Shopsmith Forums

When I wrote to SS Tech, this was their reply

Good morning. We cannot suggest that you use an adapter as in some states it is not legal. If you wish to run it on 220 you will need to attach the plug to match the outlet. You will need to use 2-10 amp breakers.
If we can assist you further please contact us at 1-800-543-7586.
Thank you
Customer Service


I could not find any 10 amp breakers in town so when I wrote about using two 15 amp breakers they wrote back

A 15-amp breaker will be OK if the wires in the wall are sized for it. If the PowerPro motor starts to over-heat there is thermal over-load protection to safe-guard the motor and electronics.

The 10-amp breaker would be best. This is a life-time investment. Spending $50 rather than $10 seem to be a good investment when you are talking about protecting something as expensive as the machine.


Regarding using single pole breakers, my electrician said something that I frankly did not comprehend but it had to do with safety on one leg or the other??. Whether it was for the motor or the wiring I do not know. Also I have no clue about one breaker tripping and the other not and the outcome. Franky I had not considered the surge suppression, but instead I was going to try and install a ground fault but could find nothing locally for 240v (out in the garage I thought it would be a wise idea) and my electrician said why not just put an inline surge suppressor, so that was the plan.

I have two 15 amp single poles, have ordered two 10 amp single poles and am more than willing to go get a 20 amp double pole if that will make all things happy and smiling.

Once past bread board circuits and low voltage ice cube relays I am out of my comfort zone.

Just for clarification, at no time did I TALK to anyone at Tech support, but "think" I was clear in asking them what I wanted to do and in their response. I am. however, often wrong on days that end in "Y" so this may be the case.

Be well,
Ben

With the 10 amp breakers I need to tie them together (little plastic piece that fits over both switches), so if one trips it pulls the other off.

Both breakers delivered is <$40.

I asked Tech if a one 10 amp double pole 240v breaker would be okay and they said yes. Found one for $70.

The curious realization about all of this is that the PowerPro works just fine for everything that I have tried at the 15A 120V setting.

The little kid in me JUST WANTS MORE POWER!!!!

Be well,

Ben

I just got off the phone with Tech Support. They say as Ben did in his last post that 2 10amp breakers TIED together should be used. So tying them together will trip both if either one trips.

I asked about using a double pole 20amp also. They indicated that they don't recommend that as under 220v the unit draws 7.5 amps and using a higher amp breaker may draw more gererating too much heat. ( I don't understand this part).

So it looks like 2 10amp's is the way to go.

Ben question, Where did you order yours from and what kind are they? I've got a GE panel, so I can use GE, Murrary, Cuttler Hammer I beleive.

I also asked them about an in line surge supressor. They had not heard of doing that, were not familiar with using one.

Again many thanks.....

cooch366 wrote:I just got off the phone with Tech Support. They say as Ben did in his last post that 2 10amp breakers TIED together should be used. So tying them together will trip both if either one trips.

I asked about using a double pole 20amp also. They indicated that they don't recommend that as under 220v the unit draws 7.5 amps and using a higher amp breaker may draw more gererating too much heat. ( I don't understand this part).

So it looks like 2 10amp's is the way to go.

Ben question, Where did you order yours from and what kind are they? I've got a GE panel, so I can use GE, Murrary, Cuttler Hammer I beleive.

I also asked them about an in line surge supressor. They had not heard of doing that, were not familiar with using one.

Again many thanks.....

There is something wrong here. Using a 15 or 20 amp breaker where only a 10amp is required significantly reduces the level of protection provided by the breaker but doing that DOES NOT cause the circuit to draw more current.

A slightly different point of view: Using a high amperage breaker (15a where there should be a 10a) ALLOWS more current to flow in a circuit; a current that would trip the breaker if only it was the correct size.

cooch366 wrote:I just got off the phone with Tech Support. They say as Ben did in his last post that 2 10amp breakers TIED together should be used. So tying them together will trip both if either one trips.

I asked about using a double pole 20amp also. They indicated that they don't recommend that as under 220v the unit draws 7.5 amps and using a higher amp breaker may draw more gererating too much heat. ( I don't understand this part).

So it looks like 2 10amp's is the way to go.

Ben question, Where did you order yours from and what kind are they? I've got a GE panel, so I can use GE, Murrary, Cuttler Hammer I beleive.

I also asked them about an in line surge supressor. They had not heard of doing that, were not familiar with using one.

Again many thanks.....

EBay - search for Miamibreaker or breakers. They have both the 10 amp single pole 120 for $16 each shipped OR if you want to they have the 10 amp double pole 240v for $70 shipped.

There may be other sources, but when both my electrician and I started calling, none of the larger electrical supply houses (Platt, Grainger, etc.) had the breakers in stock.

Oops, forgot about he surge suppressor.

Will use the Tripp when running under 120v (same as protecting high end electronics), but I am also having a whole house surge suppressor installed at the box.

The electrician (sounds weird to keep calling him my electrician ) did the checking on his own and found that Teknatool calls for surge suppression on their lathes that use the same motor, so I figured it would be worth the cost. More peace of mind?!

Hope that helps,

Be well,

Ben

benush26 wrote:Oops, forgot about he surge suppressor.

Will use the Tripp when running under 120v (same as protecting high end electronics), but I am also having a whole house surge suppressor installed at the box.

The electrician (sounds weird to keep calling him my electrician ) did the checking on his own and found that Teknatool calls for surge suppression on their lathes that use the same motor, so I figured it would be worth the cost. More peace of mind?!

Hope that helps,

Be well,

Ben

Tain't the motor that needs surge protection, it is the power supply and control circuits.

I do not under stand the 'need' to install 10A breakers in a household breaker panel.

IIWM, I would install cartridge fuse holders/breakers in a box mounted on the SS. Plug the OEM(125v) plug into that box.

Feed the box with desired cord.

After talking to Tech Support and all of the folks here, I think I'm putting too much into this.

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Option 1. I can use a 15amp or a 20amp 120v circuit. leaving the cord as shipped. There are no issues with using a 20amp circuit even tho it only draws +- 13amps.

Option 2. I can modify the cord to 240v. Use a 240v outlet. Confused on the amp breaker. Tech says 10amp (either singles ganged together, or a double pole 10amp. I still do not understand why it is not recommended to use a double pole 15amp (14 gauge wire), or a 20amp double pole (w 12 gauge wire). I understand that it draws 7.5amps at 240v and the 10amp will trip out eariler but nor do I understand why a 15amp or 20amp 240v could be a problem or cause problems. if so what, I feel I'm missing something here.

Option 3. Cancel the order for the Mark 7 and keep the 500. NOT. I said it was an option, maybe not a viable one.

I guess I'm looking not sure what I should use. I hate to see my "invention" go down the tubes.

Any additional advise would be GREATLY appreciated.....

While I'm planning on being happy to run my powerpro without the need to go to 220 I did find it interesting that this was included in one of the Nova lathe manuals (DVR 2024).

[ATTACH]23158[/ATTACH]

So now I wonder since shopsmith doesn't have this warning can we assume that it doesn't need surge protection? It could have been built in I guess? Just wondering why that is not in our manual.

I personally keep the powerpro unplugged except for when I'm using it. All of our power and phone lines are underground so that does offer us some additional protection that others might not have....

I do have some power strips that I guess I could use as long as the current is below 15A. If I look deep enough I can most likely find some parts from way back when, when I made a few for myself. As I recall all you need is some MOV, chokes and some caps which I was able to get at radio shack but then that was a lot of years ago now....

So any way just want to add a bit to this quest.

Ed

cooch366 wrote:After talking to Tech Support and all of the folks here, I think I'm putting too much into this.

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Option 1. I can use a 15amp or a 20amp 120v circuit. leaving the cord as shipped. There are no issues with using a 20amp circuit even tho it only draws +- 13amps.

Option 2. I can modify the cord to 240v. Use a 240v outlet. Confused on the amp breaker. Tech says 10amp (either singles ganged together, or a double pole 10amp. I still do not understand why it is not recommended to use a double pole 15amp (14 gauge wire), or a 20amp double pole (w 12 gauge wire). I understand that it draws 7.5amps at 240v and the 10amp will trip out eariler but nor do I understand why a 15amp or 20amp 240v could be a problem or cause problems. if so what, I feel I'm missing something here.

Option 3. Cancel the order for the Mark 7 and keep the 500. NOT. I said it was an option, maybe not a viable one.

I guess I'm looking not sure what I should use. I hate to see my "invention" go down the tubes.

Any additional advise would be GREATLY appreciated.....

I think so as well.

Option 1 is 'ok'.

So is using yer 'invention'.

Stressing over 10A over current protection with 240v use is the 'putting too much' part.

Consider what you would do if those 10A breakers start popping. I leave the answer to yer own consternation.

My guess would be the same as if the 15A breakers were tripping.

Finally are 15A 250v panel breakers not available? Square d is.


When you get way from 'typical' breaker sizes, the $ go up.



So, IIWM, I would continue on the road you started this thread with.