110v or 240v how do i tell

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

bought a 8" wolf bench grinder at a car boot it had a 13 amp plug fitted to a lead that looks as its off something else but the label on the grinder that is coming unstuck says 110v the capacitor says 240v how can I check what voltage it is. can any one help please.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

It sounds like it is 110V, it is normal to fit a capacitor rated at double the working voltage or thereabouts. Pop into a hire shop, buy a 110V plug (cheap!) and ask them to test it for you.

Phil

UK

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

Google the model number. Maybe it relates to the voltage or even that it may have only been manufactured in one of them. ……………………….. 'Possibly'

Nick

[Johnboy25Participant @johnboy25]

If the label says its 110v don't plug it in to a mains socket. Sorry if that's tell you how to suck eggs but if some one has tried to re configure it to 230V – the insulation of the motor may well have been compromised.

If you can open the casing and smell the inside – if it smell pungent then it's likely to have had the motor fried! I have years of experience in detecting burnt out motors from ten feet away just by their smell! Sad but true!

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

put a 110v plug on it and its dead, put the 240v back on and it runs like a dream but not happy until i am sure

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

Paul

What is the source of your 110v And what exactly do you mean by a 110v plug?

I would put my money on it being 110v if the label looks original. The capacitor marking may be confusing, is it rated at 240v or for use on 240v ac? If it is rated at 240v it is not suitable for use on 240v ac if it is for use on 240v ac its actual rating will be much higher.

If it is 110v and you use it on 240v expect a Big Bang or at least some blue smoke sooner or later.

regards

[Johnboy25Participant @johnboy25]

John…

Industrial 110v plug

Take look at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60309

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/industrial-power-connectors/4646177

Briefly – This is an industrial standard for construction/industrial site supply. For safety the supply is centre tapped to earth giving a voltage of 55v to ground.

I hope that helps

John

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

Some of those cheap grinders have a cheap motor fitted. The run winding is centre tapped and the start winding together with a capacitor is connected to the centre tap( Tee shape), so the capacitor need only be rated for maybe 110 volts. These motors permanent capacitor motors do not have a centrifugal switch so you won't hear a click as the motor looses speed when slowing down on switched off. As Johnboy25 has said the nose is a very good indicator when trying to decide if a motor has been cooked or not, once smelt never forgotten. I hope yours is OK. john

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

John (boy 25)

I am familiar with 110v supplies and connectors but I was interested to know what Paul was using so we can help him. From what he has said it sounds unlikely he has access to an industrial standard 110v supply so I asked the question to identify if his power source was suitable.

Paul

if you can post some photographs and more details I'm sure someone will come up with a definitive answer for you.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

been trying to upload a picture without any luck

motor is not burnt out yet, plugged it in to transformer this morning and it trips fuse box, it was owned by an electrician who is now dead. i think this is one for the scrap bin.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

yes have 110v + 240v single and 3 phase and 440v

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

is this a forum that you have to make a certain amount of posts before you can upload pictures

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Paul, no, you can upload pictures from the start, take a look at this **LINK**

Regards Nick.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

I will try and explain things there is a white lead coming out of the grinder with a plug joiner like you would get on a lawn mower, this was plugged into what looked like an orange lawn mower lead with a 13 amp plug on the end. the man at the car boot sale said he had tested it and it run ok. I got it home and plugged it in and it sounds and runs very nice, then i looked at the label that said 110v and switched it off. the owner that is now dead was an electrician by trade and an engineer as a hobby so lots of Moore and Wright tools for sale so anything may have happened to this nice grinder.

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

Have you taken the case off and looked at the motor … does it have a label or model number?

Dave

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Paul, looks like model 8726 which was made in 105-130V 200-240V A.C. single phase and 380/440V three phase.

This scan is from a 1974 catalogue.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 16/04/2015 12:00:57

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Paul.
I have a grinder (240 volt version.) that looks the same as the one in your picture. If you can measure the current it takes when running on 240 volts I will measure the current mine takes. If they are about the same then yours will be 240 volts.

Les.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

panic over it is 110v 15amps on start up and had too much stuff running, but at least i have found a nice helpful forum

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Just get a cheap 110/240V transformer, assuming the grinder is worth it, it will still be a good buy.

[paul 1950Participant @paul1950]

got 110v transformers and it would be worth keeping but it's to modern for me so it will have to go i only keep vintage tools.

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