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My Performax 16/32 drum sander keeps popping it's breaker.

I'm taking off VERY LITTLE wood with each pass so I don't think this is the issue. In fact, I've had it pop when nothing was going through it. Right now using 100 grit - but does it equally with any grit paper.

I DO have a long extension cord to it for power. Could this be the issue? A drop in current?

By the way - what do you run your feed belt at for speed? Is faster better or worse? I tend to run mine pretty quick.

Thanks

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

My 10-20 will do that if I try to get too aggressive. I use 80 grit. A properly sized extension cord, that is not too long, should not be a problem.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

What speed to you typically run your feed belt at?

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

All the way fast.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Paul,
You have to change the sandpaper at least every 6 months.

Provided that you are using good sandpaper, not taking more than a 1/4 turn down each time, you should be OK. It might be a problem with your breaker. Does the motor bog down and/or feel hot when the breaker pops?

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

The extension cord can be the problem, especially if is not heavy duty. Most cords are #18 wire and will cause a voltage drop across the cord if you need the cord get one with larger wire like a #14 or even 12 and keep it as short as possible. These sanders draw at least 10 to 12 amps so move it close to the source and make sure nothing else is running on the same breaker. I can't run my Delta 18/32 unless it is the only load on the breaker, though I have to be taking a fairly aggressive cut to have a problem.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
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Paul, I would blow out the motor with compressed air out of curiosity. Also, is your feed belt too snug. The manual says you should be able to stop it with hand pressure (the drive drum still spins, the belt stays still). Lastly make sure the extension cord is properly sized - how long is it actually, and does it (the cord) get noticeably warm? Those are my suggestions, along with slowing the feed belt down. No need to run it full speed, think of the pressure when the wood runs into it, you've got to give the wood a chance to be abraded away or it forces the drum up, no matter how little you are removing..

Steve

I'll jump on board and blame the extension cord. If I'm understanding correctly it's the breaker on the machine?? It could be the breaker, but I suspect the cord. I suppose their could be a problem with the actual receptable or circuit, but that would probably trip the breaker in the circuit box, not on the machine.

Feed speed, pretty much for me (with a 10-20) faster is better. Slower feeds, as well as bigger cuts tend to heat the paper, and wood.

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Is the motor hot?

Yes - motor housing feels hot.

I'm barely taking a 1/8 turn each time - and am thinking it may be the long extension cord I had to run to give me two separate circuits for items in my garage.

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Ok, so the motor is hot... That will def cause the breaker to blow. Question is, why is it hot? I believe these are TEFC motors. But mine does not indicate this on the badge. Look at the end where the fan is. Blow it out with compressed air. If that does not work, take a look at the starter capacitors. Maybe they are failing? Something is making the motor run ineffeciently. I can do 1/4 to1/3 turns with no problem. Try plugging in without an extension cord. I assume you always use a DC while running it?

I never thought about it, but I have never run mine on an extension cord. The badge says 15 amps!

Very possible you have damaged your motor by running it on a long or too light extension cord. You can't do that to motors for long and get away with it. That burns motors up.

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If you have to run on an extension cord, what do you recommend?

Would these create stress on the motor:
http://www.amazon.com/Quality-Black-Extension-Power-Heavy/dp/B002TAS1EG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1279020428&sr=1-1

Thanks,

Glenn

+1 on the extension cord, But... Is this a new problem? If it's really hot where you are, and power demand in high, you may not be getting as much voltage as you think you are. Less volts= more amps, and it won't take much of a voltage drop to push those 15A it should be pulling high enough to pop the breaker. Is it on a 15A or 20A circuit??

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Rob

On the extension cord I would prefer 12AWG no longer than 20 ft. Your 20A house circuit should be wired with 12AWG. We build power cables all the time at work for equipment with both inductive and resistive loads and it shouldn't be a problem. 14AWG/25 foot is too light for my taste.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

IIRC, there is such a thing as a 16/32+ which requires a 20A circuit to run correctly. Most house wiring is on a 15A circuit. Something to look in to. Find a 20A extension cord too.

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Glen, I may have missed it........but how long does your extension cord need to be? The size wire needed in the extension cord varies depending on the length of the cord. Do you need a 10ft cord, a 25ft cord, a 50ft cord, or even longer?

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Actually, I really only need a 10 ft cord - but it seems hard to find 12 gauge cables less than 25 ft.

Glenn

Glen, if your sander is rated for 15A then 14AWG would be ok for 10'. If rated for 20A then you would need 12AWG. First, as someone else already recommended, I would test the sander without the extension cord to make sure that is not causing the problem.

Have you considered adding a circuit? You could probably even extend the existing circuit since it is such a short distance. Not hard to do for an electrician and shouldn't be too expensive.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I had trouble running my 18-36 delta and dc on the same breaker. I now have them on separate breakers and all is well. I use a 12 AWG 25 ft. extension cord on it as well.

Any cord or wire in a shop less than 12 gauge is ridiculous. Frankly IMHO it is equally ridiculous in a home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampère's_circuital_law

I run my 16 32 with it on one 15 amp and my dust collector on another 15 amp. I do have the drum sander on a 25 foot extension cord and I am running the table at a slow feed speed. I also am only taking off between 1/4 and 1/2 a turn at each pass. So far it hasn't overheated or taken out the circuit breaker.
Chuck

Did you check the fan? Blow it out with compressed air?

I had a similar problem when I got my 16-32. I ended up biting the bullet and running two new 20A circuits, one for the sander and one for the dc. It seems pretty drastic, but it solves the problem for good.

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