8 replies to this topic

[jeffez]

I have one of these ball mills, for making black powder.


I need to know its power consumption (amps or watts). I'm in aus and i run it though a step down converter 240v>120v that provides a maximum of 100w. I need to know if this is enough, so that i can be sure my mill is running as well as it should be. I've looked everywhere but had no luck finding out its specs.

Does anyone else have one of these or know how much it uses?

[wjames]

50 or 60 hz ?

240v 50hz to 110v 50hz i presume.

100w at 120 volts is around 0.8 amps.

I should think it'll be just fine.

[jeffez]

50 or 60 hz ?

240v 50hz to 110v 50hz i presume.

100w at 120 volts is around 0.8 amps.

I should think it'll be just fine.

The converter is doing 200-240v 60hz to 100-120v 60hz

The mill runs on standard US 110-120v 60hz.

So the 0.8 or so amps would be plenty to run its motor then?

Edited by jeffez, 15 November 2008 - 01:16 AM.

[wjames]

it'll be fine.

Just, a quick word of warning...if your milling BP...i'd keep the step down a good distance away from the mill.....even more so if it has a fan built in !

[jeffez]

it'll be fine.

Just, a quick word of warning...if your milling BP...i'd keep the step down a good distance away from the mill.....even more so if it has a fan built in !

Really? errr i have it running right next to the mill. It also has two fans in it. I built the unit myself because allot of ac voltage converters that you buy cant handle the constant use. The first one i bought blew up after 6 hours.

By good distance do you mean a couple of meters or so?

Edited by jeffez, 15 November 2008 - 12:44 PM.

[wjames]

yeah, just add a few metres of flex.....even better if you add a firewall of some type......what you just wrote should exlpain why im saying a "good distance" i.e "BLEW up after 6 hours"

Blew up as in BANG...next to a nice ball mill full of black powder.........

only reason i mentioned fan is because air float composition has a nasty habit of finding the once place you dont want it finding......

[portfire]

only reason i mentioned fan is because air float composition has a nasty habit of finding the once place you dont want it finding......

This is not really a problem, if you have good working practices you should be fine. The mill jar should be airtight and you will have no problem with airfloat comps....Saying that, you could distance the converter, just incase it does over heat, spark etc but this still would not cause any "real" hazard as such....though better safe than sorry.

Edited by portfire, 15 November 2008 - 08:17 AM.

[Arthur Brown]

It is very wise to be careful! that mill will contain enough BP or other compound to make a big bang, and good airfloat really does float in draughts of air and gets everywhere.

Put the mill somewhere, and the converter and switch elsewhere. It is really easy to make a batch of BP cleanly but it gets less easy to stay clean if you make a batch every day!

[portfire]

good airfloat really does float in draughts of air and gets everywhere.

Indeed, hence me saying having good working practices (should have been more clear, early and hungover ) A clean workshop is a safe workshop.