Unisaw Electrical Woes

[David Pascoe]

It started with failure of the magnetic start switch that just plain wore out, contact points erroded to nothing. Replaced the switch with Woodtek MA-18 220V, 24 amp but in the interim, I wired up a simple 2 pole switch to test the motor which did not start. Next, I had to pull the motor to test the start capacitor since I could not reach it on the underside of the mounted motor, only a foot from the floor. There were 5 wires to the run and start capacitors, ALL YELLOW !!! I tried to mark them as best possible but utterly failed at that. The start capacitor tested bad. Purchased a replacement. Since I had no idea of how connect up the 5 yellow wires, I took the motor to a specialist to do it. Said he'd have it for me the next day and would call. Four days later, no call and he's not answering his phone. Finally 8 days later a lady answers, said it would be done that afternoon. A little over an hour later she calls and says its done. $90.00 to wire up two capacitors.

It took me two days to get the motor off and another to get it back on. I wire it up, push the switch and NOTHING. Motor does not start. There is power to the motor and to the start capacitor. I pull it off and test it again . . . . DEAD. Then I check the leads to the capacitor, both are hot. I know nothing about wiring capacitors, but it makes no sense to me that there are two hot wires, presumably in and out. Did my repair guy miswire the start capacitor?

I have no reason to suspect a faulty motor which is only 6 years old and did not show any signs of trouble. I am now four weeks into this fiasco with my production in the tank and at this point don't know what to do. I need my saw, and I need it now. Contemplating buying a new motor but that seems nuts.

[Bill Space]

Take the motor back to the guy who "fixed" it and tell him to show you it will run.

If it does not run, get your money back or have him fix it so it does run. If it does run, you have different wiring problem at your end...

Bill

[John Lanciani]

It started with failure of the magnetic start switch that just plain wore out, contact points erroded to nothing. Replaced the switch with Woodtek MA-18 220V, 24 amp but in the interim, I wired up a simple 2 pole switch to test the motor which did not start. Next, I had to pull the motor to test the start capacitor since I could not reach it on the underside of the mounted motor, only a foot from the floor. There were 5 wires to the run and start capacitors, ALL YELLOW !!! I tried to mark them as best possible but utterly failed at that. The start capacitor tested bad. Purchased a replacement. Since I had no idea of how connect up the 5 yellow wires, I took the motor to a specialist to do it. Said he'd have it for me the next day and would call. Four days later, no call and he's not answering his phone. Finally 8 days later a lady answers, said it would be done that afternoon. A little over an hour later she calls and says its done. $90.00 to wire up two capacitors.

It took me two days to get the motor off and another to get it back on. I wire it up, push the switch and NOTHING. Motor does not start. There is power to the motor and to the start capacitor. I pull it off and test it again . . . . DEAD. Then I check the leads to the capacitor, both are hot. I know nothing about wiring capacitors, but it makes no sense to me that there are two hot wires, presumably in and out. Did my repair guy miswire the start capacitor?

I have no reason to suspect a faulty motor which is only 6 years old and did not show any signs of trouble. I am now four weeks into this fiasco with my production in the tank and at this point don't know what to do. I need my saw, and I need it now. Contemplating buying a new motor but that seems nuts.

Have you confirmed your house wiring yet? Last time you posted about this problem you refused to verify that the wiring you did coincident to the saw not running was in fact done properly. Here is your exact quote;


"I had to make an alteration to my 240VAC circuit and disconnected it. When I reconnected the circuits, my Delta tablesaw would no longer start."

[Ben Zara]

If what John noted is accurate then definitely check the circuit. You might be putting all this effort into the motor and meanwhile the solution could be really simple.

[Dan Friedrichs]

You need to confirm that you have 240V at your outlet. When you press the "On" button on the magnetic starter, do you hear a definite "CLUNK" as the contactor engages? If not, you likely have a supply wiring problem.

Not sure how you're testing the start capacitor, but in general, yes, you would expect both legs to measure some voltage with respect to ground.