coils went dead?

[cracker]

Hi all,

I've been using my machine for a few years now, with no problems, hadn't changed the coils, but have changed the springs a few times, now all the sudden I'm getting no power at all to the machine, i've changed the compacitors a few times, and i thought that was all that was wrong, so i went to get another compacitor, put it in the machine, but still no power to the machine, then i thought it was my power supply, but i checked all my connections and the fuse and the clip cord, but still no go.

Has anyone just had there coils die on them?

How often should i change the coils?

thanks

cracker

[voodoo]

ohm them out! get a dmm and check them!

[cracker]

voodoo,

excuss my ignorance, but could you explain ohm, and dmm

thanks,

cracker

[voodoo]

digital multimeter=dmm
ohm=amount of resistance.

[tat2rtist2]

coils can last a LONG time. Check all your wiring and connections..sounds like your grounding out. If you have to..take it apart and inspect everything.

This is assuming you eliminated the PS, FS and CC as the problem.

[cracker]

thanks all, I tear it down again and give it a good inspecting again, just to make sure I'm not missing something.

thanks again

cracker

[Inkster]

With a multi meter you can identify the fault in a matter of minutes, a very useful piece of kit to have around particular if its got a Hz setting on it.

[voodoo]

get one from sears or radio shack.

[gremlin]

I use a dmm every day of my life and they are not crated equal. One of the best out there is made by "fluke" they start at about 99.00 for a basic one and go up to thousands but all of them are pretty much bullet proof and they have a good customer service department . The one i use at the power plant is a fluke model "87V" its pricey at about 400.00(usd) but it is the industry standard and can be found in just about every electrical engineers toolbag ( you don't need that much meter for what you want to do though). a hint about all multimeters most people do not realize that you have to have them calibrated once a year to ensure accuracy, they will drift over time. they are just like any precision tool (such as micrometers, calipers etc)...when you get a meter if you have any probs PM me an i will try to help ya out.

[voodoo]

i have 2 - one from sears and a UEI clamp on.
were do u get them calibrated?

[gremlin]

we send them to a company called transcat, I am not sure if they do private sector, but that is who our plant sends them to yearly ( i just sneak mine in with the companies) here is their web addy it has all the numbers for where ever you are. http://www.transcat.com/landingpage.asp

[grinder dave]

i shouldn't tell ya this..since its so obvious.but here goes

as your power supply has a variable switch (to increase power) turn it up and connect the clipcord to a test light turn it up till the light is strong.

connect clipcord to machine connnect test light.see where it doesnt light up

done

[cracker]

ok well I just figured out it's not my equipment (power sourse, clip cord)
cause i got a strong man, and hooked it up, and started buzzing away.

I also ordered some new coils, hooked them up in my old machine, still dead, this is weird as hell, I'm stumped, where are you guys getting your compacitors? I noticed some say non polarity, and polarity, I assume the non polarity means it don't matter which end the positive is hooked to on the back of the machine, it just puzzles the hell out of me, it's not like the machine is that complicated, especially when I'm looking at how the strong man is setup as reference while I was putting all the stuff in.

I guess I'll keep tinkering with it till I figure it out.

cracker

[voodoo]

check all the plastic washers..

[Inkster]

I also ordered some new coils, hooked them up in my old machine, still dead, I guess I'll keep tinkering with it till I figure it out.

crackerThe coils will magnetise regrdless of a capacitor been present, a multimeter will identify the fault in a few minutes. I would first put power to the coils while not fitted to the machine and see if thet magnetise, probably a broken or poor plastic washer or even a dry solder joint.

[Skeet Alldey]

Sounds like you have an issue with either your power supply or your cords. Measure the voltage at the output terminal of the power supply with nothing hooked up. Then hook up your machine and measure it again. If the voltage drops significantly you have a short circuit either in your clipcord or somewhere on your machine, and depending on how your footswitch is wired it could be there also.

[iLL]

you know im having the same problem now.

new coils new capacitor just replaced foot pedal. i have voltage all the way up to the machine when its all setup. so i am wondering if it is grounding out somewhere, but i cant imagine where. i have plastic washers on both ends of both standoffs. is there anywhere else i could be grounding out. maybe i lost some more plastic washers somewhere.

[DANTHEMAN]

see if any of the coil wire is uninsulated and if is if its touching the frame aanywhere.

[framey]

:evil:

[cracker]

thanks all for the suggestions, I never figured it out, but i did fix it. I purchased a premade coil set from spaulding, and new contacts on top and back, ran me like 25 bucks or so, that did the trick lol

it was for a machine I started out using way back in the day, it's a spaulding lightweight, my very first machine, so i feel kinda close to it, but after using my strong man, i'm kinda sold on it, it's a great machine, I'm probably gonna use the lightweight for lining now

thanks again

cracker

[voodoo]

must have had a short in the coils or the posts! :twisted: