Is "Power Supply Off" necessary?

[Tom Albrecht]

To the best of my knowledge, many modern lathes have a main power supply switch in addition to the basic "Forward, Reverse, & Stop" switches.
Is it important, recommended, or necessary to shut down the main power supply at the end of the day?

 

[Richard Coers]

Depends on if there is a VFD and how it’s wired. You don’t want them powered up 24/7

 

[Steve Tiedman]

I not only kill that main power switch on both lathes, I have power kill switches wired in at the wall receptacles. I never know when something sneaky is going to come down the mains from the pole outside.

 

[Richard Coers]

I not only kill that main power switch on both lathes, I have power kill switches wired in at the wall receptacles. I never know when something sneaky is going to come down the mains from the pole outside.

If you ever see ball lightning go across the floor inside your home, you wouldn’t even trust the kill switch.

 

[Tom Albrecht]

'Nough said! Consider it done here.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

If you ever see ball lightning go across the floor inside your home, you wouldn’t even trust the kill switch.

Phew! The next two phone calls would be:
1- 911.
2- insurance company!
Assuming I live to tell about it!

 

[Ric Taylor]

If you ever see ball lightning go across the floor inside your home, you wouldn’t even trust the kill switch.

Family lore is that ball lightning rolled in an open door, across the floor and killed my great grandfather sitting in his chair. I never have been able to confirm the story, but the elders always told the story.

 

[Gabriel Hoff]

To the best of my knowledge, many modern lathes have a main power supply switch in addition to the basic "Forward, Reverse, & Stop" switches.
Is it important, recommended, or necessary to shut down the main power supply at the end of the day?

I just unplug at the end of the day.

 

[john lucas]

I always unplug at the end of the day.

 

[James Seyfried]

Don't forget to unplug your compressor, dust collector, bandsaws, table saw, grinders, jointer, miter saw, shop vac, planer, battery chargers, tv, and drum sander!

Seriously though what is the criteria for what to unplug? I do have some tools that have electronics that stay on when switched off, on outlets that I switch off. I know that doesn't eliminate lightning damage, but I do have insurance.

 

[Tom Albrecht]

Don't forget to unplug your compressor, dust collector, bandsaws, table saw, grinders, jointer, miter saw, shop vac, planer, battery chargers, tv, and drum sander!

Seriously though what is the criteria for what to unplug? I do have some tools that have electronics that stay on when switched off, on outlets that I switch off. I know that doesn't eliminate lightning damage, but I do have insurance.

Personally, my concern comes from protecting the VFD system, which I don't have in any of the other tools you mentioned.

 

[Jerry Bennett]

By leaving the power on, the solid state electronics is vulnerable to spikes on the line unless you have adequate protection.

 

[Ron Solfest]

I unplug the lathe when I’m not in the shop, and turn off the SawStop; otherwise I don’t unplug typically. So electronics in the Oneida dust collector and PM overhead air filter are active (b/c waited my for RF switch signal) just like TVs in the house etc are.

I do have a whole house surge protector wired to the load center (realistically for in-house line spikes, not for direct lighting strikes). Guess I’m rolling the dice for lighting strikes…not too worried about it.

We travel frequently (~half-time) and do typically flip shop load center breakers off if we’re going to be gone for more than a month. Not that a lightening strike couldn’t jump the house load center, then shop breakers, and then tool switch…but that’s just what I do.

As others have said I think the only real issue is not leaving VFDs and my SawStop circuitry always powered up, not for a lightning reason but just continual bias.

 

[John K Jordan]

For my PM lathe I have a separate 220v disconnect plus a 220v surge protector plugged into the wall. And still unplug when traveling or a storm threatens. A disconnect switch is not ultimate protection from lightning surges.

All computers have good UPS and those plus everything else with electronics that runs on 110v power is plugged into 6 or 8 outlet Tripp-Lite surge protecters as recommended by tech pro son - these come with connected equipment insurance.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000513US

I started buying and using more of these after lightning struck a tree in my woods a few years ago - took out a fence charger at the horse pasture, a TV, and a desktop shop computer motherboard. Audio/video things plugged into the Tripp-Lite were not affected. I think the spike came through the ground and traveled to the shop through an underground ethernet cable. (Fried some ethernet switches and a router in the shop too.) I always buy good warranties on computers so a tech makes house calls to replace such things.

Note that whole-house surge protectors for breaker panels are available at electrical supply companies. The utility company not far from us put them on every breaker panel in their service area at no charge.

JKJ

 

[Fred Hargis]

I unplug those tools that have what i consider sensitive electronics. The lathe is one of those tools and there's 4 others. But those with just a switch and motor fend on their own.

 

[Bill Blasic]

At the end of play each day everything in the shop except phone, wifi, microwave and furnace is unplugged.

 

[James Seyfried]

With more tools, equipment and appliances having sensitive electronics having a good whole-house surge protector is recommended. For new installations or upgrades they are required by code. For anyone that doesn’t have a whole-house surge protector in their main panel, I highly recommend that you do. They are not expensive and are easy to install (for an electrician!). Of course that won’t protect against a direct lightning hit, that will also cause a fire. But insurance will cover that.

Now, if you are leaving your house or shop for extended periods of time, shutting the water off (and freeze protection) will save more mishaps statistically than unplugging stuff.

I'm not trying to persuade anyone to not unplug equipment, or argue that you shouldn't. Was just curious of the rational to decide what to unplug.

 

[Fred Hargis]

Was just curious of the rational to decide what to unplug.

I should have been more specific, I mentioned the sensitive electronics; I unplug those when i fear a thunderstorm may show up (or if our power goes out). Actually even the slightest chance of a T storm. Otherwise they stay plugged in. The power outage thing is because sometimes once things get reconnected on the grid there's a real surge in the electric.

 

[Dave Landers]

We don't have power spike issues here. Rarely have lightening. (We have had a couple power outages during 100+ mph winds.)
I've never had a problem nor concern (of course, as a lawyer or investment firm would say: past performance does not predict future outcomes).
But everything stays on and plugged in: lathes, remote switches for dust collector etc, computer, monitors, wifi router, cameras, smart thermostat, battery trickle chargers, garage door opener, ....
I do often unplug some things if we're going to be away for a couple weeks, just to save a few bucks on electric. But it's just too many things to deal with on a daily basis (vs the risk for me here). And I need to at least leave on the wifi and thermostat to keep the heat running.

It's all designed to be left on, so I leave it on.

Of course if you live in an area where lightening is typical (or electrical service is suspect) then you need to take extra precautions. Just sharing my situation....

 

[John K Jordan]

We don't have power spike issues here. Rarely have lightening

That’s fortunate! The tree struck at our place was maybe 200’ from the house, 600’ from my shop. The lightning split the tree - I found pieces in a circle almost 100’ from the tree trunk! Sounded like a bomb exploding.

Had other trees hit and blew off bark down one side but they recovered. Many of the y.Poplar trees here are huge, over 3’ in diameter.

A friend brought me a log once for my sawmill - said it was walnut. Cutting into it I found it was actually y.Poplar. A lightning strike had burned a deep grove down one side, about 1/2” wide and 4” deep. It turned the wood dark inside with some beautiful purples and other colors. I understand some people call this “rainbow” poplar.

JKJ

 

[hughie]

Well yes for VFD'S etc but other wise the stop switch on the lathe should be more than adequate.