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Testing 115v motor, how?

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I bought a bunch of new looking motors at an auction; might be new, might be warranty junk. I have two of them that have a weird plug on the cord where it goes to the saw. It looks just like the cord for a guitar amp with the three narrow female slots. I'd just plug it in and test it but the thing that has me spooked is the tag says, "motor must be grounded". I pulled the cover and ground is in the right place. Do I need to ground it some other way or does that just mean it needs to be plugged into a grounded plug?
 
The 2hp works! I bought 5 motors for $11o total and three run like champs. So far I have a good 2hp, 1hp and 3/4hp all Delta. If I can get the 1 1/2 and the other 2hp going I might wind up with a free table saw and jointer both with brand new motors!
 
I'm thinking a grounded motor and grounded power are two separate things. I know when dealing with live music performances, you have direct boxes which are supposed to take a 1/4 inch instrument cable and ground it by converting it into a 3-wire XLR cable. You also have the option of "lifting ground" with some of the boxes...and this is regardless on whether or not the instrument, such as a keyboard, already has a grounded power supply.
 
My studio is powered by a temp pole (although it's permanent). I took it outside, set it on top of the ground rod and plugged it straight into the pole.
 
Billy, just make sure they are 120 volts. Some of those 3 wire motors are 240. Rotation can be changed on some motors just by changing the wires inside to different lugs, but not all motors have this option. Main thing, be very careful, if not properly grounded, electricity will seek the nearest grounding object, possibly you! Be careful!! PJ
 
If you have any kind of continuity tester simply plug the cord into the motor and test from the grounding prong on the cord cap to the casing of the motor. If you have continuity then the motor is grounded.

Its probably marked " must be grounded " because it is made to be used in various applications and is not a double insulated motor that doesn't need to be grounded.
 
PAUL161 said:
Billy, just make sure they are 120 volts. Some of those 3 wire motors are 240. Rotation can be changed on some motors just by changing the wires inside to different lugs, but not all motors have this option. Main thing, be very careful, if not properly grounded, electricity will seek the nearest grounding object, possibly you! Be careful!! PJ
Click to expand...

I opened it up and it's a no brainer for even me. It has a little plug you move from "115" to "220" with an arrow that clearly indicates which position it's in.
 
I tested the other 2hp and it works great too! The 1 1/2 was locked up....due to a improperly installed cooling fan shroud. It's freed up now but is missing both capacitors. I think I'll just leave that one be. I'm sure it will run; none of these motors have any marks on the mounting bolts from being installed. I'm pretty sure these were discontinued display units.
 
f you have any kind of continuity tester simply plug the cord into the motor and test from the grounding prong on the cord cap to the casing of the motor. If you have continuity then the motor is grounded.

:iagree:-------Provided you have a three wire power distribution system.
 
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