3 Phase Electrics

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:50 pm

I've just bought myself a Meddings Drilltru Pillar Drill, to replace the awful Clarke one I bought when I first started out with my Sherman.

http://www.dbkeighley.co.uk/masters/med ... riltru.htm

The electrics have been completely sabotaged, so I need to rewire it and get an inverter, so that I can run it from the 240V single phase supply.

Has anyone been involved in these inverters and their use in a home workshop ?

Adrian.

leesellars · Post by **leesellars** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:09 pm

Hello Adrian

What do mean by sabotarged? Photos please. It might be better to get a 1 phase motor ie 240 VAC

Lee

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:30 pm

> What do mean by sabotarged?

The incoming mains lead had been cut off at the drill casing. When I removed the switch, it turned out to be standard three core mains cable, not the proper 3 phase cable. The cable from the switch to the motor seems OK, if a little old, but the glands are all broken as well.

I've found quite a few places which sell inverters for this 1/3HP motor.
Currently looking at the Vacon 10. Looks to be simple, fairly cheap and easy to wall mount.

Adrian.

Richie Wignall · Post by **Richie Wignall** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:26 pm

Hi Adrian

It may be cheaper to buy a new motor , if your going for an 3phase inverter, get one that will run more than one machine , just in case you find a very cheap bargain.

p.s the cable is normally cut to stop people using it if unsafe or just for badness

Richie

Dennis Jones · Post by **Dennis Jones** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:14 am

Hi Adrian,

I agree with Richie about fitting a new motor because you may go to the expense of buying an inverter and then find the motor is faulty and I am sure that a new motor would price wise be on a par with an inverter. We fitted a new motor to a mate of mine mill he bought as that was 3 pahse. That's my three penneth anyway.

Dennis.

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:31 am

Flying in the face of all the advice

I've ordered an invertor. The motor rotates freely and the windings seem to check out OK, so I'm hoping the advice I've found about 3 phase drills being smoother and more powerful than similar rated single phase ones turns out to be correct.

This is the beast, next to my cr*p Clarke drill.

I can honestly say to anyone starting this hobby that these little Clarke/Sealey/Draper drills really aren't worth the money. This one has around 3mm of slop when fully extended and there is no way to compensate or adjust it

The column on the Meddings drill is 4" solid steel bar, which must be worth more in scrap than the Â£65 I paid for the whole drill

Adrian.

Adrian Harris · Post by **Adrian Harris** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 9:19 am

Having had to chase the VFD supplier, and being told that my order was coincidentally due to be delivered the next day

, I've finally got the drill wired up and running yesterday.

Apart from the belt, which is damaged and needs replacing, the drill seems to run as sweet as a very sweet thing, and is amazingly quiet, even when on full speed and in the highest gear. Just a slight whine from the motor due to the voltage chopped 3 phase power.

So, just a Â£4 V-belt and Â£5 Jacobs chuck key to get and I'm back in business

Adrian.