puffernutter
Puffernutter
- Messages
- 1,882
- Location
- Wiltshire
When I collected my floor standing pillar drill, it came with a simple on/of switch fitted and a mains plug attached, so I just used it without checking anything (as most of us would) after all it worked!!
However, after a while the drill had a habit of occasionally tripping out the garage RCD when it is turned off. It was intermittent and I always needed to use it in a job, so one of those "round-tuit" jobs that never happened. I thought it may be the inertia switch playing up, or a capacitor on the way out, but never really got to looking in depth (mainly because I didn't fancy having to take it to pieces!) Yes, lazy!
Well thanks to a generous forum member I acquired a 240v contactor over the weekend, so I thought this is opportunity to make the drill safer and I may even get time to see what's causing the trip.
So, I disconnected it from the mains and removed the switch plate. A common metal two way lighting switch, possibly not the best due to inductive current being broken, but it was what it was.
Earths were linked in the metal box. "L1" was incoming live, "Common" was outgoing/switched live, "L2" had the two neutrals commoned up in it!
I think I may have found the source of the problem.
Contactor now installed, the drill current protected and so far, no RCD trips!
Have a great week!
Puffernutter
However, after a while the drill had a habit of occasionally tripping out the garage RCD when it is turned off. It was intermittent and I always needed to use it in a job, so one of those "round-tuit" jobs that never happened. I thought it may be the inertia switch playing up, or a capacitor on the way out, but never really got to looking in depth (mainly because I didn't fancy having to take it to pieces!) Yes, lazy!
Well thanks to a generous forum member I acquired a 240v contactor over the weekend, so I thought this is opportunity to make the drill safer and I may even get time to see what's causing the trip.
So, I disconnected it from the mains and removed the switch plate. A common metal two way lighting switch, possibly not the best due to inductive current being broken, but it was what it was.
Earths were linked in the metal box. "L1" was incoming live, "Common" was outgoing/switched live, "L2" had the two neutrals commoned up in it!
I think I may have found the source of the problem.
Contactor now installed, the drill current protected and so far, no RCD trips!
Have a great week!
Puffernutter
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