Colombo spindle fan

[t28c34]

Bought a used 05 PRT Alpha this spring and working out the bugs. I have read about the spindle fans not working and looked into repacing mine that was not working. It is a 230 v 50/60Hz, 70/65mA 12/11W fan. I replaced it with the same size fan http://www.onlinecomponents.com/ebm-papst_3650.html?p=12101084. I wired it back in and still nothing. Here are the plates on my spindle, and the wireing block. You can see the two wires coming in from the top left going to the to terminals below it. That is how the old fan was wired in. Im not sure where to check for voltage. I dont know if it had ever worked, so are these the right terminals to conect up the fan to? Does anyone have a wireing manual for this spindle that i can see the wiring for it?

[Brady Watson]

The voltage of the fan is important...Many are 230v 3ph, with some at 24v (I believe 480 line voltage ones are) and you want to make sure that you get the right replacement.

If you are confident that you wired it up correctly (a bear to do right with big fingers :D ), then I would turn my attention to the VFD side where the fan voltage is fed. Squeeze & pull the VFD keypad (they make a 15' extension for that by the way...) off the front of the VFD. Then remove the screw(s) and pull off the front cover. The fan attaches to the front bottom screw terminals...and I have seen them come loose before. Check it out...If you are unsure of where they go, I can snap a pic for reference.

You have a Delta VFD-B, right?

-B

[br928]

On my Columbo the fan wires run back to the VFD. From there it is connected to a 220V source.

[t28c34]

Hey Brady,
Yes i have a Delta VFD-B. Thats another question i have to, The set up on it. but first things first. The two lines are tight on the control box looks like line 7 and 8 from the spindle to terminals below - (minus) and B2.
As far as the control box, when i run a warm upm there is no no change in speed. Im pretty confused on the setup or how to set it up as per the manual. I have been just running it as is

[Brady Watson]

Chances are pretty good that your Alpha doesn't have a spindle speed control setup in it. It was not available in 2005. You will need to change the RPM manually on the VFD. When you first turn it on, speed is displayed in Hertz. So if it reads 150.00 on the display, that is 9,000 RPM. If you hit the Mode button twice, it will display RPM. Spindle speed control via software is more of a novelty than anything else. I prefer manual control because you can change RPM on the fly to dial it into where you want it when doing test cuts.

Make sure the 2 wires that are jammed in there to the far right are connected well. You really don't want to run that spindle without the cooling fan turning as soon as you energize the VFD. Check for voltage between those two (one set is to trigger the spindle to turn on or off, the other set is fan power), and check continuity between the numbered wire terminals in the VFD and the corresponding numbered wires for the fan on the spindle. You'll need long 'jumper wires' to do this. DO THIS WITH THE POWER TO THE VFD OFF(!) in case you touch something other than the correct terminals. A helper would come in handy or get some alligator clip jumpers from RadioShack and clip them on the terminals.

A lot of times the wire that doesn't have the red terminal insulation end will have a bad connection at the right most spot on the VFD. Pull it out and re-seat it.

-B

[t28c34]

Brady,
Which two wires on the far right? on the spindle or the VFD? I wiggled everything pretty good and nothing was loose. Ill take a closer look, i know how those terminal end break off.
I just was reading your other post that many fans are 230v 3ph. I am running single phase. that make a diference?

[Brady Watson]

On the VFD.

Where did you buy the fan? A call to ShopBot would verify what the voltage should be.

-B

[t28c34]

Here is where i bought a new fan http://www.onlinecomponents.com/ebm-papst_3650.html?p=12101084. I called Shopbot a while back and he just said call colombo. I have been out of the shop all day and was not able to call anyone.
I did check continuity on both wires disconected and is was ok. I checked the voltage at the control box and the spindle without the fan hooked up and i get only 110 v there. On the other side of the 220 line i get 110. Should there be only 100v there in the control box where the fan lines hook up? I talked to the original owner and he never new that it was supose to runor noticed it if it was running. So that is the original fan in the picture

[t28c34]

Dah. I figured it out, I think i was over thinking it.
If the fan is 230v and im only getting 100v at the fan. dah, flip the other wire over to the other 110 lug at the VFD and off it goes. But then again, why am i only getting 110v there? oh well it works now.
Now the question is, now the fan is on anytime the VFD is on which is what you really want? not just when the spindle is turned on?

[bleeth]

Fan runs full time whether spindle is turning or not.