Subject: Motors & voltage

From: "Rector" <[email-masked]>
Date: 30 Mar 1997 14:07:59 GMT

Hi:

I'm looking at a used planer and have been told that it has a 220V motor. 
Not sure where they came up with this voltage.....I assume they mean 240V? 
Since my shop is my garage, I don't have it wired for any 240V equipment. 
I know I can always put a 240V outlet in, but I would rather not.  I know
that my radial arm saw and my table saw can be wired for either voltage
(120 or 240V).  Should I assume that this 240V Bellsaw planer can also be
run at 120V?  How can I tell by looking at the motor?

Thanks,
Bill

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From: "Edward LeBlanc" <[email-masked]>
Date: 30 Mar 1997 16:23:06 GMT

Rector <[email-masked]> wrote in article
<01bc3d13$cc9ac7e0$08b8b4cf@default>...

> Not sure where they came up with this voltage.....I assume they mean
240V? 

The motor may be 220 V, but it is more likely to be 230 V.  230 V is a
common nameplate rating for American made motors.  These motors are made to
run an a circuit with a nominal voltage of 240 V.  The difference is to
compensate for voltage drop on the line.  The motor can be run at voltages
as high as 10% above the nameplate rating.

> run at 120V?  

No, do not assume that the planer can be wired for 120 V operation.  You do
not say how much HP the motor is rated at, but stationary (not the little
Delta, Ryobi, Makita, etc.) planers tend to be equipped with 3 HP or larger
motors that cannot be wired for 120 V operation.

>How can I tell by looking at the motor?

You can tell by looking at the motor nameplate.  The nameplate will give
all voltage ratings, e.g., 115/230V.  There should also be instructions for
reconnecting the windings for high/low voltage operation on the motor,
either on the nameplate or inside the connection box on the motor.

Even if you can rewire the motor for 120 V operation, be sure to verify
that the wiring to the motor is capable of carrying the higher current
required by the lower voltage operation.  If the motor is a dual-voltage
motor, it will also have two current ratings, e.g. FLA 30/15.  This means
that at 115 V operation the motor will draw 30 amps at full load (FLA =
full load amperes).

Hope this helps you.

Regards,

Ed