Re: Bridgeport 440 volts to 220 volts.

I have a BOSS 6 and the heaters are in the rear enclosure. I'm
looking at a picture of a BOSS 3 and I see the box you're refering
to. My BOSS 6 does not have this box. I have a maintanence manual for
a BOSS 3 and the schematics in it look the same as my BOSS 6 in this
area, however, I'm sure you're right about the heater location since
you're looking at the real machine.

Why don't you just try and run it and see if the heaters cut out? If
they do, just open the box and short the heaters for now.

~petev

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "cncgramps" <cncgramps@y...>
wrote:

> petev,
>
> It is a BOSS4 and my manual says the heaters are in the switch box
> that is up front. The one that changes motor direction for High and
> Low and has the E-Stop button.
> I have looked and you can not see the heaters in this box.
> The manual warns you of this and says it might be easier to change
> the whole switch.
> Being on the cheap side I really do not want to spend money on a
> switch when I have one that is working already.
> Except for the fact that the heaters are for 440.
> Yes the wiring does seem easy enough if it wasnt for the heaters.
>
> Gary
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "vavaroutsos" <pete@v...>
> wrote:
> > Gary, what tye of CNC is this? Is it a BOSS 6 or older? If so,

the

> > heater is in the large power enclosure on the rear of the

machine.

> It
> > is separate from the contactor and mounted next to it in the

upper

> > part of the enclosure. However, it's an old Sylvania part that is
> > hard/expensive to get. If you're not going to be running the
> machine
> > hard, just short the heater out until you retrofit the machine
> (you
> > will want to after you use the BOSS control).
> >
> > I converted my BOSS 6 from 440V to 220V by changing the wiring on
> the
> > main stepper transformer and the 110V transformer. Don't worry
> about
> > the fuses unless your going to run the machine really hard. I

have

> > not had any problems and did not change the fuses. If you don't
> short
> > the heater or change it, it will trip after running the spindle
> for
> > several minutes.
> >
> > ~petev
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "cncgramps"
> <cncgramps@y...>
> > wrote:
> > > Jeff,
> > >
> > > Thanks for the reply.
> > > I am starting to think it might be easier to replace the switch.
> > > Mine has the high/low switch plus it has the emergency stop
> switch.
> > > Bridgeport manual says the heaters are in the switch box and

are

> > > very hard to get at. I have looked and you can not see the
> typical
> > > coil type overload heaters.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Gary
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "washcomp" <jeff@w...>
> > wrote:
> > > > Gary:
> > > >
> > > > The motor starter is sometimes called the contactor. It is
> > > > sometimes combined with a safety switch (combination
> starter).
> > > The
> > > > three things you look for:
> > > >
> > > > 1) The heaters (overloads) will be pretty ovbious to any
> > > > electrician with motor experience. If you contact the
> > > manufacturer
> > > > of the starter, they can help you locate the heaters.
> Depending
> > > on
> > > > the vintage of the starter, they may look like a losenge with
> a
> > > > number on them or may look like a spring. They will break

the

> > > coil
> > > > circuit if they are overloaded.
> > > >
> > > > 2) Check the coil voltage of the starter. If your tool uses
> > high
> > > > voltage control, the coil may be 440v and have to be changed.
> > > >
> > > > 3) Check the current rating of the starter. The motor will
> draw
> > > > about twice as much current at the lower voltage. Since
> starters
> > > > are sized by current, if yours was marginal at 440 volts, you
> may
> > > > need to change the starter.
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Jeff
> > > >
> > > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "cncgramps"
> > > <cncgramps@y...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Jon Elson
> <elson@p...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > cncgramps wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >I am about to hook up a Bridgeport Series 1 CNC that is
> > wired
> > > > for
> > > > > > >440. I have the manuals and it shows and tells how to
> change
> > > to
> > > > > 220
> > > > > > >which I need to do.
> > > > > > > The part that I am in question about is the overload
> > heaters
> > > > > that
> > > > > > >are in the switch. The manual says they are hard to get
> at
> > > and
> > > > > that
> > > > > > >they recommend getting a new switch wired for 220.
> > > > > > > I looked in the switch box and I can not see the

typical

> > > > heaters.
> > > > > > >Has anyone ever changed those overload heaters out so as
> to
> > > be
> > > > > able
> > > > > > >to run on 220 volts?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > You just have the little 2 x 2 x 4" drum reversing switch
> on
> > > the
> > > > > motor?
> > > > > > That has no heaters. The heaters would be in a device
> called
> > > > > a "motor
> > > > > > starter" and usually are mounted right on one of the
> > > > contactors.
> > > > > These
> > > > > > break the control circuit if the heaters get too hot,
> > > indicating
> > > > > the
> > > > > > motor is drawing too much current on at least one phase.
> > That
> > > > way,
> > > > > > they protect the motor from overload, single phase
> operation
> > or
> > > > > > internal shorts.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If there are contactors in the motor box, one of them
> should
> > > have
> > > > > > heaters on it. They may be quite small, like little
> > > cartridges
> > > > > that
> > > > > > plug in. You will need to change them, as the current
> draw
> > on
> > > > 220
> > > > > > will be twice as high, and will cause the spindle to shut
> > down
> > > > very
> > > > > > easily.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jon
> > > > >
> > > > > No mine has a large box with a forward reverse "hi/low"
> switch
> > > > plus
> > > > > an emergency switch.
> > > > > The manual talks about the heaters being in the main

switch

> > box
> > > > for
> > > > > the motor and being hard to get at. Thus the reason for
> > > replacing
> > > > > the switch.
> > > > >
> > > > > Gary