PowerPro keeps tripping breaker and arcing at plug

greasetattoo · Post by **greasetattoo** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 2:41 pm

Hey Guys...
Question: I have the PowerPro upgrade. I did the upgrade my self, worked like a charm. Showed a buddy yesterday how good it ran. Now, today I go out to the shop and go to plug the Shopsmith PowerPro in, and it trips my breaker. The Shopsmith switch is in the off position. Anytime, I plug it in, it creates a arc at the plug. Won't plug in! Worked perfect yesterday! I can hear arcing in the conduit somewhere. It only does it on my Shopsmith, everything else (planer, vacuum, chopsaw, etc) I can plug in fine!
Shopsmith is closed today. (Saturday) HELP!

Any ideas???

greasetattoo · Post by **greasetattoo** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:59 pm

I fixed it!

short..It was in the powerhead, the wire was shorting on the way tube. (I believe) I used a couple of zip ties, now its working good again! I pulled the motor, checked with my volt meter. Plugged in and everything seems to be working! Whew...

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:40 pm

Glad you found and remedied the issue:D

greasetattoo · Post by **greasetattoo** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:16 am

Here lies the problem..
All these wires have to fit into this tiny area.
When you attach the motor, some of the wires get
in contact(squished) with the exposed screws. (in picture)
I believe the screw threads imbed into the wire.
I may get rid of that big plug and solder directly.
To many wires for such a small space!
Hope Shopsmith reads this!
I re-attached and same problem.
When I have the wires in this position, everything is fine.
The wires are to tight in the small area.

Trying to fit a quarter into a dime slot!

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:32 am

greasetattoo wrote:Here lies the problem..
All these wires have to fit into this tiny area.
When you attach the motor, some of the wires get
in contact(squished) with the exposed screws. (in picture)
I believe the screw threads imbed into the wire.
I may get rid of that big plug and solder directly.
To many wires for such a small space!
Hope Shopsmith reads this!
I re-attached and same problem.
When I have the wires in this position, everything is fine.
The wires are to tight in the small area.

Trying to fit a quarter into a dime slot!

Is it possible to spread the wires flat, as they go under the motor, so that they are not as thick.

This does not look good to me. It would seem to be a problem just waiting to reoccur.

Some members, at Shopsmith, will read this but will Engineering react.

If I was involved, I would suggest looking into a "special printed circuit" being developed just for this application. Contrary to some beliefs, printed circuits are not limited to small current applications.

rpd · Post by **rpd** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 12:05 pm

Could you cut/grind the offending screws shorter so the threads are not exposed?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:32 pm

Screw a 'dowel' onto the screws to insulate them.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:40 pm

If the two exposed screws in the attached image are the offenders, I missing the point all together. JPG has provided a far better solution. After thought: maybe this is one good place to use silicon caulk.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:14 pm

Whoa! Take another look at the assembly instructions and also watch the CD that was sent with the PowerPro Kit!! If you have a problem viewing the CD, click on the big words near the top of the first view.

Those wires should be folded so the larger connection is doubled with wires. After folding, the fold needs to be tightened up with a zip tie.

Don't by pass the connector:eek: If you do, (maybe) there goes the Warranty:eek: Also if you ever have to dis-assemble the unit as I did you will want that plug-in available:)

Here is a three minute video that shows the wiring at 1:58 to 2:00 minutes into it.
http://www.shopsmith.com/shopsmithpowerpro/pp_diy.htm

I also should mention the folded wiring fits into the bottom "flat" area below the screws. In the video you can see one of the screws (that hold the control unit) The end of the control unit is held by these two screws.

greasetattoo · Post by **greasetattoo** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:01 am

OK everyone, fixed the problem...

Guess it was not the wires in that tight area!

Figured it out!
Crimped wire!
Somehow the wire got stuck in the quill feed gears.
Not really a good way to run the wires.
But, that is how Shopsmith has them in their installation manual.
Page C-16 Figure 32.

I am going to run them a different way rather then around the Quill assembly.
Whew.....

Maybe mine wires were to loose?
Not really a good way to run the wires.
Seeing the quill gets tighten and loosened.
Oh well, just glad I found the problem...
One would think that in time, the wires would wear from touching the quill tightener. The rubbing.

Thanks for all the help!

If you do the upgrade, make sure and run your wires so nothing touches them!