Alpha Electrical Hook up, please help!

[andracke]

Just wanted to touch base on a couple things regarding the hook up.

The control box must be connected with fuse disconnect not breakers. Correct?

Does anyone have a picture of what there alpha with spindle box looks like? There are three holes in the back of the box, not sure what all three holes are used for.

Final question, there is a wire that comes off the spindle power box that looks like it has a phone connection into a small long rectangle. What is this? I cant find any documentation about this.

I am not doing the work but want to make sure I am properly communicating with the electrician.

Thanks for any and all help!!!

[Ken Sully]

Eric,
For power breakers are ok
The wire that comes out of the spindle that has the phone connector that plugs into a rectangle is for the speed control for the spindle.
The phone connector plugs into one side and there should be a USB connector on the other that plugs into your computer on the other end. When I got mine it had a cap on the USB end.

[davidp]

Eric,

I am not sure what your electrical code says but our Alpha is connected to breakers.

There are two power supplies into the box and one main supply out to the VFD then to the spindle. Then depending upon your setup there are various other cables into and out of the box, to steppers, prox switches, control computer, EStop etc.

You do not mention what brand your spindle is or whether it has speed control, however all spindles have a shielded wire of various descriptions to start and stop the spindle at least. From the sounds of it you have a single cable with two wires, attached to a small connector.

Shopbot has excellent documentation online, it does take some finding try

http://www.shopbotdocs.com.

You will find most of the information there that you will need.

As you read through the documentation do not be afraid to ask on the forum, there are some very knowledgeable people on here.

Regards,
David

[richards]

Check with an electrician!

Definitions of "disconnects", "fuse disconnects" and "breakers" may mean different things to different people.

Personally, I always recommend installing a regular (non-fused) disconnect at the box in addition to breakers on the wall panel. If I can find breakers with the correct "curve" (response time vs current), I use breakers instead of fuses.

[andracke]

Thank you for helping with the information.

Does anyone have a recent picture of a control box?

Thanks!!!

[jTr]

Eric,
Careful with that "phone " line. The longer plastic piece converts the phone plug to USB. This needs to be plugged into a separate USB port on your computer. It transmits speed control data to your spindle control box. Do not use a USB hub to consolidate with control box USB cable. They need to be separate to function properly.
I'll try to find time in AM to send a pic of my relatively new alpha control box so you can see the wiring ins and outs, which are likely the same as yours.
jeff

[coryatjohn]

Thank you for helping with the information.

Does anyone have a recent picture of a control box?

Thanks!!!

Here are some recent pictures of my 2013 PRS Alpha:

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=83&pictureid=479

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=83&pictureid=478

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=83&pictureid=477

Let me know if you want a picture of anything else.

[coryatjohn]

I guess those pictures didn't through to the board. I posted them to an album on this board. I could see them but only me.

http://www.usnaviguide.com/shopbot/controlbox_1.jpg

http://www.usnaviguide.com/shopbot/controlbox_2.jpg

http://www.usnaviguide.com/shopbot/controlbox_3.jpg

[andracke]

THANK YOU JOHN!!

I really appreciate it!!