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Posted: 9/6/2016 1:20:07 PM EDT
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does anyone use timers on their tumblers.??
I have tried the usual house lamp type timers and found they didn't last very long. anyone using heaver dusty ones and where to get them? Thanks |
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I just got this one from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Woods-50030-Indoor-Countdown-Outlet/dp/B00FSQTSB8 I have heard pretty good things about it but have not had a chance to use mine yet. |
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Not a timer fan, since I tend to just let them run over night instead.
But will say, from time to time, will pull the motor's apart to replace the ball bearings on the motors instead if the motor bearings are not running quietly. Hence motors on the tumblers are brushingless, so no brushed to wear out on the motor. Instead, the bearings wear out from the counter weight, and when this happens, the armature will start dragging on the inside of the coil housing to cause the motor to heat up/pull to much energy and burn out the in line thermal fuse instead. So if the motor is starting to make noise, take the time to just replace the bearings. If you go too long and it causes the thermal fuse to blow instead, then both the bearing and themal fuse needs to be replaced isntead. 
Note, on the motor, when you look at it, you will have two black leads wired that will be run to the underside of the wrap under the motor coil winding. The thermal fuse in under the coil wrap, so the easy way to get to it, is to slice the paper cover off the motor coils cleanly, de-solder the thermal fuse out, solder a new on back in, then retape the paper cover back in place around the coils. When you go to bolt the motor back together, 242 loctite on the bolts, and don't over tighten the bearing house cover bolts, since the covers are pot metal and you will shatter the bolt channel locations on them with too much torque on the bolts. When you go to bolt the motor to the bottom plate, back up the bolt heads on the motor, so they don't loosen or tighten them more as you are tightening the nut at the top plates. 
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Here's what you need:
Woods Timer: https://www.amazon.com/Woods-59013-Decora-8-4-2-1-Electronic/dp/B001XCWLVU/ref=sr_1_13?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1473189718&sr=1-13&keywords=woods+timer "This unit is rated at 120-Volt 60Hz 15-Amp, 1875-Watt Resistive 8-Amp, 120-Volt, 1000-Watt Tungsten 120-Volt, 8-Amp, 1000-Volt Ballast, 1/4 hp" Outlet: http://www.lowes.com/pd/Hubbell-15-Amp-125-Volt-White-Indoor-Duplex-Wall-Outlet/1000050849 New Work Box: http://www.lowes.com/pd/CARLON-2-Gang-Blue-PVC-Interior-New-Work-Standard-Switch-Outlet-Wall-Electrical-Box/50011800 Electrical Plug: http://www.lowes.com/pd/Project-Source-15-Amp-125-Volt-Orange-3-Wire-Grounding-Plug/4068219 And some 16-18AWG wire for a cord. Grounded, of course. Take the New Work Box and use a Dremel to cut off the mounting flanges. Wire the output of the Woods switch to the female receptacle. Now you have a portable timer you can plug anything into. Used this setup for my tumblers and other project for years. |
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I am using a indoor plug in style, rated at 15 amps. I haven't had any problems on my vibrating tumblers, but don't run mine 24/7. $5 at Lowes.
http://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-15-Amp-1-Outlet-Mechanical-Residential-Plug-in-Countdown-Function-Lighting-Timer/4176999 YMMV |
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I've been using this countdown timer for about 5 years.
https://www.amazon.com/Woods-Import-5559206-Countdown-Digital/dp/B001DD7YSE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1473219449&sr=8-5&keywords=countdown+outlet |
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I have two, one is a dual outlet receptacle so I can run 2 tumblers at once. You can just remove the start tabs, so it will run, then shut off and stay off. https://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-TN111K-15-Amp-Appliance-Timer/dp/B00LBHBLEU/ref=sr_1_14?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1473252509&sr=1-14&keywords=electric+timer  ETA the model number of the Intermatic dual outlet one I have appears to be discontinued. TN800CH. The newer one on Amazon isn't like the one I own and hasn't gotten good reviews. The one I have looks more like the one above, and has worked with no issues. |
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I have used the electronic type and set them from four to six hours depending how dirty the brass is. Sometimes I just run it all night without the timer.
I think the timer will allow your tumbler to live longer by not wasting time tumbling when the job is already done. |
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I use one of these Belkin Timers on my Lyman
Belkin Conserve Timer For my HF wet tumbler I don't use a timer as I run it indoors, my vibratory is in the detached garage. |
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