Thread: Hammer N4400 Problem

Is the polarity correct? When its connected correctly, the polarity will reverse for about 20 seconds as a brake. Not sure what happens if the polarity is reversed, but it sounds like the brake could be running.
Just a guess, but the first thing to check.

Can't say for sure what the problem may be but AC does not have polarity. There is a live, a neutral and earth to 240 volt single phase. Generally swapping the live and neutral does no harm. Is it possible the machine has a 3 phase motor and you have plugged it into 240 single phase? I'm sure it must say on the motor plate if it 3 or single phase.

Thanks for the replys and sorry for my delay in acknowledgement.

I have been away working for most of the last week, I got home the other day for one day and had another look at the Hammer. it is single phase, however I plugged in my Table saw to the 15 amp outlet and it doesn't work either so the problem must be with the outlet and not the machine.
So I guess it will be a visit from the local sparky.

Thanks again for the suggestions

Just as a side note, with the single phase motor when starting the saw you should hold the start button for 5-10 seconds until the saw gets up to speed. This keeps the start winding in the motor connected to aviod overloading.
With your 15A circiut are you sure the breaker has not tripped?

Thanks for tip on starting,

I checked the 15 amp breaker on the shed sub board and also the fuse on the main board and they are all OK

I won't be home until next weekend so I will give it another go then

Cheers guys for the help

Originally Posted by RickR

Can't say for sure what the problem may be but AC does not have polarity. There is a live, a neutral and earth to 240 volt single phase. Generally swapping the live and neutral does no harm. Is it possible the machine has a 3 phase motor and you have plugged it into 240 single phase? I'm sure it must say on the motor plate if it 3 or single phase.

Originally Posted by nihilism

Just as a side note, with the single phase motor when starting the saw you should hold the start button for 5-10 seconds until the saw gets up to speed. This keeps the start winding in the motor connected to aviod overloading.
With your 15A circiut are you sure the breaker has not tripped?

These two posts would have to be the two MOST MISINFORMED and DANGEROUSLY INCORRECT information I have read on the internet for some time.

For everyones own safety, please ignore the two posts I have quoted.

This is why it is essential to use a licensed Electrician and ignore electrical advice on the internet.

Yes I am aware this is an old thread but I stumbled across it while looking for something else and just couldn't let it go by.

Jack E,

While I probably could have worded my reply better, at no time did I suggest that anyone should do their own electrical work. As for your statement that the information is misinformed or incorrect. AC does NOT have polarity.

Originally Posted by RickR

Jack E,

While I probably could have worded my reply better, at no time did I suggest that anyone should do their own electrical work. As for your statement that the information is misinformed or incorrect. AC does NOT have polarity.

Rick,
Are you a licensed electrician or in any way associated with the electrical industry?

Have you ever heard of a polarity test being conducted on an electrical installation?

This is exactly what I mean, your post is dangerous and should be ignored by everyone reading it.

Polarity is an important factor in AC wiring.

Polarity is perhaps a confusing term to use in this context. If you measure across the power terminals of an AC motor in Australia, the Polarity actually reverses 50 times per second (thus AC or Alternating Current). If you reverse the two wires AT THE MOTOR, it won't care and for standard single phase motors it won't reverse direction either.

HOWEVER at the input to the device, saw for example, the wiring matters very much. In most cases the operator controls (on/off switch, safety cutout etc.) only cut the active conductor (phase) and not the neutral conductor. So if you reverse them then with the switch off most of the circuit through the motor will be live and therefore highly dangerous.

Don't risk it unless you know what you are doing, and if you do - be careful. I am trained and was certified in a previous life.

Jack E,

Have you a dictionary? Look up alternating.

I never claimed to be in the electrical industry nor have I suggested that anyone tamper with any wiring.

You must have misread my post to and assumed I suggested that the live wire be held in one hand and neutral in the other.

Trackhappy seems to have hit it on the head without suggesting I was in someway directing people to play with AC power.

Rick

Originally Posted by RickR

Have you a dictionary? Look up alternating.

I never claimed to be in the electrical industry nor have I suggested that anyone tamper with any wiring.

You must have misread my post to and assumed I suggested that the live wire be held in one hand and neutral in the other.

Trackhappy seems to have hit it on the head without suggesting I was in someway directing people to play with AC power.

I don't need to look up alternating in a dictionary, I am an electrician which is why I know polarity is important in AC circuits.

I didn't say you actively encouraged people to perform their own electrical work, I just pointed out that your lack of knowledge on the subject was dangerous and if anyone took your advice that polarity didn't matter they may end up hurting themselves.

You don't need to say "it's easy, do it yourself", just hinting that you know what you are talking about and giving advice is enough to make some people try it.

It's even worse if that advice is wrong.

Yes, Trackhappy has hit it on the head with regards to advising you that polarity is an issue, which it is.

You have now been told by two qualified people.


Just to reiterate, my concern here is that you have provided incorrect information which someone may follow and cause a dangerous situation.

Not that you have encouraged people to perform their own electrical work.

The point of my rant was not to say you were encouraging people to do their own wiring, more importantly it was that you have given incorrect, misleading and downright dangerous advice.

Let me put it to you simply, if it didn't matter whether the line and neutral were interchanged, they would be the same colour, but they aren't.

They are different colours to aid in connecting them correctly, ie maintaining correct polarity.

Originally Posted by RickR

Can't say for sure what the problem may be but AC does not have polarity. There is a live, a neutral and earth to 240 volt single phase. Generally swapping the live and neutral does no harm.

Wrong, as Trackhappy pointed out, if this was at the main connection to the motor then it may not do any damage.
However, it won't be connected just at the motor, it will also be connected to the control gear and the no-volt switch, the active line will not be isolated, there may be a return path through earth and a fault condition could exist, it's dangerous to suggest otherwise.

Originally Posted by RickR

Is it possible the machine has a 3 phase motor and you have plugged it into 240 single phase? I'm sure it must say on the motor plate if it 3 or single phase.

Anyone with half a clue about electrical work would know this is physically impossible.
A single phase circuit has 3 wires, a 3 phase circuit has 4 or 5.
It would be impossible to plug a 3 phase machine into a single phase outlet.

Jack,

Did you put anything in context? This thread is about an issue with the motor on the Hammer N4400. I have one so I replied. The reference to the polarity was meant to show that the motor would not run backwards with the reverse polarity. Your vitriolic rant, not withstanding, I could have worded that better, as I said.

The N4400 comes with a socket with the pins to wire it with either 3 phase or single phase, depending on which motor it has. The socket stays the same.

Anyone with half a clue about electrical work would know this is physically possible.

You seem to like the sound of your fingers tapping away on the keyboard. I won't be listening anymore.

Originally Posted by Groggy

war is the question. Hopefully the answer is No!

Sounds like it needs inspection and more info - does it stop straight away? or runs at idle and only stops when you load it? - is it possible the run capacitor needs replacing for example if it turns over but won't keep going.