Chris Schafale on thu 8 jun 00
I had the peculiar experience today of getting a shock from my
Brent wheel. As I was cleaning up after a throwing session, I
noticed that when I touched the metal wheelhead, I received a
slight shock, about the intensity of a typical static discharge, but a
continuous "buzz" rather than a single "pop". Exploring further, I
found that if I turned the wheel off, I no longer got a shock from the
wheelhead, but still got a shock when I touched the metal frame
near the switch. The metal legs were not affected. I'm assuming
that I only noticed this problem at the end of my session because I
was throwing on large masonite bats and was not touching the
wheelhead much, though it's still puzzling. I have never noticed
this phenomenon before, and I'm wondering what could have
caused it to start. We did have a close lightning strike last
weekend (and I hadn't used the wheel since then until today), but
no other appliances seem to have been affected.
Anyone have a clue what's going on or how I would go about fixing
it or getting it fixed? I've unplugged it, and that's about all I know
how to do with any certainty. I'll try to call Brent tomorrow, but I
have a lot more confidence in you guys!
Thanks in advance.
Chris
who taught my very first pottery class last night and managed, I
think, not to mess up too badly. Thank goodness, I only have six
students, so it's not the logistical nightmare I was dreading.
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh)
candle@intrex.net
http://www.lightonecandle.com
Fredrick Paget on fri 9 jun 00
Chris,
It appears to me that you have no ground connection to your wheel. The
ground is very important to protect you from shocks of greater or lesser
magnitude. It would seem that there has been a breakdown of the insulation
somewhere in the wheel possibly caused by the lightning, that is allowing
some current to flow to the metal. In the absence of a ground it will shock
you. If you had a ground it might blow a fuse if the leakage was great
enough. In the case of a small leakage the current would flow to ground and
theoretically the worst it would do is fry some insulation or parts until
it increased to the fuse blowing level.
The leakage could be something fallen into the controller shorting to the
case or it could be a "carbon track" that is caused by a spark of lightning
electricity across an insulating surface heating it enough to carbonize it.
Such a defect usually has a high resistance at first and can conduct a low
level of current. As it cooks from current passing through it can get
worse. To find it requires some detective work with test instruments and
possibly good eyesight. Also sometimes you can smell it. Once found it can
be removed by scraping and varnishing over the cleaned area with insulating
varnish (Radio Shack ). If the defect is in a cable or component a
repacement should be installed. If you are not electrically inclined this
is a job for a repair facility.
Fred Paget
>I had the peculiar experience today of getting a shock from my
>Brent wheel. ......snip...... We did have a close lightning strike last
>weekend (and I hadn't used the wheel since then until today), but
>no other appliances seem to have been affected.
>Chris
>From Fred Paget, Marin County, California, USA
Bill Aycock on fri 9 jun 00
Chris- you are lucky no worse than a tingle has hit you- This is an
indication of an electrical fault , of some kind. You may have only felt a
tingle because you were otherwise fairly well insulated. Had you been on a
wet floor, with a path to an electrical ground, me might be reading about
you, rather than from you.
THere is one simple feature ALL people who work with electrical tools, and
especially those who also tend to work with wet things, should incorporate
into their wiring. This simple device is the GFI- (Ground FAult
INterupter), that is installed in place of the common outlet in any place
where outlets exist, and you work with tools. THe GFI will detect a path to
ground that should not exist (through YOU, perhaps) and shut the power off
to that outlet in microseconds.
Electrical codes all demand the use of these in any place where water is
present ( baths, etc) and on all outside outlets. Unfortunately, many of us
live in older dwellings, or work in older shop space, and the GFIs were not
in the code wqhen these places were built. They are so helpful that the
current electrical codes require them on all newly made hair dryers- buit
into the plugs. No more drying your hair the hard way- standing on end.
Simple request from one who feels you should stick around- Get GFIs
installed wherever you use electrical tools and work in wet stuff.
Bill- who has 'em ALL OVER the persimmon hill workspaces. ( inside,
outside, all around the town)
At 06:19 PM 6/8/00 -0400, you wrote:
>I had the peculiar experience today of getting a shock from my
>Brent wheel. As I was cleaning up after a throwing session, I
>noticed that when I touched the metal wheelhead, I received a
>slight shock, about the intensity of a typical static discharge, but a
>continuous "buzz" rather than a single "pop". Exploring further, I
>found that if I turned the wheel off, I no longer got a shock from the
>wheelhead, but still got a shock when I touched the metal frame
>near the switch. The metal legs were not affected. I'm assuming
>that I only noticed this problem at the end of my session because I
>was throwing on large masonite bats and was not touching the
>wheelhead much, though it's still puzzling. I have never noticed
>this phenomenon before, and I'm wondering what could have
>caused it to start. We did have a close lightning strike last
>weekend (and I hadn't used the wheel since then until today), but
>no other appliances seem to have been affected.
>
>Anyone have a clue what's going on or how I would go about fixing
>it or getting it fixed? I've unplugged it, and that's about all I know
>how to do with any certainty. I'll try to call Brent tomorrow, but I
>have a lot more confidence in you guys!
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>
>who taught my very first pottery class last night and managed, I
>think, not to mess up too badly. Thank goodness, I only have six
>students, so it's not the logistical nightmare I was dreading.
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
>(south of Raleigh)
>candle@intrex.net
>http://www.lightonecandle.com
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
-
Bill Aycock --- Persimmon Hill
Woodville, Alabama, US 35776
(in the N.E. corner of the State)
W4BSG -- Grid EM64vr
baycock@HiWAAY.net
w4bsg@arrl.net
jjcat on sat 10 jun 00
Chris,
Plain and simple your power cord or plug has a bad ground wire....
jjcat
kilnray@warwick.net
At 06:19 PM 6/8/00 -0400, you wrote:
>I had the peculiar experience today of getting a shock from my
>Brent wheel. As I was cleaning up after a throwing session, I
>noticed that when I touched the metal wheelhead, I received a
>slight shock, about the intensity of a typical static discharge, but a
>continuous "buzz" rather than a single "pop". Exploring further, I
>found that if I turned the wheel off, I no longer got a shock from the
>wheelhead, but still got a shock when I touched the metal frame
>near the switch. The metal legs were not affected. I'm assuming
>that I only noticed this problem at the end of my session because I
>was throwing on large masonite bats and was not touching the
>wheelhead much, though it's still puzzling. I have never noticed
>this phenomenon before, and I'm wondering what could have
>caused it to start. We did have a close lightning strike last
>weekend (and I hadn't used the wheel since then until today), but
>no other appliances seem to have been affected.
>
>Anyone have a clue what's going on or how I would go about fixing
>it or getting it fixed? I've unplugged it, and that's about all I know
>how to do with any certainty. I'll try to call Brent tomorrow, but I
>have a lot more confidence in you guys!
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Chris
>
>who taught my very first pottery class last night and managed, I
>think, not to mess up too badly. Thank goodness, I only have six
>students, so it's not the logistical nightmare I was dreading.
>Light One Candle Pottery
>Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
>(south of Raleigh)
>candle@intrex.net
>http://www.lightonecandle.com
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
Earl Brunner on sun 11 jun 00
Not that simple, there could be something in the controller
that is touching where it shouldn't, or even on the end
where the wiring connects to the motor.
jjcat wrote:
>
> Chris,
>
> Plain and simple your power cord or plug has a bad ground wire....
>
> jjcat
> kilnray@warwick.net
>
> At 06:19 PM 6/8/00 -0400, you wrote:
> >I had the peculiar experience today of getting a shock from my
> >Brent wheel. As I was cleaning up after a throwing session, I
> >noticed that when I touched the metal wheelhead, I received a
> >slight shock, about the intensity of a typical static discharge, but a
> >continuous "buzz" rather than a single "pop". Exploring further, I
> >found that if I turned the wheel off, I no longer got a shock from the
> >wheelhead, but still got a shock when I touched the metal frame
> >near the switch. The metal legs were not affected. I'm assuming
> >that I only noticed this problem at the end of my session because I
> >was throwing on large masonite bats and was not touching the
> >wheelhead much, though it's still puzzling. I have never noticed
> >this phenomenon before, and I'm wondering what could have
> >caused it to start. We did have a close lightning strike last
> >weekend (and I hadn't used the wheel since then until today), but
> >no other appliances seem to have been affected.
> >
> >Anyone have a clue what's going on or how I would go about fixing
> >it or getting it fixed? I've unplugged it, and that's about all I know
> >how to do with any certainty. I'll try to call Brent tomorrow, but I
> >have a lot more confidence in you guys!
> >
> >Thanks in advance.
> >
> >Chris
> >
> >who taught my very first pottery class last night and managed, I
> >think, not to mess up too badly. Thank goodness, I only have six
> >students, so it's not the logistical nightmare I was dreading.
> >Light One Candle Pottery
> >Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
> >(south of Raleigh)
> >candle@intrex.net
> >http://www.lightonecandle.com
> >
> >___________________________________________________________________________
> ___
> >Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> >You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> >settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> >Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
jjcat on mon 12 jun 00
Earl,
There could be many possiblities...almost endless. Although the part
that recieves most of the abuse and wear and tear is the power cord.
Ground is ground. Components that leak current to a metal surface
should be dissipated through the ground conductor. If the current leakage
is high enough it should trip the circuit breaker. Current seeks the
path of least resistance......
jjcat
kilnray@warwick.net
At 09:50 AM 6/11/00 -0700, you wrote:
>Not that simple, there could be something in the controller
>that is touching where it shouldn't, or even on the end
>where the wiring connects to the motor.
>
>jjcat wrote:
>>
>> Chris,
>>
>> Plain and simple your power cord or plug has a bad ground wire....
>>
>> jjcat
>> kilnray@warwick.net
>>
>> At 06:19 PM 6/8/00 -0400, you wrote:
>> >I had the peculiar experience today of getting a shock from my
>> >Brent wheel. As I was cleaning up after a throwing session, I
>> >noticed that when I touched the metal wheelhead, I received a
>> >slight shock, about the intensity of a typical static discharge, but a
>> >continuous "buzz" rather than a single "pop". Exploring further, I
>> >found that if I turned the wheel off, I no longer got a shock from the
>> >wheelhead, but still got a shock when I touched the metal frame
>> >near the switch. The metal legs were not affected. I'm assuming
>> >that I only noticed this problem at the end of my session because I
>> >was throwing on large masonite bats and was not touching the
>> >wheelhead much, though it's still puzzling. I have never noticed
>> >this phenomenon before, and I'm wondering what could have
>> >caused it to start. We did have a close lightning strike last
>> >weekend (and I hadn't used the wheel since then until today), but
>> >no other appliances seem to have been affected.
>> >
>> >Anyone have a clue what's going on or how I would go about fixing
>> >it or getting it fixed? I've unplugged it, and that's about all I know
>> >how to do with any certainty. I'll try to call Brent tomorrow, but I
>> >have a lot more confidence in you guys!
>> >
>> >Thanks in advance.
>> >
>> >Chris
>> >
>> >who taught my very first pottery class last night and managed, I
>> >think, not to mess up too badly. Thank goodness, I only have six
>> >students, so it's not the logistical nightmare I was dreading.
>> >Light One Candle Pottery
>> >Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
>> >(south of Raleigh)
>> >candle@intrex.net
>> >http://www.lightonecandle.com
>> >
>>
>___________________________________________________________________________
>> ___
>> >Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>> >
>> >You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>> >settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>> >
>> >Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>> melpots@pclink.com.
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
______________________________________________________________________________
>> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>>
>> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>>
>> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>--
>Earl Brunner
>http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
>mailto:bruec@anv.net
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
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