The Wife Wouldn't Let Me Buy One...........

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Feel free mods to move to the Student section as I might be asking numpty questions here:

So, I'm lashing together this electric wacker plate. Using a scrapped (I've now repaired) 3-phase motor, this is the plate:

17434422905_a97ba84154_z.jpg

Now, in my day job I only now ever deal with 3-phase motors off a 400V supply, mainly star, some double star wired and the odd delta. Everything is on an inverter too. Years back did a lot on 230V single phase capacitor start / run stuff but not any more.

I'm connecting the above motor up in delta as per the circuit below. Basically hold in the Start button until it's up to speed then let go, back feed thru the cap keeps the coil closed:

18419680412_c2385a57f9_o.jpg

Current through the Start and what will be permanently in circuit Stop button is my concern. All the NO/NC contact blocks I have are rated 3A. I assume I'll only be pulling 3.2A at full load (as there's only one phase)? But start up (and stall currents) will be higher. Thinking to maybe double up and put the contact blocks in parallel or run through another contactor?

Just roughing it out for fit:

18235977288_be27c49e95_k.jpg

18236053880_1b22346601_k.jpg

Cheers

 
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Welding...

You want full on then.. Use a 3.2 6013 rod with the rod connected to the positive. When you strike up, make a little weld pool and fuse both edges before you set off. Once going keep the rod jammed in the very corner, actually very lightly touching the plate. You will then most likely need a second run next to it [making the horizontal leg longer than the vertical] and then a third run in the "new" corner if you like, only this time a slightly, and i mean slightly longer arc length.

You want it to look like this...

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x373/resistance87/GC136.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x373/resistance87/GC137.jpg

john..

That was 3 runs, a 3.2 rod and about 112 - 115 amps on DC neg...

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welding...

You want full on then.. Use a 3.2 6013 rod with the rod connected to the positive. When you strike up, make a little weld pool and fuse both edges before you set off. Once going keep the rod jammed in the very corner, actually very lightly touching the plate. You will then most likely need a second run next to it [making the horizontal leg longer than the vertical] and then a third run in the "new" corner if you like, only this time a slightly, and i mean slightly longer arc length.

You want it to look like this...

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x373/resistance87/GC136.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x373/resistance87/GC137.jpg

john..

That was 3 runs, a 3.2 rod and about 112 - 115 amps on DC neg...
Lovely bit of welding there John! Not just my opinion, I have a fair bit of TIG done for me commercially on ali and st/st and know a good weld when I see one! Keen to have a bash myself though. Just sent the cheapo buzz box back and got a full refund. Looking at this one:

http://www.weldequip.com/parweld-xti160.htm

What do you reckon?

 
Hmm, now welders.....

Right, when it comes to easy starting and arc stability, DC is what you want, BUT arc blow can be terrible, drive you mad... you can do TIG though with a suitable set, i will write more on this if you want.

An old fashioned thing like an oxford takes a LOT of beating...

Not sure about Parweld stuff, never used it, supposed to be ok though.

Try these people, i have never used one of their welders, but had some stuff from them and that was ok!! http://www.technicalarc.co.uk/

The welding in the first two photos was done with one of these...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Murex-Stick-Welder-/161723945029?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25a77f9045

Offer them £100 as it has been on there a while, three phase mind.... I gave £69 for mine... Does scratch start TIG, but as you can add a pedal, you can start at 5 amps which trust me, is as good as ANY lift arc set. I got a remote and a pedal for mine, so i can tell you all the pot values and stuff!!

john..

 
OMG a variable speed wacker plate. What next?

P.S our building control inspector's name is Waquar. I wonder what his nickname is at work?

 
Canoeboy said:
On/Off - Ill have a look on Monday - May have a throw away(free) 1Ph to 230V 3Ph inverter if thats of interest to you ?
 That's incredibly generous of you I must say! Hang fire if you would though. Working with VSDs I'm wondering how good one would be at handling the as yet unknown level of vibration! Let me get it running as is and I'll see how things look.

OMG a variable speed wacker plate. What next?

P.S our building control inspector's name is Waquar. I wonder what his nickname is at work?
Aren't the petrol ones variable speed anyway, as in throttle control? Reverse I should be able to sort on the leccy one no problem. On the petrol ones I've seen them with an "idle" mode where you flick a lever and it just hump's on the spot!

 
It's only the really big ones that have reverse.

Yes the petrol ones have a throttle. It's a case of finding the right speed for maximum vibration.

By the time you have bought the new welder etc, you could have just bought a second hand petrol wacker. But you would have deprived us of much amusement.

 
My philosophy on building tools / plant is buy them, use them, then (possibly) sell them.  Certainly worth it when building a whole house anyway and for a project like mine much cheaper that hiring.

 
but by the end of it he would only have a wacker. this way he has a welder that'll work & wacker that might work!
Changed that for you!  :lol:

"Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome" - Arthur Ashe

 
Erm..........call me a cop out but an electric wacker plate has come up cheap so I'm getting that and putting the home made one on the back burner until I get a decent welder. 

 
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