I hate electricity.
It scares me, and I have almost zapped myself into oblivion on three seperate dumb occasions. So I try to stay away from it….
I bought the wife an electric chipper shredder (by mantis) for our anniversary, and she loves it. It is a discontinued model, and no longer has manufacturer support. The unit itself is super simple and not OSHA approved. There is a massive 15A motor that has a large black capacitor? on the outside of it and a pretty massive switch. The chipper works by spinning a round head with a planer blade really fast. It then demolishes anything that is fed into it. The unit would work very well for about 20 minutes, then it would get hot and turn off.
Once heated it would stay on for 10 minutes
then 5
then serious cool down.
It has a dedicated 12 guage 25 foot long extension cord, and always run off of a GCFI 20 amp circuit from the garage.
Now it wont turn over.
opened the switch box and everything looks ok, and now I am not sure what to do next.
Replies
"Now it wont turn over. "
You hear any humming or other sound?
If you don't hear anything then most likely that it is not getting power. Bad switch or cord.
Another possibility is that the overload protector is fried. Specially since it kept stopping earlier and earlier.
Or that could be cause by buildup of dust in the motor.
If it hums then it might be the capactor, or the switching switch is full of dirt.
Motors, motors, motors....
The first thing to do is to empty out the shredder. Then disconnect the motor from whatever it drives.
Does the motor shaft spin freely, and smoothly, in your hand? Does the chipper rotate smoothly as well?
Now, remove the motor. Spin the shaft. Does it fell "right?" Or, is it bound up, does it maybe have a bad bearing?
Now, for the electrical. Check for continuity between the "hot" and the neutral. Push the 'reset', and do it again.
Can you access the reset? If so, check for continuity through it.
Remove the capacitor. With your meter set on "ohms," touch the leads to the capacitor terminals. The reading should be steadily changing- up or down doesn't matter. Now reverse the leads. The reading ought to move steadily in the opposite direction.
Now, back to the motor leads. Check every one of them for continuity with the case. Every wire also ought to show continuity with either the "hot" wire or the neutral. None of them should show continuity with the ground.
The next step it to have someone test the leads with a "megger." If everything checks out, put it all together, and try to run it on the workbench.
Problems? The it's time for a new motor. You might attempt to take the motor apart, to look at the windings. You might be able to actually see where they fried.
If the maker doesn't make, or service, the machine, there is likely a reason. It might be because of the OSHA issues you mentioned. Or, it may be a flawed design that never worked right.
I've got the same or similar machine, and every great once in a while have a similar problem, so my first thought would be Bill's overload advice.
If you don't want to mess with it, I'd think any decent electrical repair place (motors, alternators, etc.) could figure it out pretty quickly.
The behavior you describe is overheating. It may have just been due to overloading, or due to a defective motor.
I'd suggest you just remove the motor and take it to a local motor shop.
Not mentioned yet is checking to see if the chipper blades are dull - chips coume out more as chewed up threads than clean chips. This would overload a motor severly.
Not for anyone afraid of electricity, and will trip your GFCI; but, if it is an induction motor (vs one with brushes), I often just spray a motor down with water to cool it down.
Even while running sometimes <G>. One of those 'do not try this at home' pieces of 'wisdom'.
Bust a myth for me if you can. My buddy says that a DC ( cordeless ) tool can actually benefit from being run in submersion ( under water).
I think he is full of it, but I have used a DW 12v drill under a house boat, an even witha bag over it, it got plenty wet on the dive under and in use.
What say you?
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
Well it will keep the motor cooler.And it might wash out dust from the brushes out.BUT, way too much possibility of the water getting into bearings, connection, etc and causing corrosion and killing a while later.
I wrapped a 12 v DW drill with a hole saw and dived under the house boat, came up under the floats and drilled a hole for the new septic feed to the drum that holds the poop till they come and pump it out. The drill got soaked, but I still have it and use it around the house. This is fresh water, not ocean.
But the therory behind Dale's comment about actually being "good" for the drill, caused suspecision in my mind.
Hey while I got cha, what tdo you know about a 5lb bag a water and a neck sling, to relive a herniated disc at C-4, I am sitting here slung up like a cow to be prodded with my neck in full tension and a laptop and remote for the TV and a landline phone if it gets worse...and a grreat sunny day outside. And Advil, no prescription drugs..I do have ice pack and heat pads, but the hour on hour off of traction is getting old fast..talk to me.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
Sorry don't know anyhting about traction.But if this doesn't help you can volunteer to test the noose for Sadam. That should "fix you" one way or another.
We'll have tav this pretty soon if I ask a question.
Creul and...,, punishment
Death by hanging...in a "democracy" we instilled in Iraq.
Hmmm? Maybe Bush is a Dr. of Chriopractic?
Let's do the TAV, cuz I wanna know.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
I had a talk with a physical therapist that specializes in neck trama and she told me that the type you have are worthless and the ones that pull on you neck while you are laying down are better. These also go through a motion of pulling and releasing so that fluid circulation continues(I believe I said that right).
I had physical thrapy with her before and after my double cervical fusion of C5/6 and C6/7
Have you seen a orthopedist/neuro doctor and/or had MRI's done?
I got C/4-c/6 subluxated and herniated, Grant has the inlflatable doo dad, to loan me..( he sid they cost 400).
Just today, I missed him when I was up there, so I gathered the water sling for free on loan ( unless I keep it).
I can't even have a beer, cuz the NSAIDS and Aspirin, and Vitimin I is already making my urine look suspect of liver damage ( I drank heavily for many years, and have taken many of these before I was aware, that they attack the stomach lining and liver)
My wife is gone for 5 days, I get rest and quiet, but I gotta work tomorrow somehow..we have a boom lift on the clock, and I have a coworker that does not want to be there with out me.
At this rate, i'll be 2'' taller in the morning..I hear it crack loose.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
If you are talking as much NSAIDs as I think you are, you shoould be taking something to help with the stomache part. I take Acifex but I have had results with Previcid. I would try Prilocex OTC if you don't have good prescription coverage.
These will really help in keeping you from tearing up your stomach.
Also try to find a chiropratic that is Cox certified.
Here's the ones for Kentucky
Mark Keele DCLouisville KY502-367-7114John Rotondi DCLouisville, Ky502-459-9321Ralph Stengel DCLouisville Ky502-637-7754Ronald Wuest DCMurray Ky502-759-1945Christopher Gast DCParis Ky606-987-0743
Oh man, thanks. I can't eat anymore Aleve, advil or the Ibu I have from my ankle or just plain asprin, i think I am peeing blood, and I have no of them goodies that I did have, that I liked so much. For good reason.
I can't scan the xrays for some reason with my HP multi machine, they just scan as an ink sucker and, but iDID make sure I got the copy from the doc..well, he aint a doc, he is a chiro.
Any way I hijacked enuff, and I thank you again for the effort to link to the docs, I have two working on me, Dr. Book ( who now moved to Chaleston SC, and Dr. Campbell here in the Richmond area who took over his practice).
What is odd is that I can;t apply this to anything I can point at as an occurance, it just started getting bad last week or so.
Thru the winshield at 16. then hundreds of Carrier stops, in the 3 G range or more, and then being a general of life times foibles with chainsaws and trucks and hookers and tossing balls for dogs.
Seriously, the xrays were read, and I always hear, " what was it? A train wreck or a plane crash?'
I fear it is time for some Titanium. And I can't afford it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
The steriod injection isnt as bad as it seems, and it wont shrink your unit,,,, it will reduce swelling in the immediate area.
If you can figure some way to post the xrays, I would love to see them!
PS the manufacturer is pretty certain I cooked the capacitor. The wifey ran a 15A motor so much during sept that the electric bill jumped up $40!
Jeff
Dude.
Back pain sucks. I have had l4 l5 surgery twice. I have arthritic bone growth in my spine. The surgery made the ouchie go away, but it could also make your wallet VERY light. Have you considered steriod injections? I know a lot of folks who have had luck with getting steriod shots... Also Ice is really good. Hurts like mad, but, it reduces inflamation.
I always prefered heat, but it makes it worse.
Jeff
No Fiin way am I getting cut, I just lost a real old time buudy on the table, NO FUUUUing WAY.
Ihave a herniated disc, my coworker felt it and sent me towards the purchase of this water bag, cuz it was a prescribed by the chiro type deal, I was kinda not headeed that way.
Sorry if I sound cranky, I am.
No Drugs. That sucks. An I have a job with Gmans ticker running on a boom lift that runs 1400 a mo. At least.
I need to be back real soon, but I can't find the fix, right now.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Shooting rubber bands at the Moon
Imerse a DC motor in water and you will short it out across the brushes. Water conducts electricity, probably with far less resistance than what is present across the poles of the motor armature.
Reasonably clean water has fairly high resistance. Likely a 12-24 volt motor would function, though not well. If nothing else the water would create a lot of friction as the armature turns in it, burning a lot of the power of the motor. Plus it's sure to promote corrosion, and will eventually get into the batteries and muck them up.
People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck
I think I just peed myself reading about your spray the motor idea down.
The blade is super sharp, I think it could be the wiring, now I just gotta figure out which wire!
Crud in the motor and in the thermal overload.
Take it to a motor repair shop and have them do it. 50 bucks later it will work like new. Maybe less. there are dozens in every town. Maybe a couple in Jersey.