Member postings for john fletcher 1

So, the blame game is about, good to know that old British snobbery still prevails, it is so important to some. John

It would easier to buy a 100k linear potentiometer and careful remove the existing one from the circuit board and solder the new 100k in place. If you are mounting the thing remote you will need a length of 3 core flex from the board to the hand set. I did a similar thing for a friends grand children electric car, made from a scrap disable buggy. John

What about an ex washing machine pump mounted in an earth metal box or a plastic box, but do ensure that it is completely sealed again any water getting in, they do work,or a fish pond pump or an aquarium pump. In the long term the coolant might cause the plastic to deteariate if it does, get another, plenty about. Chuck key is easily made or bought. If you come across a 415 volt pump they are usually easily converted to work on 240 volts using I think, a 4 micro farad capacitor or maybe its only 2 can't remember from a 4 foot fluorescent light fitting. Nice machine, enjoy the hobby. John

Most motors can be refigured from star to delta, at the terminal block. If that is not possible you will have to dismantle the motor and locate a largish lump often at the non drive end, it will need cutting open and three extra leads brought out to the terminal box. Any rewind shop will do this for you for an hours pay, once done then use an inverter. There has been several very good article on this site converting motors from star to delta, with good clear pictures and other details. I've found coolant pumps can be easily converted to run on 240 volt single phase using a 4 micro farad capacitor, again it needs to be reconnected.I have altered pump motors for my friends, and all it needed to do was to alter the links in the terminal box a ten minute job.John

I like your idea of sharing mods you have made to your lathe, very good. I do wonder about some peoples attitude when they find an error on a drawing, solve the problem and when asked to help an other person they say, I solved the problem now you do the same. Strange old world. John

I have recently bought an insulation tester via ebay look up VC60B it was listed at 29.99 or make me an offer so I replied £25 and it was accepted. The tester arrived this morning from London area I believe, not PRC. The meter is much better than I thought it would for the price, comes with leads etc. The meter has 3 ranges 240, 500, and 1000 volts digital read out and with measure volts AC and DC. John

I went to Doncaster show yesterday and admired the models on show. I think the venue is far superior to Harrogate, very clean toilets and plenty of them, the upstairs food area is much bigger and tidier. The only problem was the people leaving rubbish about in spite of there being plenty of rubbish bins around, don't blame the youngsters, I didn't see any. Also the parking is much better than Harrogate. All in all a good show and good venue.John

For the past 25 or more years I have had a wooden shed at the bottom of the garden for my work shop, no chance of anything better. I have minimal rust problems as I run an dehumidifier 24/7, it cycles on and off. The water collected is OK for cleaning windows and use in the domestic iron. Window cleaner now use de ionised water when using those long hose pipes, no need for wash leathers. I have a Wattmeter and use to monitor the power used, and its about a light bulb on for 12 hours over 24, 50%. I think its value for money and gives me peace of mind. De humidifiers are frequently for sale at our local sale room and they give a 24 hour warranty for such things. Oh, and I live about 100 metre from the sea as the seagull fly so we don't look upwards when they are about. John

If you go to the local museum and borrow a button hook. They are like a screw driver with a bent up three quarters of a circle on the end. You slip the end piece thorough one of the slits and hook the tool end around the stud below the slit, the turn the tool. Easier to actually do than to write about. We had lots of it for generators and compressors we also had Fenner belts as well. I think Brammer is or was made in Bradford and Fenner in Hull. John

In industry the emergency stops interrupts the mains supply via a contactor, not to be confused by loco stop. I have three inverters each controlled by a 240 volt 20 amp double pole relay, by pressing the emergency stop, all the power to inverter is disconnected, it also give No Volt release, and no miss understanding.Nothing at all between the inverter out put and the motors.John

Clark are right. The idea of a DOL is as follows,should you be working on say your lathe and the there is a power OUT for whatever reason, and you could just be making some adjustment to the chuck and then the power is then restored you could be seriously injured. The DOL would protect you, as you would need to press the GREEN on button to restore the power. Also within the "box" there are overloads as well.John

If you have a multi meter then you can test the start circuit. Set the meter on the low ohm range. Disconnect the capacitor altogether and connect the meter across the wires to which the capacitor was connected, you should have a complete circuit. The value in ohms will depend on the manufacturer, but around 10/20 ohms. If you don't have a complete circuit then it must be open circuit in the start winding. Has the motor that burnt varnish odour ? As some one else has already said was the replacement capacitor of the same value as the original that is important, exact value is not important as they are +/ - 20%. Be careful if and when you dismantle the motor the start winding wire is very thin and is easily broken. Oh, and before you do dismantle the motor put scratch marks across the end shields to the stator, two scratches one end and one the other. These marks will enable you to re assemble the motor and will ensure the rotor rotates freely. John

On a 2 pole 2850 rpm motor on 50Hz supply you get two pulses per rev on single phase, whereas on three phase you get six pulses. Even better on four pole motor which most lathes are fitted with. Like a single cylinder Norton single cylinder with vibrations on the handle bars compared to a Honda 4 smooth.John

Are you absolutely sure you have the motor configured in DELTA. I know you said in para 3 that you had been careful , a mate of mine said the same when he altered a motor, then we found he was wrong, we all make mistakes. I have the same inverter (pre owned as the car salesman would say) running an old 746 watt motor, no problem. Have you got all the setting correct, especially the voltage. As some member here may recall, I had the inverter for 4/5 years but couldn't get motor to run below 500rpm, try as a may. Later, I requested assistance here and a member told me I had a particular item set at 50 instead of zero, job done, I was very grateful, I had overlooked the same problem many times.John

I recently bought the two gears 33 & 34 from John and he said he more. I notice some one has post the chart as well.John

I'm no expert ! but I altered the connections on a friends lathe motor from star to delta and fitted Huanyang 2.2 KW inverter which cost £90.40 via ebay, it was here in 4 days obviously not direct from PRC but some where here in UK. I have kept a copy of the programming should you or anyone else like a copy.I also I altered the lathe coolant pump so that it runs independently from a 240 volt supply, by reconnecting the motor to delta and then fitted, I think a 4 micro farad capacitor ex fluorescent lighting one. John

I have a circuit diagram of your motor but it to has coloured wires not numbered ones. Inside your motor there are three separate windings(coils).Two of almost identical resistance are connected in SERIES for 220 volts and parallel for 110.The third is the start and it is connected to the junction/ mid point of the two run windings, so it gets its correct voltage. The start winding will have the centrifugal switch in series with it and maybe a capacitor. So, if you have a multi meter set it on the low ohms range you might be able to sort it yourself. Separate all wires, locate the two nearly identical resistance windings and label them, same again for a second pair. A third winding with a higher resistance will be the start winding. Connect the two run windings in series and at the junction connect one end of the start winding, the other end to the neutral. Here a bit of trial and error needed as the last connection might be the live not as I said the neutral . Next be extremely cautious, have a friend standing by, connect the motor to the electric supply.If the direction of rotation is in correct swap over the stat winding connections. John

I have a 240 volt single phase contactor which controls all the socket outlet in my workshop (but not the lighting) and have several locking type stop buttons at about waist high around the shed. All stop buttons are connected in SERIES, so that when any one of them is pressed all the power is switched off. All the lights are operated by pull switches. I have three inverters and each has a 20 amp relay in front which gives protection on or after mains failure. Also I have separate equal potential bonding, one machine to another not relying on the 13 amp plug earth connection alone. For the drilling machine I have a foot operated switch, I have to have my foot on the switch for machine to operate, should things get out of control, walk away. John

Has any one got information on reconnecting a 1930 third brush dynamo to a 1950 style two brush type and then to fit a Lucas voltage regulator. I propose to remove the Third brush altogether and connect its lead to the F terminal and its other end to frame, the D as normal E to frame and A to ammeter. please correct me if I'm wrong.John

The article in MEW used the original speed board components and the tacho, but beware the board needs enclosing in either a plastic box or an earth metal type, as the piece of aluminium on which the Triaca is mounted is alive at 240 volts. I have the article some where, perhaps some one with the index or Neil will provide the issue number. The motors are well made, well balanced and have a couple of good ball bearings which might be useful for another project. Save the carbon brushes as your next washing machine might need a pair in the future. John