Need help with a Colchester Master lathe

Hello Jordon, do you know if the lathe is single or 3 phase as this is very important.

Brian

I have managed to add a photo hopefully to give you an idea what i am talking about

Cheers

Jord

From the red, yellow and blue wires I suspect it is three phase. The missing item is likely to be a contactor together with a thermal overload. It should be possible to get a modern replacement. You fill need to find the full load current of the motor to select the contact rating and the correct rating thermal overload. You will also need to find out what coil voltage is required for the contactor. From a recent thread on this forum relating to a Colchester student lathe I found a schematic that showed that the used a 110 volt coil. If this is the case then there will be a transformer to provide the 110 volts AC. It MAY be the transformer in the picture but I would expect a larger one. It the switch on this panel a reversing switch or does it have a different function ?

Les.

Hi Jordon yes it is possible to replace the old contactor with a modern replacement but looking at the panel it needs a proper inspection of the electrical system. Do you have a 3 phase supply if not it needs a lot more work and parts and is the motor a three phase or single phase type. If you have an electrician who is available I think you should ask them to assess the lathe. Where do you live as if you are not to far away I could have a look Nr junction 28 M1 Nottinghamshire. Some pictures of the lathe would help ie motor supply general layout etc and may be give you a few tips on rest of the lathe.

David

Edited By David George 1 on 22/09/2018 09:33:17

Thanks David your a bit to far from me I am Dorchester Dorset but I will get some pictures on tonight.

Yes it is 3 Phase the motor is 3 phase 2 speed also.

Cheers

Jordon

Cheers Les I will get some photos of the motor and the existing coil later today. This is what I wanted to hear that you can fit modern contactors in, hopefully you can once you have the photo's point me in the right direction as to what parts to .

Cheers till later

Jordon

If there is a possibility you could manage with running as a single speed, a VFD might be as good an option as any. I think there may be other problems if you wish to run it as a two speed motor from a VFD. Others may no more.

Yes you can fit a modern contactor, not sure of the motor current and overload details though. If you have a three phase electric supply then keep the rest of the wiring as it is, together with the two speed motor.. A 400 volt 3 phase inverter capable of running your lathe with a two speed motor will be expensive. If you only have a single phase supply it will be better /cheaper to swap the two speed motor for a single speed one, wired in DELTA and a 240 volt inverter. That transformer looks to be the right size for your lathe as it only operates the contactor control circuit,via a few safety limit switches,and maybe the lathe light, nothing else. John

Back again, I forgot to mention the contactor coil is usually 110volt and the light either 110 or 50. John

Check the transformer voltage before you source a contactor. My old Student had a 48 volt control circuit

Martin

Thanks all for the info photo now added regarding the transformer, I will be keeping it 3 phase. I appreciate all the help with this

Cheers Jordon

Hi Jordon,
I can't read the full load amps values on the motor plate. (It looks like 4.6 and 3.6 but that seems a bit low for a 3 HP motor. (A table I found online gives 6.1 amps) I would suggest a starter with a contact rating of at least 10 amps and a thermal overload that can be set to the full load amps. The transformer looks like a 50 volt secondary. This could be for either a machine light or for the control circuit, You will need to trace that part of the wiring. There may be another transformer somewhere. You will need to check.

Les.

Hi Les yes on the motor plate it is 4.6 and 3.6 yet on the front brass plate it states 3-6 so your correct in the 6.1

Yes the low voltage off the transformer is for the lamp

Sorry I added the wrong wiring diagram here is the correct one

Cheers

Jord

Hi all just a little update as to my lathe, Fitted a new contactor and overload relay now its all up and running lovely, I am very happy I have moved it into my tool room, which turned out easyier that I though it was going to with the aid of the engine crane, it fits in much better than fathers little Grayson, mind you the Grayson has done me proud.

I spent a bit of time cleaning the tools that came with the lathe and Dad did well on the buy, i have also made use of the little tool cabinet.

If I get some time I may tidy it up but hopefully it will always be working, first job is to make some more bead roller dies, I am going to love using it.

Anyway thanks for all the advice and help, if I make anything that might be worth posting I will post it on here.

Cheers

Jordon

some of the tools I think they cleaned up well

A bit of an upgrade from the Grayson although it has done me proud thanks Dad

Thank again

Cheers

Jordon