Wiring Grizzley Planer

[Currmudgeon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is there a problem if we switch both wires on a 110v circuit? )</font>

There is no technical problem, and I don't think any Code problem, provided you switch both legs simultaneously, i.e. with a double pole switch. What you shouldn't do, because it's dangerous, is only switch the neutral, or put any kind of overcurrent protection like a fuse or a breaker on the neutral. If the neutral is open, the machine will not run, but it will still be hot. It's a good way to make your hair stand on end.

 

[Phred]

Yes dennis has it right. Won't hurt to switch both.
In principle you can switch everything but the ground and not have a problem.

Fred

 

[fractal]

Grizzley should have the manual for that planer on their web site. That manual should have the wiring diagram. At least all the machines I was looking at when I was deciding what plug to put on the wall in my garage so I could run my welder and potentially any shop tools had them.

Though, it didn't do me much good. Looked at a half dozen grizzley tools that would run 120/220 and half of them recommended a twist plug at 220 and half of them recommended a straight plug at 220. All of them were only 20-30 amp plugs. Couldn't win. So went with the straight plug 50 amp plug for my welder.

Oh, and I am not a licensed electrician or any of that (my ph.d in ee doesn't mean squat, I am a computer programmer by trade) but I don't see any issues with switching both live and neutral on a 120v circuit on a dpdt switch. Neutral only is a big NO-NO, but both live and neutral? I don't see anything wrong with that. Just make sure that protective ground is tied to chassis..

 

[mwechtal]

Thanks all!

I was sure that it was safe to switch both the hot and neutral sides, I wasn't so sure about if it was up to code requirements. I'll have to examine the motor carefully. It seems that it should be marked some way as to which wire should be hot and which should be neutral. (but I've seen motors that don't seem to have anything useful marked on them)

Thanks Again!
Mike

 

[_RaT_]

Your right Mike, switching both the hot and neutral certainly wouldn't be a safety issue as far as I can determine, I was just not sure whether code looked at it that way. As I mentioned, if it were me, I would simply do it, especially if I was setting it up for universal voltages where it would be set to 240V went 240V was available. Fro your purposes, identifying your wires that you bring to the motor are required by code to be identified. If its red or black and is being used as neutral, a simple wrap of white tape is required, not along the whole length, just near the end where it is readily identifiable as neutral. It ends the confusion for someone else as to what it is. Most electricans are well aware of this. Rat....