Need some good advice.

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

Just picked up this Boxford pillar drill for £140 but my converter won't run it what's the most cost effective way

to get it up and running, is it 3hp

Al.

Edited By John Stevenson on 26/07/2013 00:19:48

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

That didn't post quit the way I expected it to sorry everything is sideways.

Al.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

It says 3 phase on the motor laabel

Roy

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

I take it that you mean the inverter is 3hp, so have you reconfigured the motor to Delta winding?

It could be the case that the inverter is over size for the motor though.

Martin.

Edited By blowlamp on 25/07/2013 21:50:29

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

Sorry guy's I know the motor on the drill is three phase but not sure how to tell what HP it is, I didn't, say inverter i said converter it's 240 in and converts to three phase out, but only goes up to 1.75hp does not seam to have enough power to run it, so need another option may be change to a 240 volt motor or buy an inverter for the drill but like everything else finance plays a part, what does the panel think now I've hopefully made things a bit clearer.

Al.

[_Paul_Participant @_paul_]

370w = 1/2 hp

Convertor or Inverter?

My Teco 2hp inverters will quite happily run something like this.

Have you checked it's not still wired star 415v

You could run it (at around 60% power) just using capacitors there are many guides on the net how to do this, basically 2 capacitors one to start and one to run the start one is switched out once the motor reaches speed.

The values of the capacitors you will have to calculate using the motors parameters against your chosen formulae/values.

Optimum capacitor value varies with motor design and load popular (but by no means comprehensive) Capacitor values for a 370w motor might be:

Run Cap 20 uf

Start Cap x2 run capacitor value for light loads and 3 to 8 times as load increases.

Start cap normally switched in and out using a potential relay or a timer (you could do this manually).

The workshop practice series has a few very good volumes on using three phase equipment on single phase, I use a mixed bag of inverters, homemade converters and a homemade rotary convertor.

Regards

Paul

(Disclaimer: Please do not attempt any of the above unless you are competent/trained)

[Hairy PeteParticipant @hairypete39644]

Posted by Alan .204 on 25/07/2013 22:24:42:

Sorry guy's I know the motor on the drill is three phase but not sure how to tell what HP it is,

Wo = 370, basically it's 1/2 HP

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Do not know where that 1/3 hp comes from. In delta it would appear to be rated at 900 watts or there abouts ie 1.25HP. Not a very large Inverter.

[_Paul_Participant @_paul_]

Try this calculator **LINK**

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

The table of full load current vs voltage for 3ph induction motors in my ancient (1955) "BTH Fractional Horsepower Motors" data book shows those currents to be consistent with a motor of just under 3/4hp – assuming "average power factor and efficiency" – so agreed not a very big inverter.

Keith

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Superflous maybe in view of the previous answers but stuck in my brain from GCE "O" level, back in the days when " Adam was a lad", is the litttle gem that 750 watts = I HP. I don't remember accessing that memory bank much in the last 50+ years!

Norman

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

The motor data plate (even upside down!) says 370 watts, so 1/2 horsepower, as you would expect for a pillar drill, ratings for voltage range at both star and delta are also given.

My converter has a range of motor power it will work, with a minimum as well as a maximum, so the 3 HP converter may well not get on with the 1/2 HP motor.

Just set the links on the terminals to delta, and use a small inverter – up to 1 HP – did this with mine and it gives you an easy control over speed without changing belts too much.

Phil

Edited By Robbo on 25/07/2013 23:40:31

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

The motor plate looks to state 380/440. Maybe the wire ends are buried in the windings? Are there six wires in the terminal box or three. If only three then a new motor would be easier. Have a look at _ lathes .co.uk . That site may have a full description of the machine.

Edited By Boiler Bri on 26/07/2013 07:39:49

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Bri,

The data plate gives acceptable voltage ranges for both Star and Delta connections, so it must be a dual voltage motor

Wiring instructions are usually inside the terminal cover – if they are still legible!

Phil

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

Bri,

As several people have told you this is a 370 Watt = ½ HP motor.

The connections need to be as shown to give the correct Delta configuration for 230 volt working. If the motor rotates the wrong way simply inter change any two input wires.

Eric

Bri,

As several people have told you this is a 370 Watt = ½ HP motor.

The connect ions need to be as shown to give the correct Delta configuration for 230 volt working. If the motor rotates the wrong way simply inter change any two input wires.

Eric

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

First you need to determine if it's a problem with the motor or the converter. Have you been able to try the converter with another motor?

Does the motor turn freely by hand with the belt disconnected when not powered? Try spinning it by hand when powered (carefull of fingers!), it could be a starting problem with the converter.

As has been noted, this motor should be wired in delta for 230 V operation, have you checked that? The motor is unlikely to be faulty but you could check the continuity of each winding (disconnect one if it wired in delta) with your meter.

Please post the results of any tests you do.

If the converter is faulty I would buy a 0.75 kW inverter. You should be able to find one for less than £100 new.

Russell.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

I did not have my glasses on and did it from my phone so was a simple mistake. SORRY boys.

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

Have some more pictures for you chaps as you can see it's a converter I use and it works ok on the milling machine, do i need to change the wires round on the drill motor to make this work, if the pictures end up side ways again i apologise in advance, they are the right way up in the photo album so it maybe better to looking there.

Al.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

There's a big clue – no black or blue wire and four white ones – it looks like your motor has been rewound… or at least re-wired and the wiring diagram on the plate does not apply any longer.

I could make guesses, but if they are wrong this woudl mean a big bang, so I've deleted them! All i'll say is I think it may be wired as star.

I suggest you need someone who knows what they are doiing to have the motor apart and restore the wiring to its original state.

It should be much less costly than a rewind as alot less work (and copper) involved.

Neil

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

Will have another look tomorrow, the white wires are from the start switch, told you I don't know much about three phase I thought you changed the wires around on the motor it's self.

Al.

[Neil GreenawayParticipant @neilgreenaway71611]

Do you know if it is fitted with a no volt release starter? If so make sure the contactor coil isnt 440v as your converter will only be supplying 240v and wont pull the contacts in or hold them.

[john swift 1Participant @johnswift1]

a search of Clarks own web site for the Clarke PC180 gave no results

but Machinemart has a link to the manual for the Clark PC 20 . PC 40 and PC60 converters

all have a autotransformer to step up a single phase 240 V supply to 440V

to run a 3PH 440V motor

and have 3 switches to switch in the required capacitors for various motor horse powers

I'd expect your converter to be very similar to the PC20

 

John

 

 

Edited By john swift 1 on 26/07/2013 23:19:43

[Alan .204Participant @alan-204]

The motor ran very slow for about 8 seconds or so then stopped so after checking around the switch I had power going in but nothing coming out, I then joined the wires so as to bypass the switch and the motor runs but still slowly, do I need to change the terminals around on the motor.

Al.

[john swift 1Participant @johnswift1]

Hi Alan

looking at the motor terminals I've just noticed an extra white wire on the "N" terminal

that looks like you have 7 wires connected to the motor windings and not 6

and therefor does not match the connections on the lable for the 440V star connections or 240V delta (mesh) options

John

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