Tractorsport Flowbench Forum Archive

Posted: **Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:14 pm**

Hey Everyone,
If you are looking for a super cheap motor speed controller the Harbor Freight Router Speed Controller is on sale for $14.99

John

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:35 am**

Has anyone had trouble with a Harbor Freight router speed control? I installed one on my flowbench and the controller did not work in any of the three positions on the switch. Since I cut the cord to make the internal connections I don't know if they'll replace it. The next one I will test with my electric grinder before installing it in the flowbench.

I removed the rear cover on the router control switch to see if anything looked out of place. I found it odd that the Black wire from the main power cord went to the power terminal of the output recepticle via the fuse holder. I would have thought the main power wire would have went to the primary side of the variable switch.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:51 am**

My router control has been trouble free! When I did have a problem with a Harbor Freight tool (a 4-1/2 inch grinder), I called and explained the problem and they shipped me a new one. They told me the old one was broken so they didn't want it! I kept it for spare parts. -- Doug

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:02 pm**

coulterracn;

FYI,
Just remember these things are designed to work with universal motors not induction motors like most bench grinders (may only have little effect on speed). A universal motor will be one that has brushes.

Rick

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:58 pm**

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:15 pm**

Hey all,

Thanks for the help on the HF switch. My problem was I did not connect the white wire from the HF switch directly to the white wire on the vaccum motor. I had connected the white wire from the HF switch to the common bus bar in the power panel. I connected the white wire from the vaccum motor to the common bus bar in the power panel.

I had assumed the HF switch would control the motor speed thru the Black (HOT) wire. I was wrong! It controls the motor speed thru the White (COMMON/NUETRAL) wire.

I tested my HF switch by splicing the wires to the original cord and plugging it into a recepticle and plugging my Dewalt rotary grinder (that I use for porting) into the HF switch. The switch worked perfectly.

Ray
Electrician for 37 years
Porting heads & intake manifolds for 37 years

Posted: **Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:02 am**

Posted: **Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:15 am**

Posted: **Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:36 am**

Hello, by me (Italy) on the 220/240 V AC single phase (home supply) the colour are:
1) Brown : Phase
2) Light Blue : Neutral
3) Jellow/green : Earth (ground)

But on the universal motor you can connect in the same way the brown and the the light-blue, the motor will run alwais in the same direction.
The earth (Jellow-green, ground) is for the the life-saving auto switch. (I do not know the right translated name).
If happends a little short circuit (less than 250mA) the general switch shut off.

Regards,
Andrea

Posted: **Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:05 am**

Posted: **Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:38 am**

Posted: **Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:51 am**

That's bad practice but weird stuff like that does happen sometimeswhere you have individual wires pulled through conduit. It rarely happens in residential wiring where 3 or 4 conductor Romex or BX cable is the norm.

Posted: **Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:02 pm**

Posted: **Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:56 pm**

i bought one of those a while back on sale for 10 bux ea. so i figured what the heck right? it works perfect for my dewalt 1/4" diegrinder. hmm i'll have to go back and get another one for the bench at the store we have here in Ma.