New lathe blowing fuses

[Mickie]

My mother Inlaw brought me a Charnwood lathe for Christmas ex display. I finally got to set it up in my shed yesterday and try it out, made 1 pen then set it up to do another turned it on then pop all the electric went off, put the trip back on tried again and nothing, put a new fuse in the plug did it again. Today I managed to speak to man at the shop he wasn't very helpful just told me to put a bigger fuse in it. I'm no electrician but surely if something has a 5 amp fuse you don't put a 13 amp in.
Happy new year
Mickie

 

[Lons]

Hi Mickie
5 amp seems too low a rating for a lathe. Look at the size of the motor and whether it's induction or not. If you don't have a manual there should be one on line which will tell you what fuse to use.

However, the fact that it popped your main electrics is worrying and suggests a short circuit of some kind so personally I'd have that checked out first. If she bought the lathe from a shop then ex demo or not, your entitlement to make them sort it is absolute and it would be my first point of call.

 

[Grump]

You would need a 13 amp fuse in that mate a 5 amp will just keep blowing under the load you will put on it.
Having said that if it was working with a 5 amp then it should continue to work with it.
Checking for faults before upping the rating might be advisable.

It may just be over zealous demo rules that downrated it for those purposes.
Also how long is the run to your shed from the distribution box etc lots of factors to take into account that were not necessarily the conditions it was previously used in.
If you are not happy with the help you received from the supplier, tell them, and tell them they will be getting it back if you continue to be unhappy.
The purchaser has a contract with them and that contract gives them the right to expect goods to work and to do so without you tampering with it.
The seller has a duty to ensure that contract is fulfilled ex display or not.
If you do go this route then do not change fuses or otherwise interfere with the machine outside normal operating instructions, it may void your rights as a consumer.

 

[EStreet]

What else is on that circuit?

 

[Mickie]

Thank for the replys, brought the lathe into the house put another 5 amp fuse in it as that was already in it also states that on the fitted plug and it did it again also blew the glass fuse on the control panel. Think it's gonna go bk, asked my mother for the receipt and she never got one so hopefully it's not gonna be a problem.

 

[EStreet]

5 amp fuse is barely big enough for lights. You should be using 30a circuits. What size wire is in the run?

 

[Mickie]

I got a electrician to wire up my shed never had problems before, when I use my myford lathe never have problems, I have lights on,radio,saws and other things running, but it's doing the same in the house.

 

[EStreet]

Fuses, breaker boxes, etc are rated based on the wire size. Thicker wire can handle higher amps.

 

[Bill Mooney]

Go back to the shop with it & get it checked.

 

[bluntchisel]

Like Bill says!!! Don't start effing about with stuff you don't understand unless you want the house burning down!

Bob.

 

[Mickie]

Like Bill says!!! Don't start effing about with stuff you don't understand unless you want the house burning down!

Bob.

I work at a well known fire college and I now what can happen when you mess with electrics, something that I don't do

 

[EStreet]

Let's be realistic here.

 

[Vic Perrin]

I work at a well known fire college and I now what can happen when you mess with electrics, something that I don't do

I presume you mean The College of Knowledge in Moreton in Marsh. Spent some great times their during my days in the Fire Service

 

[bigbob]

If it is tripping the breaker on a ring main which are probably rated at 30 amps then something is definitely wrong it is pulling too much current somewhere or tripping the RCD circuit. It maybe that some wires are loose internally on the Lathe I would take it back and ask for a replacement.

 

[Mickie]

I presume you mean The College of Knowledge in Moreton in Marsh. Spent some great times their during my days in the Fire Service

still a great place but not the same now it's not owned by government

 

[Penpal]

Back to the seller mention something about where the sun dont shine and have them run it for you in front of you and expect an apology after all you followed their instructions so far.

Peter.

 

[chas_41_uk]

As already said .... send it back to the supplier let them look at it

 

[Lons]

You should be using 30a circuits.

Sorry to disagree Ed, might be that in the states but not in the UK.

It's a small lathe and the norm here (compliant with building regs) is a standard ring or radial circuit of 2.5mm twin and earth cable with 13 amp sockets. If a long run or if wanting to future proof then heavier cable could be used but connection to machines would still be via 13 amp sockets and fuses.

ALL my machines run from those switched sockets via plugs with 13 amp fuses (US plugs don't even have fuses), except for my 3 hp table saw which is connected via a dedicated 16 amp supply. UK installations are at face value, more stringent than yours and my personal opinion of some of the places I visited in the US bears that out for me.

If you look up UK electrical regs you'll understand our installations and regulations better.

 

[Penpal]

We use 2.5mm for power with a higher rating never seen a fused plug mind you 2.5 has had different ratings from time to time up to 20 amp.

Peter.

 

[Lons]

never seen a fused plug mind you Peter.

I think you said you've been to the UK Peter in which case you have seen them maybe just not noticed. These are typical, especially the white one though many are now supplied as shown with the facility to change fuse without removing the plug top, especially the moulded type pre fitted to appliances.

They are outdated tbh as modern circuits are protected by RCDs and MCBs which trip much quicker than a fuse and reset easier, however, "belt and braces" system is no bad thing in my book and a damn site safer than much of what I've seen in various parts of the world.