Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Blown Gecko 320..Strange noises from control???

On Oct 30, 2004, at 12:53 AM, R Rogers wrote:

> 's house, if they are on the same transformer.)
>
> /// Hi Jon, Thanks for responding. I do not have any new equiptment.
> The line is commercial 3 phase. I'm not sure if anyone has any new
> equiptment near me but, I dont thinks so. The overhead lights in my
> shop are not very responsive, they are heavy wattage and a voltage
> flicker would not be very apparent. Could a sudden dip in line voltage
> blow a driver? It just seems strange because the drive was at idle.
> I've peck drilled holes all day with Z driving the knee and the servo
> got a little warm and the Gecko was warm but not excessively so. ////

I don't know what your electrical environment is - but I am wondering
if you have a power factor problem going? If so, it can do a lot of
damage. Call your local power company (preferably the commercial side
- not the consumer number) and see if you can't get an engineer to talk
with. They will generally help you evaluate this possibility because
they are much better off if you are keeping things in bounds. In fact,
for larger consumers of electricity, you actually pay a penalty for not
applying sufficient power factor correction - when I was doing
industrial work this was a big deal for us and we had banks of
capacitors to provide power factor correction. (If you get nothing but
clueless idiots at first - be persistent - buried away in a hall closet
somewhere are technically minded folks who will try to help you.)

If you aren't familiar with power factor, don't worry - the power
company engineer will bring you up to speed. The quick answer is that
inductive and capacitive loads alter the relationship between current
and voltage and this can cause big problems, including equipment damage
and dangerously high voltages.

Here is a little more info:

<http://www.lmphotonics.com/pwrfact.htm>
<http://www.microconsultants.com/tips/pwrfact/pfarticl.htm>

Good Luck,
Randy