Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:21 pm
Figured today I would mostly have a nose at my finds from yesterday. Compressor up first as it was probably the thing that I had the most immediate use for.
Immediately noticed some "quality" wiring where the junction box originally would have been...
However it had most likely been working fine like that for decades so I'm not about to worry about it until the thing has proven itself - if it does I'll obviously sort it properly before it gets installed in whichever corner of the garage it winds up living in.
Doing first tests on stuff like this is where this thing really comes in handy.
For those not familiar with their test equipment this is a Megger. Well, technically it's a high voltage insulation tester - Megger is a brand name. On your average household multimeter when measuring resistance it will apply less than five volts to the test subject. This uses 500V to do that - so can spot where you have issues with insulation that is breaking down at higher voltages, especially often where damp is concerned.
You learn very quickly to keep your hands out of the way as it doesn't half sting if you get zapped by it.
It tested perfectly and the resistance through the windings looked reasonable for a motor of this size. There was oil in the compressor (it actually has a teeny tiny dipstick) so seemed time to see if it would work.
Here's the verdict:
YouTube Link
Yes, and it's astonishingly quiet. Certainly won't be a chore to have it burbling away in the garage now and then. No knock from the bottom end at all which is nice. Hooking it up to the only high pressure gauge I have to hand, it almost immediately pegged the thing at 200psi...so it definitely can pump a decent head. The fact that there was absolutely no change in speed of the motor at that pressure seems to suggest that the motor is somewhat over rated for the job.
Not going to be running air tools with it, but hooked up to a small receiver and pressure switch (probably still have one from back when I used to help out with some HVAC stuff) it should be just dandy for inflating tyres, clearing stuff out of bolt holes and blowing water off cars after a wash. Stuff like that.
Happy with that.
Number two was the other random motor that I grabbed. If it's good I'm thinking workbench mounted polisher/grinder. This one is free of any dodgy wiring at least.
Hooking it up really surprised me...Very brief hum, then near silence, just a really quiet hiss from the brushes. Turning power back off, it kept going for nearly a full minute before it stopped.
YouTube Link
Now that's a nice set of bearings! You just don't get quality like that on a general purpose motor these days. Will definitely need to find that a purpose.
The inverter was up next. Really wanted to see what was in the box, so the lid was pulled. I wasn't expecting it to be exactly packed full...but I wasn't expecting this little in there!
Hooking it up and we had a loud buzz and this on the output.
Not surprised it's high given there was no load connected. Reckon this may well take up residence in the van...not likely to have a huge need for mains when off grid, bit nice to have the option.
The oil can also works a treat, which is no surprise.
I had a couple of errands to run, and with a bit of confidence from yesterday's test I decided that TP should be my transport for the day...so she went and confused people at Sainsbury's again.
Yes...that is a Mazda 2 I'm parked next to...the Invacar is that tiny.
On the way home she was fuelled up actually at a filling station for the first time in at least 18 years.
This literally brought the filling station to a standstill for a few minutes as the cashier felt it was necessary to come and take a look as he had no idea what it was! Only 12mpg indicated...but there are at least a couple of hours static running , plus the carb was playing up for a while so no surprise there really!
Sadly no video of the high speed run as the camera didn't record it properly for some reason...will try again next time I get a chance.
Seems to be running better still...no further fuel leaks from the carb, no oil leaks from the dipstick etc... can't complain. Hopefully she will keep getting better with use.
Immediately noticed some "quality" wiring where the junction box originally would have been...
However it had most likely been working fine like that for decades so I'm not about to worry about it until the thing has proven itself - if it does I'll obviously sort it properly before it gets installed in whichever corner of the garage it winds up living in.
Doing first tests on stuff like this is where this thing really comes in handy.
For those not familiar with their test equipment this is a Megger. Well, technically it's a high voltage insulation tester - Megger is a brand name. On your average household multimeter when measuring resistance it will apply less than five volts to the test subject. This uses 500V to do that - so can spot where you have issues with insulation that is breaking down at higher voltages, especially often where damp is concerned.
You learn very quickly to keep your hands out of the way as it doesn't half sting if you get zapped by it.
It tested perfectly and the resistance through the windings looked reasonable for a motor of this size. There was oil in the compressor (it actually has a teeny tiny dipstick) so seemed time to see if it would work.
Here's the verdict:
YouTube Link
Yes, and it's astonishingly quiet. Certainly won't be a chore to have it burbling away in the garage now and then. No knock from the bottom end at all which is nice. Hooking it up to the only high pressure gauge I have to hand, it almost immediately pegged the thing at 200psi...so it definitely can pump a decent head. The fact that there was absolutely no change in speed of the motor at that pressure seems to suggest that the motor is somewhat over rated for the job.
Not going to be running air tools with it, but hooked up to a small receiver and pressure switch (probably still have one from back when I used to help out with some HVAC stuff) it should be just dandy for inflating tyres, clearing stuff out of bolt holes and blowing water off cars after a wash. Stuff like that.
Happy with that.
Number two was the other random motor that I grabbed. If it's good I'm thinking workbench mounted polisher/grinder. This one is free of any dodgy wiring at least.
Hooking it up really surprised me...Very brief hum, then near silence, just a really quiet hiss from the brushes. Turning power back off, it kept going for nearly a full minute before it stopped.
YouTube Link
Now that's a nice set of bearings! You just don't get quality like that on a general purpose motor these days. Will definitely need to find that a purpose.
The inverter was up next. Really wanted to see what was in the box, so the lid was pulled. I wasn't expecting it to be exactly packed full...but I wasn't expecting this little in there!
Hooking it up and we had a loud buzz and this on the output.
Not surprised it's high given there was no load connected. Reckon this may well take up residence in the van...not likely to have a huge need for mains when off grid, bit nice to have the option.
The oil can also works a treat, which is no surprise.
I had a couple of errands to run, and with a bit of confidence from yesterday's test I decided that TP should be my transport for the day...so she went and confused people at Sainsbury's again.
Yes...that is a Mazda 2 I'm parked next to...the Invacar is that tiny.
On the way home she was fuelled up actually at a filling station for the first time in at least 18 years.
This literally brought the filling station to a standstill for a few minutes as the cashier felt it was necessary to come and take a look as he had no idea what it was! Only 12mpg indicated...but there are at least a couple of hours static running , plus the carb was playing up for a while so no surprise there really!
Sadly no video of the high speed run as the camera didn't record it properly for some reason...will try again next time I get a chance.
Seems to be running better still...no further fuel leaks from the carb, no oil leaks from the dipstick etc... can't complain. Hopefully she will keep getting better with use.