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newbiemachinist · Sep 22, 2008, 12:42 PM

I recently purchased a new german made lathe with a 1 and 1/2 h.p. single phase DC motor rated at 1400 watts at 2800 rpm, the plate on the motor says 60 hertz. 6 amp nominal consumption 230 volts.
I also purchased a 110volt to 220 volt step-up transformer rated at 2300 watts.
The lathe has a "schuco" type two prong plug.
I was very careful to make sure the input voltage was set at 110volts on the transformer. The transformer has a grounded three prong plug for 110 volt service. It has a grounded Schuco receptacle on the 220 side.
My home has 110 volt 20 amp breakers.
When the transformer is on one meter indicates 110volt input, the other meter indicates 220volt output. I have connected the plug and tried to switch on, nothing.

The lathe worked fine when I picked it up from the dealer. He used a similar step-up transformer off household 110 for the demonstration.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

rtw_travel · Sep 22, 2008, 01:25 PM

I think you need to sort out AC & DC.

You say DC, but the motor's nameplate says "60Hz" which means AC. Does your transformer output 220V DC or 220V AC?

KISS · Sep 22, 2008, 02:16 PM

rtw_travel:

I'm curious. Where was DC mentioned? I wasn't aware that transformers worked on DC. Enlighten me.

rtw_travel · Sep 22, 2008, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by newbiemachinist

I recently purchased a new german made lathe with a 1 and 1/2 h.p. single phase DC motor rated at 1400 watts at 2800 rpm

First sentence. Title too. Easy to miss :)

Transformers wouldn't work in DC... it would need to be AC with a rectifier too. However I assume if newbie machinist thought for some reason he had a DC motor then he may get the wrong power supply. Yes, a DC motor would be unusual

KISS · Sep 22, 2008, 04:41 PM

I can't come up with any good ideas.

Washington1 · Sep 22, 2008, 04:54 PM

I wasn't aware that transformers worked on DC. Enlighten me.

They don't :D

Good catch Keep!

newbiemachinist · Sep 22, 2008, 07:26 PM

My apologies to all. I was confusing this with a much smaller hobby lathe with a DC motor that I have.
This larger lathe has a 230volt single phase 50-60 hz motor, 1400 watt 1 and 1/2 h.p.

Missouri Bound · Sep 22, 2008, 07:36 PM

So... what you are saying is that you have it figured out?

newbiemachinist · Sep 22, 2008, 07:54 PM

To answer Harold's question the only 220 I have is the three prong clothes dryer outlet in the laundry room. This has a 30 amp breaker.
I was thinking of maybe making up an extension cord some 14 feet long of 10/2 awg wire to hook up from the dryer outlet to the garage and the lathe. I still don't know why the step-up transformer won't work. Any advice is welcomed.

Missouri Bound · Sep 22, 2008, 07:59 PM

Surely, somewhere on the lathe (or the motor) there is a plate which specifies what the requirements are for that equipment. When you determine exactly what you need, call an electrician to provide it for you. From the confusing statements you have made I think you may want to call a professional to figure it out for you. And please know, no offense intended.

rtw_travel · Sep 22, 2008, 08:10 PM

Do you have a voltmeter or tester? It would be good to check your power supply outlet to see what you have before going too much further.

hkstroud · Sep 22, 2008, 08:18 PM

You can't do that extension cord thing. You would be running on 30 amps and your lathe wouldn't be protected. You could probably run a line for the lathe cheaper than the transformer but you would have to change the lathe cord. Where is you circuit breaker panel?

You said,
"When the transformer is on one meter indicates 110volt input, the other meter indicates 220volt output"

You also said the lathe requires 230V

How about tell us exactly what is on the normenclature plate of the motor. Many motors can run 120 and 240V.

Of course you would always take the transformer back to the dealer and say "Make it work".

newbiemachinist · Sep 22, 2008, 08:23 PM

I'm in agreement with Missouri Bound. I'll be looking for a professional electrician at this point. Thanks to all.

KISS · Sep 22, 2008, 08:27 PM

6 amps at 2? Is going to be about 12 amps at 1? Something.

The Lathe should hum or something. Check any fuses. Check for start stop stations.

Do a quick test. Connect two 120 V lamps in series and connect to the output of the transformer.

rtw_travel · Sep 23, 2008, 09:04 AM

I'm with KISS. Do a bit more troubleshooting before paying for help. Either you are not getting 230V at the plug end of the transformer(despite what the gauge reads), or you are and the lathe does not work.

If it is the transformer, you can perhaps get a new one. If you want to wire in something permanently, you should be able to get by with 14/3 wire and two 15A breakers tied together at the panel. The motor should run unless there is a some kind of voltage cut-out protection in the lathe (ask your supplier before you go this route). The receptacle the electrician should leave you with will look like this.

Stratmando · Sep 24, 2008, 04:42 AM

Compare the Specs of the dealers transformer and yours.
If your house is done with conduit, I would pull new wiring, and breaker, and forget the Transformer. Good Luck

newbiemachinist · Sep 24, 2008, 07:43 PM

Thanks for the advice but I'm still trying to check everything out with my meter. It shows 219 volts at the output plug of the step up transformer so that seems OK. I'm suspecting it might be the pushbutton master switch. The green button never gets energized, always stays in off position. Still checking.