Replies

1. 
   jrockwoo | Jan 10, 2010 08:34am | #1

   The owners manual for my system recommends not starting the unit more than five times per day. I like to leave mine running, except when its cold and sucks the warm air out of my shop. I try to plan my work so that all my machine time is done together so I can start it, do a bunch of work and then turn it off while I'm not using machines that are hooked up to it. For example, if building kitchen cabinets I mill all the plywood and all the stock for face frames before doing any assembly.

2. 
   Don01 | Jan 10, 2010 09:17am | #2

   Bob,

   It has a lot to do with the motor design. Fans and blowers (dust collectors) would typically be a continuous duty application - infrequent start stop cycles. Compressor duty motor are designed to deal with the extra heat generated through frequent start stop cycles. Even at that there is a limit to how often the motor can cycle. The starter windings pull the most current. current = heat. Heat kills motors over time.

   Your motor name plate should list the duty cycle. If it doesn't, assume that it is continuous and limit the cycling as much as possible.

   You have the right idea.

   Don

3. 
   Jfrostjr | Jan 10, 2010 10:00am | #3

   My Oneida DC also says to limit 'starts' to, I think, 6 per day. I certainly have exceeded that. Because its loud noise I don't want to leave it on all the time.

   When I am making laminations, switching between bandsaw and jointer with every lam, I -

   Turn off the bandsaw and

   Before the DC has finished its 'pipe-sucking, clean-out run' I turn on the jointer. The DC never powers down and thus doesn't have to restart.

   Relative to another thread - Yes, I was able to expand the 'comment box' on my Mac. Thanks for telling me about this feature.

1. 
   bob_barnett | Jan 11, 2010 12:14pm | #4

   Thanks for all the comments. I guess I have a new rule to turn it on in the morning and not turn it off unless it is going to be more than an hour before I need it again.

   bob