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Help converting lathe from 110v to 220v?

Jutilaje

Dec 19, 2022
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Dec 19, 2022
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Good Afternoon, hoping someone might be able to help with this - I've got a lathe that the MFR says can be run off 110v or 220v. It comes wired from the factory for 110v, and I've been using it that way for awhile, but I've got access to 220v and would like to reduce the amp draw/etc.

The lathe is Chinese though, so of course the documentation isn't super thorough, so to avoid completely screwing something up, I'm hoping someone could give me some advise on the proper way to switch things over.

From what I can tell, the main change needs to be done on the terminal block on the motor, and then I'll just replace the line & neutral going into the lathe's electrical box with both line wires for 220v. Unfortunately, I'm having some trouble understanding the diagram on the motor data plate.

Here's what I've got -
Lathe is a Bolton BT1337G
Motor is a YL90-L4

I've attached photos of the wiring diagram from the user manual, the motor data plate, and the way the terminal block is currently wired. Please let me know if there's other missing info I can provide.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
 

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Tha fios agaibh

Aug 11, 2014
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I'm assuming you are proposing changing it to single (split) phase 220v. This can be done but it involves rewiring both motors, transformer, and changing overloads and fuses.
The current will be cut in half but the power consumption will remain the same.

In other words, don't bother if your doing it to save energy.
 

Bluejets

Oct 5, 2014
6,901
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Rather confusing as the ceramic block markings do not match the connection diagram.

I'd be inclined to think the left top and right top are for clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation on 110v and same for the bottom on 220v.

Best would be contact the supplier and get a clearer documentation on the connections.

Probably best to leave well alone.
 

Jutilaje

Dec 19, 2022
3
Joined
Dec 19, 2022
Messages
3
I'm assuming you are proposing changing it to single (split) phase 220v. This can be done but it involves rewiring both motors, transformer, and changing overloads and fuses.
The current will be cut in half but the power consumption will remain the same.

In other words, don't bother if your doing it to save energy.
Yeah the idea is to change it to single phase 220v. The manual says it's interchangeable between 110v/220v, so I'm looking to change it to 220v not to save energy, but to reduce the amperage load as I've got a few 50a 220v circuits unused in the shop, but only 15a 110v circuits, and the lathe uses up to 16a at full load. So it's to try to get full torque out of the lathe without tripping breakers.

I contacted the mfgr as well and asked them, and the guy said "I think you can just cut the end off and wire a 220v plug onto it" so I asked him to reach out to their actual tech support/engineers and let me know, so we'll see what they say!
 

Jutilaje

Dec 19, 2022
3
Joined
Dec 19, 2022
Messages
3
Rather confusing as the ceramic block markings do not match the connection diagram.

I'd be inclined to think the left top and right top are for clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation on 110v and same for the bottom on 220v.

Best would be contact the supplier and get a clearer documentation on the connections.

Probably best to leave well alone.
Yeah that's where I've gotten confused as well. I've found other machines that use the exact same motor that are wired up as shown in the attached file, but I'm working on using their wiring charts to trace back what everything goes to, to make sure.

I did reach out to the mfgr and their front line tech support folks were completely unhelpful (guy said "I think you can probably just cut the end off and put a 220v plug on it", and when I told him I didn't think that was the case, he said "have you tried hiring an electrician?" Lol). So they've apparently created a support ticket to escalate it to the actual engineering team/2nd tier tech support people, so we'll see what they say I reckon! Thanks for the effort though!
 

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roughshawd

Jul 13, 2020
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The lesson here is called "contact". Where a+b+c equals all three fastened together. Check the motor and wiring diagram for differences in the connections.

Connections on paper (ideal circuit) are just like connections in real life ( don't stick your fingers in there ) with exception to the path of least resistance, which in negated at a wiring block. ( Don't worry about TPOLS)

Follow the solid lines in the diagram, and affix the proper wires together where they are making contact on the diagram.

3 wires will require 3 terminals (hook-ups), and you will quickly running out of options. After you have 6 wires connected as the diagram shows. You will have only Two (2) wires to connect !

"Electricity can be shocking. Fun, and exciting. Never trust a weirdo who spends their week in a cubical in a highrise office building."
 

Minder

Apr 24, 2015
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Have you followed the directions on the plate for the required direction for 240v operation, seems like just a jumper change?
 

Martaine2005

May 12, 2015
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Yeah, the OP hasn’t responded for a few months but it seems like a simple enough reconfigure of wiring on the connector block.

Martin
 
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