View Full Version : ARGH! My DC Motor Died! HELP!
Tom LaRussa
01-12-2005, 9:58 AM
The motor on my Delta 1 1/2 HP DC has decided not to start. :eek: :( :mad:
When I press the green button it begins to start up, and I hear that typical "woo-woo-woo" sound it always makes, but when it gets to what I'd estimate as 20% - 25% of full speed the built-in circuit breaker trips and it dies. I press the reset button and it resets the breaker okay, but the same thing happens as soon as I try to start it again.
Any ideas?
What should I check?
TIA
Michael Gabbay
01-12-2005, 10:02 AM
Tom - did you take the impeller cover off and check for a clog? Sometimes when I clean up after planing I get a huge clog of shavings at the impeller. It causes my Jet 1.5hp to strain. You might also want to see if there is a lot of dust in the motor (a little ironic for the DC :) ).
Mike
Scott Banbury
01-12-2005, 10:13 AM
It sounds like a dead capacitor (under the little humpback covers on the side of the motor)--take 'em out and take them to a motor shop or a aircompressor service shop and they will test them on a piece of special equipment and sell you appropriate replacements if you need them.
Tom LaRussa
01-12-2005, 10:18 AM
Tom - did you take the impeller cover off and check for a clog? Sometimes when I clean up after planing I get a huge clog of shavings at the impeller. It causes my Jet 1.5hp to strain. You might also want to see if there is a lot of dust in the motor (a little ironic for the DC :) ).
Mike
Mike,
I forgot to metion, but yes, I took the cover off and the impeller spins easily.
What would a lot of dust in the motor tell me?
Tom LaRussa
01-12-2005, 10:19 AM
It sounds like a dead capacitor (under the little humpback covers on the side of the motor)--take 'em out and take them to a motor shop or a aircompressor service shop and they will test them on a piece of special equipment and sell you appropriate replacements if you need them.
Scott,
Thanks, I was hoping it would be something relatively simple like that. :)
Scott Banbury
01-12-2005, 10:30 AM
If it's not that, then it could be that the little spring/magnet switch that shuts off the start winding has gone bad (this is just behind the impeller). This would cause the the symptoms you describe.
When I have the problem you're having, the first thing I do is spiff up the contacts on that little spring/magnet switch and then check the capacitors.
Both are inexpensive to replace if need be.
Jeremy Bracey
01-12-2005, 6:16 PM
I vote capacitor. Ive been through two of them on mine. It sounded exactly as you describe. The capacitor stores power to help it get started.
Chris Padilla
01-12-2005, 6:50 PM
Well, the capacitor stores charge...not power...but your point is made.
If you have a voltmeter or digital voltmeter, it might have a capacitor checker on it. With a digital voltmeter, you could also use the continuity checker to get a "first order" check on the cap. Put it across the cap...it should beep or indicate a short-circuit for a very small amount of time before it open-circuits. What is happening is that the voltmeter is charging up the cap and while it is charging up, it'll look like a short. Once it is charged, it'll look like an open. However, I don't know the typical sizes of caps on these motors so while my idea works on circuit board caps (microfarad range), it may not work on larger caps for motors.
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