The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
start stop buttons and cabinets!

Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be 
somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
compared to the old MEM "startet"!

I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small 
start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.

Alan

Alan Bain wrote:
> The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
> worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
> start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
> look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
> start stop buttons and cabinets!
> 
> Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be 
> somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
> at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
> compared to the old MEM "startet"!
> 
> I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small 
> start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.
> 
> Alan
  What features do you want Alan. A simple on/off toggle will do the job 
but not give you "no volt release" or thermal overload.
A push to make, a push to break, and a mains voltage relay wired up 
yourself is possibly the cheapest way and you might have the bits around 
in the junk box
Look on Ebay for no volt release for some £20 ish solutions.

hth

Bob

On 06 Aug 2008 19:40:41 +0100 (BST), Alan Bain
<alanb+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

>The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
>worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
>start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
>look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
>start stop buttons and cabinets!
>
>Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be 
>somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
>at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
>compared to the old MEM "startet"!
>
>I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small 
>start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.
>
>Alan


About 60 quid+VAT here. Is that too much?


http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Distribution_and_Switchgear_Index/DOL_Starters/index.html

For a fractional hp motor I probably wouldn't bother with a proper DOL
starter. I'd just use a fuse and an NVR switch. Say:-

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=21280

at £15 plus VAT


Mark Rand
RTFM

Alan Bain wrote:
> The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
> worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
> start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
> look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
> start stop buttons and cabinets!
> 
> Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be 
> somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
> at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
> compared to the old MEM "startet"!
> 
> I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small 
> start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.

What part is worn out? It might be fixable. I had a contactor on my saw 
which didn't work, and all it needed was the grime cleaning out of it.

I did have one of those MEM Startets, but I think I gave it away. If it 
turns up, though, I'll let you know.

Best wishes,

Chris

On 06 Aug 2008 19:40:41 +0100 (BST), Alan Bain
<alanb+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

>The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
>worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
>start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
>look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
>start stop buttons and cabinets!
>
>Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be 
>somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
>at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
>compared to the old MEM "startet"!
>
>I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small 
>start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.
>
>Alan
I need/needed a couple and followed up a lead to a German supplier,
they were about Eur7 each for a simple On/Off switch with NVR. I set
up the account to do it then found it was around Eur30 for shipping
making a one-off about GBP30. 

If there's enough takers I'd be willing to get a box of 10 or 20 and
split the postage so they'd come out around GBP8..10 each.

Let me know.

Richard

In article <Qxomk.48488$hR4.21896@newsfe24.ams2>,
Bob Minchin   wrote:
>Alan Bain wrote:
>> The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
>> worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
>> start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
>> look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
>> start stop buttons and cabinets!
>> 
>> Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be 
>> somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
>> at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
>> compared to the old MEM "startet"!
>> 
>> I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small 
>> start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.
>> 
>> Alan
>  What features do you want Alan. A simple on/off toggle will do the job 
>but not give you "no volt release" or thermal overload.
>A push to make, a push to break, and a mains voltage relay wired up 
>yourself is possibly the cheapest way and you might have the bits around 
>in the junk box
>Look on Ebay for no volt release for some £20 ish solutions.

For me the most important feature is large start and stop buttons so stop
can be pressed easily.  The machine has no clutch so there is a lot of
start-stop operation.  I remember using a Fobco drill press where the
"starter" was a domestic light switch and it wasn't very convenient.

One of my lathes, fitted with a 1/3hp motor, is controlled via a Dewhurst
reversing switch and when I last dismantled this switch there had clearly
been a lot of arcing.  The lathe has no clutch so there is quite a lot
of start-stop operation.

The motor on the mill is a very old GEC unit and I don't leave the milling
machine running unattended, so motor protection is not top of the agenda
and I am quite happy to connect via a 13A plug & socket rather than
wire in permanently.  

Alan

On 7 Aug, 18:43, Alan Bain  wrote:
> In article <Qxomk.48488$hR4.21...@newsfe24.ams2>,
> Bob Minchin   wrote:
>
>
>
> >Alan Bain wrote:
> >> The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
> >> worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
> >> start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
> >> look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
> >> start stop buttons and cabinets!
>
> >> Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be
> >> somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
> >> at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
> >> compared to the old MEM "startet"!
>
> >> I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small
> >> start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.
>
> >> Alan
> >  What features do you want Alan. A simple on/off toggle will do the job
> >but not give you "no volt release" or thermal overload.
> >A push to make, a push to break, and a mains voltage relay wired up
> >yourself is possibly the cheapest way and you might have the bits around
> >in the junk box
> >Look on Ebay for no volt release for some £20 ish solutions.
>
> For me the most important feature is large start and stop buttons so stop
> can be pressed easily.  The machine has no clutch so there is a lot of
> start-stop operation.  I remember using a Fobco drill press where the
> "starter" was a domestic light switch and it wasn't very convenient.
>
> One of my lathes, fitted with a 1/3hp motor, is controlled via a Dewhurst
> reversing switch and when I last dismantled this switch there had clearly
> been a lot of arcing.  The lathe has no clutch so there is quite a lot
> of start-stop operation.
>
> The motor on the mill is a very old GEC unit and I don't leave the milling
> machine running unattended, so motor protection is not top of the agenda
> and I am quite happy to connect via a 13A plug & socket rather than
> wire in permanently.
>
> Alan

I have long since suspected that the Dewhurst is for direction, but
not designed to be the switch (I have rebuilt a couple with nasty
arcing damage inside). I bought one of the Axminster NVR switches and
fitted it to my Rapidor power saw, you can break into the energising
circuit for the relay and fit a remote breaker - like a big red stop
button or even more than one in series. On the power saw it is tripped
by the cut finishing. Cheap and Easy.

There are cheapo switches with NVR and reversing, I think I got the
one for my lathe from Chester Lathe people. Its been fine, but the
reversing switch is not as huge and easy to see as using a Dewhurst. I
think that's got a 1/2HP motor.

Steve

On 7 Aug, 18:43, Alan Bain  wrote:
> In article <Qxomk.48488$hR4.21...@newsfe24.ams2>,
> Bob Minchin   wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >Alan Bain wrote:
> >> The very ancient MEM "Startet" start-stop button on my mill has finally
> >> worn out.  It controls an ancient GEC single phase 1/4 hp capacitor
> >> start motor.  While I have designed motor control gear before, I didn't
> >> look particularly at the prices of the contactors, overcurrent trips,
> >> start stop buttons and cabinets!
>
> >> Most of the sort of units which I am familiar with seem to be
> >> somewhat over the top for such a small motor, with ratings starting
> >> at 5.5kW and the total cost (and size) seems a bit excessive when
> >> compared to the old MEM "startet"!
>
> >> I would be interested in any pointers to suppliers of small
> >> start-stop starters for fractional hp motors.
>
> >> Alan
> >  What features do you want Alan. A simple on/off toggle will do the job
> >but not give you "no volt release" or thermal overload.
> >A push to make, a push to break, and a mains voltage relay wired up
> >yourself is possibly the cheapest way and you might have the bits around
> >in the junk box
> >Look on Ebay for no volt release for some £20 ish solutions.
>
> For me the most important feature is large start and stop buttons so stop
> can be pressed easily.  The machine has no clutch so there is a lot of
> start-stop operation.  I remember using a Fobco drill press where the
> "starter" was a domestic light switch and it wasn't very convenient.
>
> One of my lathes, fitted with a 1/3hp motor, is controlled via a Dewhurst
> reversing switch and when I last dismantled this switch there had clearly
> been a lot of arcing.  The lathe has no clutch so there is quite a lot
> of start-stop operation.
>
> The motor on the mill is a very old GEC unit and I don't leave the milling
> machine running unattended, so motor protection is not top of the agenda
> and I am quite happy to connect via a 13A plug & socket rather than
> wire in permanently.  
>
> Alan- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


Like this :-

untidy and not finished.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/aboard_epsilon/workbench/frontswitch.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/aboard_epsilon/workbench/insideswitch.jpg

German NVR switches £1.50 each ..ebay job lot ...sorry no spares

Stop button...Wired to extra inbuilt circuit on NVRS ...Chalon
Components LTD  £3.96 each

Multi Led 240 volt lights... EC Products LTD  70 pence each as bulk
purchase

Box ...about £6...from most electrical wholesalers.....look for one
with hardly any raised print on it .

Quality crimps per 100 £2.65 per bag of 100...Chalon Components LTD

MAPLINS crimps ...not good .not enough metal tube inside of them

Crimping pliers ..dont buy off ebay . ...look for one made by SWA ...
£20

all the best.markj