Larger and better equipped than hand held power tools, the right machinery can easily turn the toughest and most expensive jobs from a nightmare into a dream. Is also becomes a very cost effective alternative when you calculate the time you will save, the low level of exertion that is required, and the satisfaction and pride you will feel upon your job’s completion. Machinery is manufactured for both home use and trade use.
Machinery available on the market today has been divided into the following categories.
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The machinery discussed here does refer to large power tools. For hand held power tools, please see Power Tools.
Before you begin, it is a good idea to understand the basic electrical terminology that is used in the following pages.
Current (A)
This is the movement of electrons through a circuit, and is like a measure of the amount of water flowing through a pipe. Current is measured in Amperes (Amps).
– Direct Current (DC)
This is the flow of current in one direction (from negative to positive). Cordless tools operate off direct current.
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– Alternating Current (AC)
This is current that alternates its direction of flow. Alternating current is found in all Australian mains power outlets, and is what al corded power tools operate off.
Voltage (V)
This is the pressure that causes the electrons to flow through a conductor. It is measured in Volts.
Power (W)
Power is the current standard measurement of work, and defines the conversion of electrical energy to heat, motion, light, or sound. It is measured in Watts. Horsepower (Hp) was the old standard, and although it is still used, the majority of tools are now defined in Watts. If you do need to convert between the two for comparison however, 1Hp = 746W.
Formula: Power (W) = Current (A) x Voltage (V)
The wattage stated on all power tools is know as input power, and is an indication of the demand a tool will place on a power outlet under normal operating conditions. A general power outlet (GPO) is rated to 2400W. This means two tools of a nominal wattage totalling more than 2400W must be used on separate GPO’s.
Output wattage is the power that makes it to the business end of the tool. This will only be a percentage of the input wattage, and will greatly depend on the efficiency of the tool. Generally speaking, higher quality tools have greater efficiency and require less input power to produce the same power output.