I Want To Keep Both Hands On My Work!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Basically the foot pedal should just interrupt the live wire. Lets see a pic of the foot switch.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Basically the foot pedal should just interrupt the live wire. Lets see a pic of the foot switch.

Aye, that is my thought too

[Bigmallly]

Ok, just to answer a few points. I would never be insulted by any questions Potty so don't worry about that. AP, I didn't want to cut into the saw's lead unless it makes life easy.
Ok Pic Time:

Pic 1 = Pedal
Pic 2 = Wire Colours
Pic 3 = Instruction label on pedal
Pic 4 = Switch.

..............................

[Bigmallly]

Just a thought, there is room to fit 2 leads into the pedal & I have plenty of connectors if I need to remove any from the switch itself.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I've spoken to my brother and he confirms what Potty said about only live needing to be interrupted.

He confirms

Live from socket goes to COMMON/WHITE.
N/O goes to live connection for machine
Neutral go to machine via connector block
Earth go to machine via connector block
IGNORE N/C but make sure any wire from N/C is removed or taped up to prevent anyone touching and getting a shock.
If switch on machine is just a on/off switch leave switch in ON position and work machine with foot switch but put in off position when NOT in use.

Clear as mud to me but hopefully will make sense to you guys.

Take no risks BM. for six quid or thereabouts, Skeggijon's solution looks cheap and practical

[Bigmallly]

Cheers AP & thank your brother. This is a diagram I found on t'internet but am lost as to where the black wire goes from the switch, I taped it up & tried it but it didn't work.

[Aberdeenplotter]

BM, I've deleted what I said above and replaced with my brothers words and there are differences to what was there before.

[Bigmallly]

Cheers AP, I'll try it tomorrow. I was wondering about avoiding the ext lead so I've got exactly the same drawing in front of me. The only difference is I was not gonna cut the neutral & earth, only the live which will run through the switch. If I do happen to cut the other wires I'll re-connect them with connector blocks. Thanks again, I'll let you know how it goes

[Bill HH]

When in a position such as this you may wish to think outside the box. Have you any other bodily appendage that could be brought into use to hold the work while you turn the machine on?

[Bigmallly]

I think it would be safer if I got another appendage to turn the machine on & off Bill...............

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sorry about leaving you guys had a call out and my man was not available.

BM I agree with APs brother. and the pencil diagram you drew. The black wire from the switch should be put into a connector block and taped over as it is not in use.

The micro switch (red box) is a duel purpose switch it has two positions 'at rest' and 'active' as shown on the front of red box. In the at rest position the connection is between the white wire and the black wire making the black wire live at all times. In the active position the switch changes and puts the live from the white wire to the red wire which is the switched live to the machine.

In your case you only need two wires white live in red live out.

In case you don't know the switch is activated by the little black protruding button on the top edge. Pushing this in moves the switch from the 'at rest' position to the 'active' position, make sure that when you operate the pedal this black button is pushed fully home to operate the switch.

To test the switch itself I would disconnect all foreign wires and test for continuity between the red and white connections on the switch with the black button pushed in.

If I did not have a basic continuity tester I would unplug from the mains and tape up any bare wires on the switch to stop me getting sparks between me tabs. Apply power, make sure the machine is turned on and manually push in the black button. If at this stage your machine does not run the bladdy micro switch is faulty time for a .................refund.

[Bigmallly]

Cheers Potty & thanks for your time & advice. Much appreciated.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Your more than welcome.

One more thought if you are in nice quite surroundings you can sometimes hear the switch click when you press the button whilst holding it to your ear which might give you a guide before setting out on the route above. Make sure its unplugged before holding it to your ear

[Bigmallly]

I've checked the micro switch, it appears to be in order but who knows. I wired everything as per the drawing but no joy...........I'm just hoping the ext had a break in it or it affected the flow somehow. I'll try tomorrow without the extension lead.

[bearded bloke]

On your switch

NO = Normally Open
NC =Normally Closed
Com=Common

Connect the live feed to Com
Connect the NO to the motor
Disconnect & insulate the NC terminal as it will be live when the motor isn't running