Hello, I managed to make a good craigslist score. I was browsing the free section and saw someone posted a drill press they were getting rid of. The issue was it was posted around midnight and I wouldn't be able to get to the drill press until around 2pm the next day. I couldn’t contact the person who made the add so I decided to drive the hour their and hope someone had not taken it yet. When I arrived it was still there. It’s a Rockwell 11-280 radial drill press. I have been looking to buy a drill press for a while and this one is in really nice shape and has all the pieces so I’m pretty excited to get it for free. Anyway I have to wire up a new cord from the motor because the old cord had some of the insulation on the wires starting to crack. I bought some sjoow wire. I decided to use a dpdt switch to make the motor reversible while I am in their wiring in the new plug. Anyway I am confused on how to wire in the dpdt switch. The motor can be reversed by switching the black and blue wires in the motor. There is a red board in the motor with three posts that the wires attach to. I’m not really sure how to connect the black and blue wires to the dpdt switch while having them go to the proper post on the red board. Here are some pics. One of the pics is how the wires were attached when I got the drill press.
I need help wiring a dpdt switch to make drill press reversable
- Thread starter Joe green
- Start date
txvwnut
Well-known member
Dagny
Well-known member
If you only want one switch you need a three pole. or you could use the dpdt to reverse the start winding leads. put jumper wires from corner to corner like an x then the black and blue to the center terminals then use the cord end to turn it on and off.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I don't think a DPDT is going to be able to do what you want. You're going to need a drum switch.
jtbinvalrico
Well-known member
I did that in this thread using a 3PDT switch:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134711
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134711
nehog
Well-known member
Sure it will. Simply wiring as the other reply shows.
However: OP there are risks if the switch is thrown while the motor is energized--some motors will react badly. Safety says power off motor, allow it to coast to a complete stop, then reverse and power back up. (Don't ask how I learned this little problem...)
A DPDT will work, but you will need another switch to turn it on and off. Use the DPDT to reverse the start leads and another switch to interupt the line.
A drum switch would be a nicer option if you plan on reversing this motor often. Drum switches can be expensive though especially when you can do almost the same thing with a toggle switch.
Most single phase motors will do nothing if you try to reverse them when running, they will simply stay running in the same direction. However if it uses an run capacitor it might cause damage. Either way you should let it come to a stop before reversing.
A drum switch would be a nicer option if you plan on reversing this motor often. Drum switches can be expensive though especially when you can do almost the same thing with a toggle switch.
Most single phase motors will do nothing if you try to reverse them when running, they will simply stay running in the same direction. However if it uses an run capacitor it might cause damage. Either way you should let it come to a stop before reversing.
Movover
Well-known member
No it looks like you only need to switch the black and blue wires to reverse direction
I agree, simple wiring
YES power on in one direction, power off drill wait for it to stop, flip CCW/CW switch and power on otherwise it will be a huge mess
Get a DPDT, center off switch to solve that problem. Did just that on my wood turning lathe, which also has a two speed motor. As stated, if it is resistance start, the motor needs to stop so the switch controlling the start winding can close, otherwise it ignores your command and keeps going on in the same direction.
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Take your blue and black leads off the motor and connect them to an outer set of switch terminals. Wire in an "X" over to the other outer set of terminals (this will reverse the power to your start winding). Then wire the center switch terminals to the motor posts that were originally connected to your blue and black leads. Be sure you stop the motor completely before changing directions, yours looks like a capacitor start motor.
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American Locomotive
Well-known member
Yes, but you need two switches to do it. You can get a drum switch for like $10 on e-bay.
Good luck. I think they fetch more like $50
nehog
Well-known member
No! Center off won't be useful as the primary power to the run windings are fed around the DPDT switch.
vettex2
Banned
Serious question. Why do you need a drill press to reverse?
Movover
Well-known member
Left handed drills, Taps,
vettex2
Banned
people use a drill press for taps?
I guess it would be ok for LH drill bits , having said that, I have never even thought about using them on my DP , ever.
That would be a mighty rare circumstance
I guess it would be ok for LH drill bits , having said that, I have never even thought about using them on my DP , ever.
That would be a mighty rare circumstance
nehog
Well-known member
I was all ready to say "It won't work" then realized this was a simple, effective solution, that will work.
Thanks guys. I think I got it. I now need to mount a small enclosure to my motor to mount the toggle switch. I have a separate switch for the on and off of the motor. I am in the process of making a new power cord from the motor to the on off switch to the outlet and i thought i should make the motor easily reversible while im at it. It seems like a pain to have to switch the leads by hand every time you want to reverse the motor. Here is a pic of the crappy wire insulation on the old power cord. Also some pics of the inside of the motor. It looks pretty clean. I dont think this machine has been used all that much over the years.
