PowerPRo

Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too.

Moderator: admin

User avatar
SDSSmith
Platinum Member
Posts: 1940
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:35 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Post by SDSSmith »

easterngray wrote:UPDATE ON MY PP REVIEW:
Several weeks back I got my PowerPro and promised to give an update to my review re: bandsaw performance. Well, unfortunately I was experiencing a similiar knocking that Chuck had reported. Today I got my PP back and would like to report on how it functions, but unfortunately now it is tripping my GFI whenever I try to start it, so I can not. I did not have this problem previously. Needless to say, this is really frustrating. Alec
Alec, Chuck, et al, I want to sincerely thank you guys for your efforts, feedback and patience. It is folks like you that will make the PowerPro better.

BTW for you computer guys, what do you call the test period after the Beta test? I think that is what Alec and Chuck and others are participating in. Thanks again!
Rob in San Diego
Email: SDSSmith51 AT gmail.com
User avatar
JPG
Platinum Member
Posts: 35457
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:42 pm
Location: Lexington, Ky (TAMECAT territory)

Post by JPG »

SDSSmith wrote:Alec, Chuck, et al, I want to sincerely thank you guys for your efforts, feedback and patience. It is folks like you that will make the PowerPro better.

BTW for you computer guys, what do you call the test period after the Beta test? I think that is what Alec and Chuck and others are participating in. Thanks again!
"C" test! Customer ship level!
╔═══╗
╟JPG ╢
╚═══╝

Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10
E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
User avatar
terrydowning
Platinum Member
Posts: 1678
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:26 pm
Location: Windsor, CO

Post by terrydowning »

RC for Release Candidate. The final coding including debug symbols prior to a version release or "Gold Code".

If the RC goes well only minimal fixes are done and then it is on to production with all debug symbols removed.
--
Terry
Copy and paste the URLs into your browser if you want to see the photos.

1955 Shopsmith Mark 5 S/N 296860 Workshop and Tools
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AmpX5k8IhN7ahFCo9VvTDsCpoV_g

Public Photos of Projects
http://sdrv.ms/MaXNLX
User avatar
dusty
Platinum Member
Posts: 21481
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona

Post by dusty »

easterngray wrote:UPDATE ON MY PP REVIEW:
Several weeks back I got my PowerPro and promised to give an update to my review re: bandsaw performance. Well, unfortunately I was experiencing a similiar knocking that Chuck had reported. Today I got my PP back and would like to report on how it functions, but unfortunately now it is tripping my GFI whenever I try to start it, so I can not. I did not have this problem previously. Needless to say, this is really frustrating. Alec
Do the installation/operating instructions specifically state that you must run off of a line protected by a GFI.

Often times a GFI circuit will be tripped by a ground current that is minute.

I am anxiously awaiting what Shopsmith has to say about this.

If you have a dedicated line to your Shopsmith (NOTHING ELSE CONNECTED) I would suggest that you do this:

Disconnect all three wires from the service panel.

At the point where you plug in the Shopsmith - use an AC Multimeter to measure:

Hot (Black) to Ground (Green)

Neutral (White) to Ground (Green)

Hot (Black) to Neutral (White)

All three of these should measure less than 1 VAC.

Using the multimeter to measure resistance, the Hot (Black) to Ground (Green) should ideally measure near infinity. Some circuits may measure lower but should never be less than 15,000 ohms.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
User avatar
easterngray
Platinum Member
Posts: 720
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:28 pm
Location: Cape Cod MA.

Post by easterngray »

OK - I remembered I have an outlet in my ceiling with no GFI that I plug a light into. I ran the PP from that outlet and thankfully the bandsaw problem is gone. I tried plugging it back into a GFI outlet again and it immediately tripped when I engaged the on button. I guess I'll have to change the outlets, unless anyone has any suggestions. Alec

ps - thanks Dusty - posted this before I saw your response.. I do not believe there are any instructions to use GFI - that's just how I wired the shop.
1960 Aniversary Model Mark 5 500 "Goldie" with most SPT's
User avatar
easterngray
Platinum Member
Posts: 720
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:28 pm
Location: Cape Cod MA.

Post by easterngray »

Interestingly, I found this online in the Nova Lathe manual:

IMPORTANT: A Surge Protection Device rated to at least 15 amps - for USA and Canada, other countries 10 or 15 amps - must be used to protect the DVR electronics from electrical spikes or surges, similar to those used on most Home PC's. Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI's) or Residual Current Detectors (RCD's) are helpful and are a recommended protection device for any powertool. They can be used in conjunction with a DVR lathe without any problems. (Italics mine - Alec)

And of additional interest is the similiar complaint from Nova users here:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread. ... VR-XP-Help
1960 Aniversary Model Mark 5 500 "Goldie" with most SPT's
charlese
Platinum Member
Posts: 7501
Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:46 pm
Location: Lancaster, CA

Post by charlese »

With my PP in for repair - the GFCI issue is one I know how to address. Because of capacitor(s?), the PowerPro will fail to start when used in a circuit protected with a duplex outlet GFCI. In my shop I have two of those circuits where the PowerPro won't run. However, I also have circuits with GFCI breakers (in the box). These circuits run the PowerPro very well.

When talking with Wes, He told me the GFCI issues did not come up during any of Shopsmith's or Beta testing. He told me that all circuits at Shopsmith are GFCI circuit breakers, so they never ran into the problem.

Alec - I'm very happy that you now have a unit that no longer has a bandsaw issue.
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
User avatar
JPG
Platinum Member
Posts: 35457
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:42 pm
Location: Lexington, Ky (TAMECAT territory)

Post by JPG »

easterngray wrote:Interestingly, I found this online in the Nova Lathe manual:

IMPORTANT: A Surge Protection Device rated to at least 15 amps - for USA and Canada, other countries 10 or 15 amps - must be used to protect the DVR electronics from electrical spikes or surges, similar to those used on most Home PC's. Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI's) or Residual Current Detectors (RCD's) are helpful and are a recommended protection device for any powertool. They can be used in conjunction with a DVR lathe without any problems. (Italics mine - Alec)

And of additional interest is the similiar complaint from Nova users here:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?151531-DVR-XP-Help

Left hand blind to right hand and vice versa!

Safety gurus blind to real world radio frequency interferrence (RFI)'issues'.

External to USA designers oblivious to USA Safety gurus.

So we need to be 'ambidextrious'(use non-gfci sources).:rolleyes:
╔═══╗
╟JPG ╢
╚═══╝

Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10
E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
User avatar
easterngray
Platinum Member
Posts: 720
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:28 pm
Location: Cape Cod MA.

Post by easterngray »

JPG40504 wrote:Left hand blind to right hand and vice versa!

Safety gurus blind to real world radio frequency interferrence (RFI)'issues'.

External to USA designers oblivious to USA Safety gurus.

So we need to be 'ambidextrious'(use non-gfci sources).:rolleyes:
Amen and amen! New outlets go in this week.. then maybe if my shoulder is feeling well enough I can get going on my "jig and fixture challenge" finger joint jig project !
1960 Aniversary Model Mark 5 500 "Goldie" with most SPT's
User avatar
wa2crk
Platinum Member
Posts: 3080
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:37 am
Location: Leesburg, Fl

Post by wa2crk »

Hi Guys;
Just to put my two cents worth in this discussion. I have the Power Pro in my shop and I am running it off an outlet that is a GFCI wall outlet. It was installed by the builder and is a dedicated 20 amp circuit that is intended to charge a golf cart. I have no problem with the GFCI and the Power Pro headstock. I consistently ran my old headstock on this same outlet through a 25' 12 gauge extension cord with no problems and I do the same with the PP.
I am still getting the impression that someone is trying to run a GFCI breaker in the service panel and another in the wall outlet. This is not allowed!! The two GFCI's will conflict and cause problems. Only ONE GFCI per branch circuit. By the way, my PP was a complete headstock not a do it youself upgrade. That should not matter but is there a little something different that the factory is doing that the upgrade kits do not do?
Bill V
Post Reply