Heidelberg hook-up help!!

Hi,
I recently acquired a Heidelberg Windmill circa 1940’s and we have successfully wired it to the original on/off switch that was removed from the presses original home and then to the press itself. It is running on 10/2 and a 20 amp breaker. Here’s the issue, it will run for about 30 seconds and trip. Tried higher amps (30 and 40) and still the same result. Any advice would be extremely helpful!! Thanks in advance.

-Nicole

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Do you have a contactor/starter wired in?

Brad

Have someone (electrical or electrically inclined) put an amp meter on one of the legs of the wires from the power source and see just how many amps the motor is pulling.
Also, is the motor set up for 110 volt, 220 volt or what?
Some motors are dual voltage. You have to look on the metal information plate attached to the motor. If it says under voltage “110/220” or “220/440” then there will be instructions under the metal cap that protect the incoming wires at the motor as to how to change the jumpers for the voltage you have.
Also, some motors are single phase and some are three phase. Be sure to check the information plate under “Ph” as well.
I set all windmills with 30 amp service and have no problems.

Nicole, the company is Graphic Repair, from Leominister, MA, the mans name is Stanley, 1-978-537-6156.

Thanks everyone,

it seems now that the problem is absolutely with the motor. We replaced the on/off switch and that didn’t change anything. So, we pulled the motor out to take a closer look at it seems like one of the capacitors (i think it’s a capacitor-there’s two.) seems a little busted. (kind of rusty on the inside.) Any suggestions aside from calling Graphic Repair? I think I’ll call anyway but having to have a service guy come an hour away to look at it is not high on my list. I do need it working asap though. Thanks in advance everyone.

Nicole

If it’s a motor problem, take the motor to a motor shop. A motor shop might or might not be in your area….you might have to find a larger town or city for that. Or, find an electrician used to commercial or light industrial problems. They may be able to fix the problem. Also, they will know where a motor shop is.

Both the motor shop and the electrician should be available in your local yellow pages, or the yellow pages of a nearby larger town or city.

Thanks so much for everyone’s help! Just an update that it was the stupidest problem ever. I went through the rigimoral of getting the motor to a repair shop and he told me that it was wired for 110 not 220. So magic, we put it on a one pole breaker and voila! Functionality achieved. Thanks for your help just wanted to give an update.

Best,
Nicole

“Some motors are dual voltage. You have to look on the metal information plate attached to the motor. If it says under voltage “110/220” or “220/440” then there will be instructions under the metal cap that protect the incoming wires at the motor as to how to change the jumpers for the voltage you have.”I get to tell you “I told you so!!!!”
Keep an eye on the heat buildup on the motor. Since it got zapped by the 220V the lacquer on the windings may have deteriorated somewhat.

Glad the motor is running! Regards, Geoff