Switch or Phase Converter

shell70634

shell70634

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My mill came with an Anderson rotary phase converter. Before I hook it up I would like to add a magnetic safety switch to replace the simple SPST toggle switch on the box. Would the existing toggle switch have 120 or 240 volts through it? It looks like it uses 10 to fire up the contsctor but I'm not sure and the magnetic switches I have found are specifically for 120 OR 240.
 
SPST means single pole single throw.

So you are only switching one hot leg. It HAS to be 110.

For residential USA power, 220 has two hot legs, 110 has one.
 
This is the box and toggle switch I want to replace with a magnetic switch mounted on the mill. I'm also increasing wire size to the switch from 14 to 12. You can't see the crispy end of the wire but the other IMG_0275.JPG

evidence of overheating is visible.

293068
 
Looks to me like soldering iron burns on the insulation, not overloaded wires
So it seems the switch is a single pole which controls the coil of a two pole contactor. Why not just extend the switch wires to the mill, put the existing switch in a small box, and done.
Mark
 
Didn't think of sloppy soldering. The other end of that wire has about 3/4 inch burnt insulation.

We have quite a few short power outages and wanted a magnetic switch. I don't have the FV-1 manual yet so I'm not sure if machine power switch disconnects when power goes out.
 
A magnetic switch would be a big safety improvement, to me. It's a bit different example, but my router table, without such a feature, can be scary should there be a power glitch and then at some random time it starts back up...a few milliseconds, no problem...a minute, no problem...in between, it's an issue. Just time to get your fingers or work in a bad position. Like they say, "ask how I know".
 
I had it happen on old table saw. Small piece of oak shot back at me before I could figure out what happened. Yes, I'm sometimes slow.
 
may i ask why you want a magnetic switch instead of the toggle?

when you say magnetic switch, are you referring to a proximity switch, contactor, relay, or something else?

you can always mount the toggle switch on the mill too if you want to remotely operate the phase converter
 
I call it a magnetic switch but there may be a proper name. It's a switch that will not supply electricity after a power failure when the power is restored. I have one on my table saw. When I have a power failure the saw stops, when the power comes back on the saw won't come back on until I turn it on with the switch. It's a safety issue because power outages are common where I live and they usually happen when I'm busy in the shop. My old table saw threw a piece of oak at me when I didn't get it away from the blade when it was stopped. It was my fault because I had time and just didn't think of it.

Shelly
 
I can't tell from your picture what you actually have so I'm a little leery about offering ideas...

What you are describing on your table saw sounds like a common magnetic starter. Such a box actually incorporates multiple elements--usually a control station (the push buttons), the magnetic contactor and likely overload control. You can read up at:

Magnetic Starters - VintageMachinery.org Knowledge Base (Wiki)

Expanation of Magnetic Motor Starters
wiki.vintagemachinery.org wiki.vintagemachinery.org

A key point is that you can have more than one control station (Stop and/or Start push buttons). In industrial settings, the control circuit is often lower voltage so it's safer and cheaper. The control circuit works to engage or disengage (higher voltage) power to the motor.

I have no idea if your rotary phase converter uses a magnetic starter or not. If it does, it should be simple to add another control station. Otherwise...

Craig
 
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