll probably get swamped by listings for new ones from China. If you search for specific manufacturers you will turn up more likely possibilities, eg

**LINK**

**LINK**

You just need to do a bit of research on the various manufacturers names and models. Beware, many of those listed will be 3 phase 380-440v input, and you need 1-phase 200-240v. Look before you bid!