Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get tool plans

User Tag List

Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Pump rotation tester - GIF

  1. #1
    Supporting Member Altair's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    12,020
    Thanks
    1,365
    Thanked 30,300 Times in 9,998 Posts

    Pump rotation tester - GIF


    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Altair For This Useful Post:

    nova_robotics (Jan 5, 2023)

  3. #2
    Supporting Member hemmjo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    2,659
    Thanks
    251
    Thanked 1,514 Times in 855 Posts

    hemmjo's Tools
    I installed geo-thermal heating/cooling in my home when I built it in the late 80's. There 6 pumps involved. The testers are cute, but I have always wondered about them. I know I should get one but I just use my hand to know if the pump is running.

    What I am wondering is, does the tester spin when the armature in the motor spins, OR will it spin even if motor it energized as the magnetic fields would be moving even though the armature could be stuck. Most of those type pumps are impedance protected, and will not burn up even if the armature is stalled.

    Has anyone used one?

    2,000+ Tool Plans

  4. #3
    Supporting Member IntheGroove's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Lake Tahoe
    Posts
    2,084
    Thanks
    193
    Thanked 941 Times in 570 Posts

    IntheGroove's Tools
    I used to maintain a hydronic boiler system in a local Restaurant/Lodge. I had to replace many of those pumps. I never knew about that tool and since all the pumps were three phase I had to physically see which direction the pump was turning...

  5. #4
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    LA, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,519
    Thanks
    362
    Thanked 6,548 Times in 2,156 Posts

    mklotz's Tools
    Would a cheap plastic compass work in this application ? e.g....

    https://www.amazon.com/Compass-Survi...%2C181&sr=8-27
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Experience is always far worse than pessimism

  6. #5
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Peacock TX
    Posts
    11,623
    Thanks
    2,178
    Thanked 9,125 Times in 4,365 Posts

    Frank S's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by mklotz View Post
    Would a cheap plastic compass work in this application ? e.g....

    https://www.amazon.com/Compass-Survi...%2C181&sr=8-27
    I can't see any reason why it wouldn't
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

  7. #6
    Supporting Member hemmjo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    2,659
    Thanks
    251
    Thanked 1,514 Times in 855 Posts

    hemmjo's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by mklotz View Post
    Would a cheap plastic compass work in this application ? e.g....

    https://www.amazon.com/Compass-Survi...%2C181&sr=8-27
    I just tried it. When I was walking to the pumps, I realized that my trusty orienteering compass will not work. All of this type of pump, the ones I know of anyway, have to be mounted so the shaft is horizontal. All of the compasses I know of need to be held so the needle, or plate is level. When you try to hold it against a pump base, the needle tilts and cannot move.

  8. #7
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    5,334
    Thanks
    7,044
    Thanked 3,011 Times in 1,900 Posts

    Toolmaker51's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by hemmjo View Post
    I just tried it. When I was walking to the pumps, I realized that my trusty orienteering compass will not work. All of this type of pump, the ones I know of anyway, have to be mounted so the shaft is horizontal. All of the compasses I know of need to be held so the needle, or plate is level. When you try to hold it against a pump base, the needle tilts and cannot move.
    Could, aside from not being horizontal, it be from the excess diameter of a orienteering compass? (Lol, maybe only 15 guys here know that term). It may not wish/ be able to sync with motor poles, like the little one shown. Also, the Grundfos model spins a card, not a needle, possibly larger bit of iron too, hence better balance, easier turning.

    Now, anyone have a keychain or zipper tab compass and a vertically positioned motor about the premises,......?

    A quick web check found them at low cost, starting about $6.00 USD. Pretty cheap insurance, being applicable to vertical motors in general. And a lot of motors have very short tolerance to running counter to whatever their design rotation.
    Anything to avoid purchase of full fledged rotation meter, ie Biddle, Fluke, Amprobe, Ideal, and many others. $125 and up; WAY up.



    2,000+ Tool Plans
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •