Power drill question

Ramrod · 25-11-2004, 15:46

Hello all,strange question time

I've got a 6mo Bosch powerdrill. Just been drilling holes in the wall and noticed that if I look into the drill while I'm drilling (through it's vents), I can see blue sparks. Is it normal to get sparks inside the drill? I'm thinking it may be something to do with the brick dust interacting with the electric motor......

...or is the drill on it's way out?

Any ideas anyone?

bopdude · 25-11-2004, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Hello all,strange question time

I've got a 6mo Bosch powerdrill. Just been drilling holes in the wall and noticed that if I look into the drill while I'm drilling (through it's vents), I can see blue sparks. Is it normal to get sparks inside the drill? I'm thinking it may be something to do with the brick dust interacting with the electric motor......

...or is the drill on it's way out?

Any ideas anyone?

You quite often get this, depending on a few factors some arcing will be worse than others, if its an old drill it may be time to swap the brushes over, or better still get it serviced

HTH

Jon M · 25-11-2004, 15:53

I'm so glad you're a chiropractor and not a dentist.. that title would have scared me silly otherwise.

Stu038 · 25-11-2004, 15:57

Nature of the beast mate, you would normally expect to see some sparking, put simply this is often caused because the circuit is constantly made and broken as the commutator rotates.
The only time to worry is if they're huge great big ones leaping out of the casing

**Derek S** · 25-11-2004, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu038

The only time to worry is if they're huge great big ones leaping out of the casing

Or from the wall itself...

**Chris** · 25-11-2004, 16:08

Electric sparks in my dad's drill is what used to terrify me about it when I was a wee lad ... even more so than the noise of it.

I still don't like drills. /shudder

Stu038 · 25-11-2004, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezzo

Or from the wall itself...

That ones not too bad mate, its when the water starts to pour out that its a pain. Especially if your on you own, hmm do I risk stuffing up the carpet and the wall while I go for the stop cock and start drianing the heating down or do I stand here with my finger in the hole hoping someone else comes soon

Earl of Bronze · 25-11-2004, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu038

That ones not too bad mate, its when the water starts to pour out that its a pain. Especially if your on you own, hmm do I risk stuffing up the carpet and the wall while I go for the stop cock and start drianing the heating down or do I stand here with my finger in the hole hoping someone else comes soon

Its even more of a worry when you drill a heating pipe six inches from an electrical socket, and the water is draining out of the socket and pooling round you're feet. All the time holding you're finger over the drill hole, to slow the leak.

paulyoung666 · 25-11-2004, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl of Bronze

Its even more of a worry when you drill a heating pipe six inches from an electrical socket, and the water is draining out of the socket and pooling round you're feet. All the time holding you're finger over the drill hole, to slow the leak.

speaking from experience then

as said before the sparks are not a great deal to worry about unlles they are great big ones , you should be able to get new brushes cheaply and are easy enough to fit

25-11-2004, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Hello all,strange question time

I've got a 6mo Bosch powerdrill. Just been drilling holes in the wall and noticed that if I look into the drill while I'm drilling (through it's vents), I can see blue sparks. Is it normal to get sparks inside the drill? I'm thinking it may be something to do with the brick dust interacting with the electric motor......

...or is the drill on it's way out?

Any ideas anyone?

why use a power drill when your a ramrod

this is normal, if you look at the armature (the rotating piece) you will see that there are a number of coils and these are connected to the brushes by a series of copper plates which are called the commutator. As the armature spins the brushes pass over the comutator and as the brush covers two sections of the commuator this can cause a small spark. The sparks can increase due to dust, worn commutator (the copper or the insutlator), worn brushes and also by and increase in load on the motor (ie you ramming it into the wall)

**Paul M** · 25-11-2004, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Is it normal to get sparks inside the drill?

Yes

**Graham M** · 25-11-2004, 18:00

Paul M's answer is the simplest and most effective wouldnt you say? We dont need to know the phsyics of how a drill removes material from a wall too

paulyoung666 · 25-11-2004, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Paul M's answer is the simplest and most effective wouldnt you say? We dont need to know the phsyics of how a drill removes material from a wall too

and whats wrong with a bit of background

greencreeper · 25-11-2004, 19:11

The dangers of curiosity huh

Ramrod · 25-11-2004, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu038

Nature of the beast mate, you would normally expect to see some sparking, put simply this is often caused because the circuit is constantly made and broken as the commutator rotates.
The only time to worry is if they're huge great big ones leaping out of the casing

It's more of a blue glow so all is probably well. Thanks all!

edit----finally finished making & putting up the shelves today