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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Petone, NZ
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,808

    Default MEM - Auto-Memota

    It's too quiet here. Time I posted something.

    We're in lockdown here. Stricter lockdown than you guys, I believe. So time to try and progress a few machine restores.

    Firstly, I want to do the wiring on my Wadkin LP Recessing and Boring Machine. I have an MEM Auto-Memota DOL starter, or two...

    MEM11.jpg

    MEM12.jpg

    ...or five .

    So just how many do I need? Well, I want two. One for the Wadkin LP, and one for my Wadkin RB 9" buzzer.

    I like these old starters on my old machines, which date to 1925 and 1926 respectively (although these starters actually date to the 1930s or 40s).

    The LP will initially have a 3hp (3-phase) motor that draws 6.1amps per phase, and The RB has a 1.5hp motor that draws 2.9amps per phase.

    The RB came with an Auto-Memota DOL starter, but when I checked the rating it was only rated at 1 - 2 amps. Going by the graphs in my MEM catalogues that starter should trip at ~90 seconds. It also had a broken push button station. I really wanted a 2 - 4 amp rated starter (with a good push button station).

    These don't show up very often, so I bought a few on spec. hoping I'd get what I wanted. I bought a cheap home made saw bench, because it had one of these starters and was 2 hp, 3-phase. Surely that would be 2 - 4 amps, not 4 - 8 amps. No, it's 3 - 5amps - neatly skipping the 2.9amps I'm looking for.

    I bought two from UK, but both were 250v (I need 400v). One was only 1 - 2 amps, the other 5 - 9 amps (which is what I need for the LP). The 5 - 9 amp one turns out to have been used on a single phase machine - and one of the contact blades (necessary for 3 phase) was missing .

    Then recently there was one, slightly overpriced (but I'm getting desperate) listed on Trademe. As I'm getting a bit overloaded with unsuitable starters I asked the seller for details. Silence. I won the auction, but wouldn't pay until he forwarded details. He sent this photo from inside the lid.

    MEM13.jpg

    380-440v, 5 - 9 amps just perfect for the LP.

    When it arrived it turns out some previous owner had used it for single phase, and it had two contact blades missing and a 250v coil . Totally unsuitable . The seller has agreed to take it back - but I can't send it during lockdown (essential parcels only).

    So now I'm reduced to cannibalising various starters to get a 400v coil (380-440v), 3 contact blades, and 5-9amps heaters all into the same contactor .

    And I still don't have a suitably rated one for the RB buzzer.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Katoomba NSW
    Posts
    4,770

    Default

    Have you thought about replacing the internals with a modern contactor and TOL. You could still use the old buttons to maintain the period aspect. With a modern TOL you could put in one that covers pretty much any FLA rating you want.
    Those were the droids I was looking for.
    https://autoblastgates.com.au

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Petone, NZ
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,808

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by NCArcher View Post
    Have you thought about replacing the internals with a modern contactor and TOL...
    I haven't really considered it. It's not just the vintage looks - these contactors are really well made and robust. The Series 3 Auto-Memota starters have lovely big silvered contacts that can be serviced (or even replaced if you can find replacements). So I'd prefer to stick with the existing internals, if I can.

    And anyway - I've got all the parts to assemble at least one of the two starters I need - and I couldn't buy a modern contactor during lockdown if I wanted to.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

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