New lathe and power problems

[samharber]

Hi there.

I took delivery of my new mini lathe today (Axminster AWVSL) and I've set it up in my cellar. 5 minutes into trying it out, the power trips to all the sockets in the house. I reset the breaker and try again. Another few minutes and the power cuts again. This goes on for a few more times before I start getting fed up with it.

So - what's going on, and what can I do about it? My beloved might get a tad peeved at me if the TV keeps going off while she's knitting.

A major rewire isn't really an option.

On a side note, laurel (the only wood I have to hand at the moment) seems to smell of marzipan. Is this normal?

Cheers,

Sam.

 

[skeetoids]

Hi,

It sounds to me like the power consumption of your lathe is greater than the supply!

Check to see how much power it takes to run your lathe and ensure you have it plugged into an appropriate socket with enough power.

I can't offer anything further as you don't explain how your electrics are set up.

Cheers,

Lee.

 

[CHJ]

Sam, is it a modern RCB (Residual Curret breaker) that trips or a plain Circuit Breaker?

Or does your sytem have one of the older Earth Leackage Breakers?
Overhead or Older wiring perhaps.

 

[wabbitpoo]

Laurel has cyanide in it, IIRC. This smells of almonds. So does marzipan. Mystery solved.

Unless I am wrong.

 

[samharber]

It's a modern RCD, but it supplies all the wall sockets in the house.

I've got an extension with an RCD breaker built in, and a power meter, so I'm going to stick them both in and hope.

I've also been informed by the beloved that the smell of marzipan from the laurel is due to the cyanide compounds in it. Nice.

I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[samharber]

No joy.

The moment I turn the lathe on, the power trips now. I suspect that the extra load from the beloved being home is too much for it now.

 

[Dalboy]

What speed are you set at How about starting with the speed set low and increase. Not sure but worth a try

 

[paulm]

Don't know about the electrics aspect, but as others have said laurel, and particularly camphor laurel I believe, has high levels of cyanide which you can smell when working it.

I shredded a pile of branches from it last year and even in the open air had to take breaks every couple of minutes as the smell was overpowering and made me choke and eyes water. Can't imagine it's very good for you !

Cheers, Paul

 

[samharber]

Speed is set to minimum.

Here are a couple of pictures of the fusebox for those who know their electrical bottom from their elbow.

 

[CHJ]

No joy.

The moment I turn the lathe on, the power trips now. I suspect that the extra load from the beloved being home is too much for it now.

There is no way and extra 375W should trip your main RCD, It takes you Toaster and Oven (assuming it's electric) doesn't it?

What else do you have in the cellar that works correctly using the same sockets,

If you run the machine off one of the sockets in the main living area does the same thing happen?

If yes, the lathe has a fault.

If no then I would get a qualified electrician to check your cellar wiring.

 

[samharber]

Right - I've tried it plugged into the other side of the cellar, exactly the same thing happens.

Plugged it in upstairs (in the kitchen) and the only thing that tripped was the in-line RCD on the extension.

Both times there was no load on the lathe.

Make of that what you will.

 

[CHJ]

Contact your lathe supplier and let them sort it, it would appear that there is a serious fault with the machine electrics.

 

[samharber]

Right - have emailed Axminster.

Cheers.

 

[guyandzoe]

For what its worth... When my VB was delivered I was told that it might trip the leccie because the type of variable speed /computer thingy has a small earth leakage to operate correctly. This might trip the circuit. If that happened i was told, and confirmed with electrician, that one can simply swap the breaker to an alternative type which is less sensitive (but perfectly safe) and meant to deal with type of condition.

Does my memory serve me it is a 'c' (or somesuch) breaker that you need.

Does it trip the house from every socket?

 

[Turn It In]

Hi Sam,
The problem you are suffering is almost certainly high earth leakage current due to a sigle to three phase inverter that allows you to vary the speed of the motor. Some inverters are worse than others but in the data sheets the manufacturers all recomend that they are not run off an RCD protected circuit. I have no problems with the one on the Vicmark lathe but one of the engineering lathes has to have a non earth leakage protected circuit as it trips the ring main nearly every time.
There could be a problem with the lathe and you have certainly done the right thing contacting Axminster.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Ian

 

[CHJ]

The problem you are suffering is almost certainly high earth leakage current due to a sigle to three phase inverter that allows you to vary the speed of the motor.

375W(1/2hp) DC permanent magnet motor,

Don't think an electronically controlled motor drive board should be passing enough current down an earth lead to cause a current imbalance sufficient to trip the extension lead RCD unless it has a faulty condenser or two.

 

[Turn It In]

Hi Chas,
I would be inclined to agree with you except that the variable power supply will be a form of switched mode supply and like computer supplies notorious for earth leakage current.
Some electrical testing is certainly called for to resolve this problem.
Regards Ian.

 

[big soft moose]

Hi Sam,
The problem you are suffering is almost certainly high earth leakage current due to a sigle to three phase inverter that allows you to vary the speed of the motor.

afaik the AVSL doesnt have a 1 to 3 bphase converter for variable speed - IRRC it is just a 375W single phase motor, and I have the big brother with a 2hp DC motor and that doesnt trip any breakers in my gaff

 

[samharber]

I've had a reply back from Axminster, and they're going to send me a new electronics box for the lathe. They've offered to replace the whole thing, but the idea of trying to get the lathe back out of the cellar fills me with horror.

I've also got a sparky coming around at the weekend to quote for putting the cellar on its own circuit breaker, as this can't be a bad plan.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[rogerwaters]

I also have problems with an Axminster lathe causing trip problems.
Axminster delivered a new one but this has same problem.
May alter config in disrtibution box and move lathe supply to non RCD side ?

Roger Waters Oxford