Lift Motor Wiring

[Injected65]

I recently bought a used Forward 7000# 2-post lift at an auction. The lift is now mounted in place and I need to get it up and running. I've left several messages with a couple of different electricians here in town and apparently my money is no good. I've decided to see if I can get some guidance here to do the job myself. I'm confident in my 110V wiring abilities and most 220V items (wired my welder and compressor wit no problems) but this lift has some wiring I haven't seen before.

I have a spare 20A breaker in the panel. I'll run the wiring over to a disconnect next to the lift. The pump motor did not come with a momentary switch but I have one here on hand. The motor has 4 wires coming out of it. T1 and T8 are twisted together. T4 and T5 are twisted together. I'm assuming that the momentary switch will be placed in one of the pairs of wires and then the other side of the switch and the other pair will go to the two legs coming from the breaker. I'm looking for some confirmation that I am on the right path (or if I am out in left field).

Thanks in advance,

Chris


Motor Data Tag - http://www.candbmotorsports.com/chris/P1000197.JPG

Wiring - http://www.candbmotorsports.com/chris/P1000198.JPG

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I assume you have 220/240V in your shop. You will need a double pole breaker used for 220/240v (you did not say what kind of breaker the one you have is). With the draw at 17 amps at 230v I would expect that the 20 amp breaker will not be enough, very likely to trip on startup, especially under loads. I would use a 30 amp and run #10 wire, two hots, and a ground. The screw next to the hole on the motor where the wires emerge is the ground screw.

Is your momentary switch capable of interrupting two circuits at one time? For several reasons, it would be unsafe to interrupt just one of the hots, even though it would stop the motor, you need to interrupt both hots.

Charles

 

[Injected65]

I assume you have 220/240V in your shop. You will need a double pole breaker used for 220/240v (you did not say what kind of breaker the one you have is). With the draw at 17 amps at 230v I would expect that the 20 amp breaker will not be enough, very likely to trip on startup, especially under loads. I would use a 30 amp and run #10 wire, two hots, and a ground. The screw next to the hole on the motor where the wires emerge is the ground screw.

Is your momentary switch capable of interrupting two circuits at one time? For several reasons, it would be unsafe to interrupt just one of the hots, even though it would stop the motor, you need to interrupt both hots.

Charles

Thanks for the help. I'm headed out after work to buy supplies so I will make sure to grab a 30A breaker. The switch is one area where I am confused. From searching some online lift parts catalogs, it looks like the switch posted below is the most commonly used.

The problem I see is that type of switch would only work on one of the circuits. Is there another type of switch out there that I am just not seeing?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The switch you are showing is a common contact in the middle and one of the side terminals is normally open while the other is normally closed, indeed for one single circuit. You need to interrupt or make both hots together. How is this lift reversed? Is there a mechanical valve for the up and down and then you run the motor?

If you need to reverse the wiring (for up and down) a drum switch which can be configured to momentary is probably a good choice. (most drum switches are capable of momentary or maintained contact by simple changes to the mechanism)

Charles

 

[Injected65]

The lift motor is only powered in one direction. There is a manual hydraulic pressure relief valve that lets the lift lower down.

 

[Torque1st]

What you need is a small contactor and a momentary switch to control it.

 

[JBurgess]

Perhaps this will help, switches used by eagle lifts:

http://www.eagleequip.com/manuals/FaxSheets/Switches.pdf

 

[MrMack]

You need to contact the Forward folks at:
Forward Lift
996 Industrial Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Phone: 800.423.1722
Fax: 812.273.7329
www.forwardlift.com

I would believe that for a 2HP 208 220 volt motor you will need a Magnetic Switch, Single-Phase, 220V Only, like this one:

Grizzly G4573 Magnetic Switch, Single-Phase, 220V Only, 3 HP
by Grizzly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price: $69.95

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Its not at all difficult to find a 2 hp or 3 hp rated drum switch (which converts from maintained to momentary contact in about 30 secs worth of work) and this would be easier and cheaper than trying to use a magnetic switch/relay and a control switch for it. KISS. More than enough contacts to do the job and could be wired so that pushing either way runs the motor.

http://ecatalog.squared.com/pubs/Mo...ches/Reversing Drum Switches/65013-019-89.pdf

Charles

 

[Injected65]

Update:

I installed the new breaker, ran the 10ga wire and bolted a disconnect box to the lift post. I wired the lift up directly and used to the disconnect to power the lift up to make sure it works. Works like a charm. I found a Fordward lift dealer and they are shipping me the Forward brand replacement switch. I should have it tomorrow and hopefully have a car up on the lift by tomorrow evening.

Chris