[jpfix]

I just purchased a Makita BO5041 variable speed orbital sander. It says it goes as slow as 4000 opm’s and goes up to 12k opm’s. Although not an exciting purchase, I hadn’t had a “new” one in 10-12 years so I was hoping that buying a nice one would be an upgrade in user experience. I plugged it in and set the sander to it’s lowest speed (1) and the motor didn’t even move. It’s not until I turned the speed control to 2.5 that it got up to speed enough to even pretend to start sanding. I thought it was a bad sander so I brought it back to the store and showed the salesperson the problem. Of course…it worked fine at the store. I then figured that maybe my extension cord was long enough that it caused some voltage drop. I then went home and tried it directly into several of my outlets on various circuits and I was met with the same problem. At speed 1 the motor makes a quiet buzz and ever so slowly turns the pad but I’m talking virtually nothing. I then figured that maybe I made an error at the store so I took it back again ( this time to a different store so they wouldn’t recognize the fool). Once again it worked fine at the store. Exasperated I went home to test all the voltage of my outlets. All my outlets showed readings from 114 to 115 volts. I would assume that this is fine. I’ve read that 117 volts is actually the average but many houses vary a few points above and below that number and there’s no issue. I haven’t noticed any other problems with any electrical devices at my house. Does anyone have any idea?
If I was certain that the motor is getting up to it’s full speed at 5 and the 4k speed was somewhere in between, I’d be fine with the tool but with the way its acting, I’m worried that I’m not getting anywhere near the full speed.
Thanks
jared

 

[dmxtothemax]

Was your voltage measurement,
taken under no load condition ?
Or under loaded condition ?
Please put your volt meter on the,
recpticule read the voltage,
Now turn on the sander and read again ?
Does it vary significantly ?

 

[jimn]

115 VAC is certainly with in spec. A little lower than might be average, but not low enough to cause a tool like that to barely run. If it's that voltage sensitive, I would return it and choose another brand.

 

[danpik]

Do you see any lights dimming or getting brighter when big loads like the refrigerator turn off and on? I am betting you have a neutral problem in the house/service

 

[Jim Port]

Sounds like there is a marginal connection in the system that will pass voltage but fails under load.

 

[jpfix]

Thanks everyone. To all, I'll try to get some more accurate answers tonight.

DMX, I get 114 w/ no load and I get 113v w/ the sander turned on at full power. I only loose about .1v when the sander is set to it's lowest. Is 113v getting to be too low (> then 5% drop?). I'll double check these numbers tonight to make sure it's accurate. I may have seen it dip to 112 point something.

Danpik, yeah I think we see some dimming occasionally. Certainly when the vacuum is turned on.

Jim Port. I assume I should put higher loads on several receptacles on various circuits while testing the free outlet??? In the 9 years I've lived here, I've never had any issues with the electric and no other motors are acting up like this ROS.

jared

 

[Jim Port]

Check the same receptacle with another device as the load. Check the sander in another circuit in the house.

 

[AllanJ]

Measure the voltage (or plug in an incandescent light) in one half of the duplex receptacle while the sander is plugged in the other half. (Try several locations in case the one you tried first does not have the two halves wired to the same circuit.)

 

[dougp23]

Measure the voltage (or plug in an incandescent light) in one half of the duplex receptacle while the sander is plugged in the other half. (Try several locations in case the one you tried first does not have the two halves wired to the same circuit.)

I *love* this idea! No way you can miss the light dimming this way!

 

[dmxtothemax]

I think your problem's are two fold,
Your mains supply is slightly low
And your sander is overly sensitive,
to low supply.
There will be sanders out there that
Will work off a lower supply.
Find one, as this is your easiest option.

 

[joed]

112 is not low. If the voltage was dropping below 100 volts, that would be a problem.

 

[jpfix]

Well I don't have much to add to this thread but I did try it at my neighbors house and got the same results as my house - no movement until speed 2 to 2 1/2. I ended up going to HD and exchanging it fairly confident that it would be the same...and it is. Oh well. Until I get a outlet right off my new panel, I likely won't have anything to update.
Just out of curiosity sake, is there a device that would take off the top 110V and leave the remainder for the low setting? Say the ROS expects 120V in so in order to create a slow speed, it chops off 110V and leaves 10V for the low setting. Now at my house with my lower volts, it's still dropping off the 110V but now only has 3 volts left to work.

 

[bernie963]

Hi, If I am reading this thread correctly, your sander works fine everywhere you have tried it except at your house and your neighbors house. is that right? Is your neighbor's house fed off of the same transformer that your house is fed from?

Other than your neighbors and HD, have you tried it anywhere else? Work or another place?

Searching for understanding here, may just be low voltage from your utility.

Bernie

 

[jpfix]

Hi, If I am reading this thread correctly, your sander works fine everywhere you have tried it except at your house and your neighbors house. is that right? Is your neighbor's house fed off of the same transformer that your house is fed from?

Other than your neighbors and HD, have you tried it anywhere else? Work or another place?

Searching for understanding here, may just be low voltage from your utility.

Bernie

Yeah you got it right. I'm guessing the ROS has a min voltage input it needs to function correctly and it seems my neighborhood doesn't meet that requirement.
I called Makita but they were of no help as their tech guy lacked "tech" knowledge.

The tools states it runs on 120v. 5% drop is usually accepted for a motor. That brings us to 114v. My house is about 113.5 to 113.2 under load. Maybe I hit the threshold with this device. Amazon has hundreds of reviews for this ROS and I don't see anyone with the same issue so this is so puzzling. I don't believe that 113/114v is really unusual.

 

[bernie963]

hi,

I agree, it should work. How many meters have you measured voltage with?? DMM or analog (needle) Is your neighbor on the same transformer(On the pole)??

If neighbor is on the same tub (transformer) I think it is time to call the utility and ask to speak with engineering. Do not talk to a regular cust service rep (I was one many years ago) There may be a voltage lead/lag issue in your service area.

keep us posted, Where are you located??

Bernie

 

[jpfix]

hi,

I agree, it should work. How many meters have you measured voltage with?? DMM or analog (needle) Is your neighbor on the same transformer(On the pole)??

If neighbor is on the same tub (transformer) I think it is time to call the utility and ask to speak with engineering. Do not talk to a regular cust service rep (I was one many years ago) There may be a voltage lead/lag issue in your service area.

keep us posted, Where are you located??

Bernie

I've used two digital meters. The first one was pretty crappy and I purchased a new one just for this problem.
The neighbor is on the same transformer. I tried calling the utility but the hold times were longer then my patience so I emailed them instead. I suppose I'll get a generic response back so I feel your right in that I should try to call and get an engineer if possible. I live in San Diego.

 

[dmxtothemax]

The problem is likely twofold.
Slightly low mains voltage.
And
A power tool that seems unusually,
sensitive to low mains voltage.

So either poco has to supply some,
more juice (expensive).
Or replace the power tool with one,
a little less fussy. (Cheapest option).