Shopsmith Forums

dusty wrote: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.

Something wrong here indeed! The various answers coming out of support shouldn't BE various.
Sounds like a script from "Tool Time"/ Home Improvement. "Hay, is it takin too long to fry those pork chops? Just put in a bigger circuit breaker and give that stove more power!!

The obvious solution to this is to use the type of connectors found on computer equipment. You would need to use the C19/C20 connectors. Image and info on Wikipedia. These, just like the C13/C14 connectors you have probably seen on your computer are designed for 120 or 240 volt operation, only C19/C20 are meant for up to 16 amp connections. C19/C20 are obscure in that the sort of equipment they are used for probably aren't around your house, and even if someone got ahold of 240V cable and used it on a device with a C20 inlet, it is very likely now-a-days that such a device is auto switching for 120 or 240 volts.

So what's needed is 1 rewireable C20 connector and 2 rewireable C19 connectors. (C19 has female holes and a male body, C20 has male metal blades and a female body). The C20 connector replaces the plug on the end of Power Pro headstock and the C19 connectors go on the ends of your 120 V cable and 240 V cable.

Searching ebay for "IEC C19" and "IEC C20" will give you lots of results (mostly from Hong Kong, so expect 1 month shipping). Make sure to get the kind that attach to the end of a cable, not those meant to be soldered to a circuit board.

As far as circuit breakers, the whole point of the panel box breaker is to prevent in wall electrical wiring fires. It isn't meant to protect the appliance connected to an outlet. Its only* purpose is to protect the in wall wiring. You may choose to use a breaker with a lower capacity than the installed ampacity of the wiring, but still if the Power Pro is rated 7.5 amps @ 240 volts then a 10 amp breaker isn't providing much protection anyway. The Power Pro should have some sort of internal limitation of current. If you are concerned anyway to protect it externally, then (as was said above) an external box attached to the headstock with appropriate fuses should be used.

As far as surge protectors, it is possible that surge protection was incorporated into the power supply for the power pro. Shopsmith should state whether this is the case. If they won't, then if someone sends a powerpro headstock to Slovakia to me, I'll be happy to look at the circuit board and tell you about that and about any over current protection build in. The advantage a surge protector could get you though is insurance-- many surge protectors provide for paying out replacement costs for equipment protected by them that is damaged by an electrical surge. To me, this would be a reason to invest in such a surge protector. Of course, one would want to carefully read the fine print to make sure it would cover wood working tools and isn't limited to home stereo equipment or something.

If one doesn't want to go the eBay from Hong Kong route, here are some part numbers for Mouser.com (electronics supplier):
693-4300.0921 C19 rewireable connector
693-4300.0922 C20 rewireable connector
693-4795.0000 C19 rewireable connector with strain relief
693-4796.0000 C20 rewireable connector with strain relief

*I think there may be cases where the circuit breaker in the panel box is also for protecting equipment, like a permanently wired AirCon compressor.

freedomlives wrote: . . .

*I think there may be cases where the circuit breaker in the panel box is also for protecting equipment, like a permanently wired AirCon compressor.

That would be a 'dedicated' branch!;) Likely a 'permanently wired' one.

Thank You for all the stuff I deleted from this quote( . . . ) Tis ALL good!












You did not state whether you would return said Power Pro headstock after 'inspection' of the circuit board. Now how about 'customs'?:eek:

JPG40504 wrote:You did not state whether you would return said Power Pro headstock after 'inspection' of the circuit board. Now how about customs'?:eek:

I have an acquaintance who can help me out with customs here. But I fear that with the heightened threat of terrorism, etc. in the U.S. that USCBP would probably seize the returned headstock-- Slovakia, while part of the EU, is also part of "formerly communist, slightly sketchy places", so how could they trust that no-one reprogrammed the headstock to start fires, or sling saw blades around, etc.? Therefore, it would probably be best for me just to keep it here.

[quote="freedomlives"]I have an acquaintance who can help me out with customs here. But I fear that with the heightened threat of terrorism, etc. in the U.S. that USCBP would probably seize the returned headstock-- Slovakia, while part of the EU, is also part of "formerly communist, slightly sketchy places", so how could they trust that no-one reprogrammed the headstock to start fires, or sling saw blades around, etc.? Therefore, it would probably be best for me just to keep it here. [/quote

Got the new Mark 7 (minus casters which are backordered) but unpacked it and have it on saw horses.

I fired it up, first time was 120v, and played around with it, then tried the "pigtail" with 12ga extension cord @ 240v. Have to say it is un-nerving the first time, but worked fine. Just using it once, and it became REAL apparent that total contol and thinking needs to be done in using it. And have to remember not to use the extension cord for anything else while at 240v.

Also took advice given here and installed a whole house surge supressor, and used a "new tool gift" of 10amp circuit breakers, so I think I've done everything I can to "protect" the new baby...

So far so good.....