jet lathe shorting out

Propane heater is a tough way to remove water

Dick Coers

Propane heaters can actually raise the humidity. Lots of air movement with an electric heater would be the better way. Or build a tent around the lathe and put a couple light bulbs, or heater, under it. Anyway, hard to imagine enough condensation getting inside the VFD to short it out. I'd look for something wrong with the wiring.

Re: Propane heater is a tough way to remove water

mikeee12345

Your quickest way to determine the "fault" is to unplug the lathe and use an ohm meter

to determine the (ground, short,fault). If you can determ the motor leads you can take

resistance readings with the meter to locate/isolate the source of the fault. Your motor

windings should be insulated so take a reading between the motor winding and the motor

frame. You should not have continuity readings between these two points, if you have a continuity

reading between these points your winding insulation may have failed or contamination and moisture

may be causing the issue. You can also check wiring connection terminals and take continuity readings

to the motor or lathe frame. All of your wiring should be insulated, locating a continuity to the frame

may determine your "fault". If you can isolate and test each component of the system you can isolate

and determine the source of the fault. It comes down to a process of elimination to locate your "fault".

Isolate and eliminate each component of your electrical system and you will quickly narrow your source

of the problem.

Re: Propane heater is a tough way to remove water

Barry Irby

Dick is right about trying to use a propane heater to dry out your shop. 18% of what "goes up the flue" is steam. When you burn a hydrocarbon in air one of the components is water (H20). If you don't have a flue and allow the heater to exhaust inside the space you can drive the humidity up pretty quickly. The problem is that if your shop is "cold soaked" and you start a propane heater, the heavy iron will have condensation on it long before it warms up enough to be above the dew point. And that condensation is full of oxygen which will rust things readily.

You need to vent the fumes outside the space trough a proper flue. Or use an electric heater or even a heat lamp.