Shopsmith Has New Power

[John Morris]

Since I purchased my Shopsmith last Summer, it seemed to lack a bit of power for what seemed to me to be regular ripping tasks of hard wood. It seemed to bog down a tad, and I just figured that issue would be fixed when I decide to get a dedicated outlet for it, as Shopsmith highly recommends. Over the last few months I'd turn the SS on and the garage lights would dim briefly, so I figured man I really need that dedicated outlet.

Two weeks ago, our Washer and Dryer stopped working, and our stove/oven stopped as well. Long story short, the stove/oven circuit board got fried, and the Washer and Dryer fortunately has some pretty good protection for wonky power surges etc, so they just needed to be reset.

 

But before the repairman fixed our range, we had an electrician come out and see what the heck is going on. It took him all of 3 minutes to track the issue down to a loose neutral at the box outside. The neutral wire even had some crusted burn marks on it, through conversation with us and his years of experience, he came to the conclusion that the last guy (another electrician who wired my garage for 220v machinery over 10 yrs ago) must of left the job incomplete. The rest of the job was fine, but he did not get it all tightened back up.

 

Our current electrician replaced the neutral, and inspected all the wires in the box, went through them, made sure they were all tight, and closed it all back up, did his testing at our home outlets that seemed affected, and meanwhile I asked him for an estimate to run a dedicated outlet for my Shopsmith. He told me, "sir, run your Shopsmith for a few days, I bet after the work I just did, you'll see a good improvement in your machine, and your lights won't dim anymore when you start it up, and if you don't see an improvement call me back, I'd be glad to wire you up". He also explained to me that "dedicated" only means that you aren't running anything else on the outlet, I told him the only thing I run on that outlet is the garage door opener, and he stated, as long as the garage door isn't opening at the same time I'm running the Smith, then I got a dedicated line already. Ok, I'll buy that.

 

He walked out the door 90 bucks later, and I gotta say, it was the best 90 bucks I ever spent!

The next day I fired up my Shopsmith and put some oak through it, and it ripped so clean and quick, and I put a few more pieces through my Smith that typically would bog it down, and she worked like a champ! Sliced through my material like butter. Just like on the Shopsmith videos. And my lights did not even flicker.

 

I am very happy, and I have a family electrician I'll call when I need one again. And spread the word.

[Gerald]

Now we can all go out and tighten all our circuits . Great story and I would never have guess it could cause that much damage.

[John Morris]

2 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Great story and I would never have guess it could cause that much damage.

Yes sir, fried the range, and almost got our washer and dryer, like the electrician said, you're getting power, but it's the wrong kind of power. Dimming lights, a dead give away if I only knew better.

[Artie]

It’s hard not to feel like a superhero for us electricians, sometimes. LOLOLOLOL Loose connections, bad grounds, worst two things in electrical circuits. Actually John, it sounds like it wasn’t too loose, when it’s really loose the terminal in their meter burns up so bad it can’t be saved, and the meter must be replaced. All your electrical devices should work much better now.

[Cal]

All that and only $90...

Even in this area I would expect the house call to be nearly that much.  Did you move out of California without telling us?

In all seriousness, it probably was one of the best $90 you will have ever spent.  Glad you got things fixed, and found a reasonable and reputable guy in the process.

[kmealy]

A couple of months ago, as I was about 2 hours into my trip to NOLA, my wife called and said there were electrical problems.  Some things were working and some not.  I think I told her to check some things but putting a volt-meter on the circuits was more than she was able to handle with phone directions.  I had her unplug major appliances. It turned out there was an area-wide low voltage an the power company suggested turning off the mains.   It was about 5 hours until they got it fixed and luckily, nothing got fried.

[Ron Dudelston]

A few years ago, a good friend of mine lost the neutral at the meter base.  That was an ugly, expensive experience.

[Gene Howe]

Good to hear, John. Money well spent. 

[HandyDan]

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

A couple of months ago, as I was about 2 hours into my trip to NOLA, my wife called and said there were electrical problems.  Some things were working and some not.  I think I told her to check some things but putting a volt-meter on the circuits was more than she was able to handle with phone directions.  I had her unplug major appliances. It turned out there was an area-wide low voltage an the power company suggested turning off the mains.   It was about 5 hours until they got it fixed and luckily, nothing got fried.

 

Had the same problem here some years ago.  Notices the lights were dim.  Shut down all the major appliances and went and checked the neighbors.  Theirs read the same.  Electric company sent a guy out to my house because I was the only one who called.  He checked the neighbors too and said yes there is a problem.  Turned out to be a problem at a sub station. 

Edited May 22, 2019 by HandyDan

[Artie]

2 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

A few years ago, a good friend of mine lost the neutral at the meter base.  That was an ugly, expensive experience.

Yup, that sends 220 volts to everything.

[FlGatorwood]

Guess I should call a qualified electrician to tighten everything.  I'm not smart enough to check on stuff like this.  Might create a light display.

[HandyDan]

31 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

Might create a light display.

 

That would surely brighten up your life.

[Ron Dudelston]

55 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

Guess I should call a qualified electrician to tighten everything.  I'm not smart enough to check on stuff like this.  Might create a light display.

Could we change your handle to “sparky”?

[Artie]

 

2 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Could we change your handle to “sparky”?

Might even be sparkly.

[John Morris]

I'm with you Gator, I don't get near it. 

[kmealy]

6 hours ago, HandyDan said:

 

Had the same problem here some years ago.  Notices the lights were dim.  Shut down all the major appliances and went and checked the neighbors.  Theirs read the same.  Electric company sent a guy out to my house because I was the only one who called.  He checked the neighbors too and said yes there is a problem.  Turned out to be a problem at a sub station. 

Come to think of it, I have a little plug in voltmeter that I keep in the RV.   It tells me what voltage I have to the campground hookup as they are known to be faulty, that I'm still plugged in, and serves as a nightlight.

 

Very similar to this one 

[Gene Howe]

Well, there ya go. Looks like we all need one of those handy gadgets. Thanks, Keith.

Edited May 22, 2019 by Gene Howe

[Ron Dudelston]

My dad was an electrical contractor so I’ve been around it since I was a kid.  I’m not afraid of electricity but I have a deep abiding respect for it.

[Gene Howe]

37 minutes ago, Ron Dudelston said:

My dad was an electrical contractor so I’ve been around it since I was a kid.  I’m not afraid of electricity but I have a deep abiding respect for it.

Those who don't are fools. 

[Gunny]

7 hours ago, Artie said:

Might even be sparkly.

One summer working with my Grandfather he put me with the electrician, guy named Sam.  He showed  me how to wire outlets, switches and such.  Cut me loose and let me do the work while he watched.  Late one day he told me to cut the breaker number 2.  I did as told.  Small problem, he was mistaken and should have told me a different breaker.  So he cuts the wire and sparks fly.  Looks at me and realized his mistake.  BUT you cannot look bad to a 14 yr old kid so you cover yourself right.  He tells me it was afterjuice.  Further explaining just like plumbing has water in the lines electricity does the same thing.  Like I knew better?  

 

Few months later back home my Dad is working on an outlet and makes same mistake.  Being knowledgeable I SHARED such knowledge and told him not to worry that was just afterjuice.  He looks at me like I am crazy and wants to know who told me that.  The ELECTRICIAN I worked with this summer I proudly informed him.  

 

Later that night he calls my Grandfather and shares this with him.  They both had a good laugh.  Been a family joke since!