Need on / off switch for a 3-phase motor

[Mark Gibney]

I need an on / off switch for a 3-phase motor I'm putting on a bandsaw.

The only thing I've found after a lot of online looking is this paddle switch on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MACHINE-amp-MOTOR-SAFETY-STOP-PADDLE-SWITCH-TRIPLE-3-PHASE-SINGLE-PHASE-/302176557629?hash=item465b205a3d%3Ag%3Ad7oAAOxydlF SplDd&nma=true&si=e9dZMqDA6T94bbTg57A8nXoPBVY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Is this an appropriate switch? - the machine is not hardwired, and I am a one-man shop so I don't need any additional safety features.

thanks!
353212353213

[Paul F Franklin]

That should do the job. Most often though, 3 phase is switched using a contactor; then you have a wide variety of control switches to choose from. I guess that might be overkill for a plug in bandsaw.

[Dan Friedrichs]

The switch needs to be sized to the motor. How big is the motor?

Compare the listed ratings on the side of the switch (shown in one of the pictures) to the motor's rated HP and rated amperage for whatever your supply voltage is. If it meets the specs, it will work.

Just to confirm: you have 3-phase available from the utility company, and you're switching that to a bandsaw? If so, you're fine. Just don't try to put a switch between a VFD and a 3-phase motor.

That said, I'm not a big fan of those little paddle switches. I just don't see how there's enough room in there to get decent separation of the contacts like you get in a "real" magnetic starter (although, ostensibly, that is what this paddle switch is). Especially in a bandsaw (which has lots of inertia), I'd be much more comfortable with something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LVUWIG/ref=dp_cerb_1

That combines a magnetic contactor with an overload protection relay to prevent you from damaging the motor.

[Mark Gibney]

Dan, here is the motor nameplate

353249

Will the contactor you linked to work for my motor?

[Dan Friedrichs]

It would work, but to get the advantage of the overcurrent protection, you want one that has overcurrent protection adjustable over a range that includes the nameplate current of the motor. So if you're planning to run at 230v, you'd want one adjustable to near 7.6A, like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Horn-18833-220-240-Volt-8-12-Amp/dp/B002LVUWI6/ref=pd_sbs_60_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B002LVUWI6&pd_rd_r=DP6E2MQNERBAGTEMB1GA&pd_rd_w=XTI2L&pd_rd_wg=HUBcS&psc=1&refRID=DP6E2MQNERBAGTEMB1GA

They have a little adjustment pot under the cover that you turn to set the max current you want.

[Mark Gibney]

Thanks Paul, thanks Dan. I ordered that Big Horn starter.