Electric wood chipper - Page 2

u3b3rg33k · 07-02-20, 02:50 AM

I wanted an electric chipper but I couldn't find one I liked, so I threw a face mount motor and VFD on where an engine once lived. Idles at 300W, makes 10+ torque for short periods, full power at half of original rated RPM. not having to deal with a gas engine is nice. It costs about $0.04/hr to idle at speed.

kevinelliott · 09-15-20, 08:11 AM

I am new to gardening and I found this forum so informative!

oil pan 4 · 09-15-20, 12:45 PM

Well I almost killed my little electric wood chipper.
I took the guard off the top so I could fit more sticks in it. It's definitely dangerous, it's a good way to lose some fingers.
It's also about 10x easier to overload the little machine.
So I got the armature so hot it melted the cooling fan off the end of the motor.
I need a better cooling system. I took a 3 inch aluminum duct, hole sawed the fan cover so the aluminum duct will fit in side then spray foamed it into place, hooked it up to an old noisy bathroom fan to force air through the motor.
Now I can cool the motor with the wood chipper off.
I still may need to get a gasoline powered one.

I was looking at electric ones and the cheapest I could find was over $2,000.

u3b3rg33k · 09-16-20, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Well I almost killed my little electric wood chipper.
I took the guard off the top so I could fit more sticks in it. It's definitely dangerous, it's a good way to lose some fingers.
It's also about 10x easier to overload the little machine.
So I got the armature so hot it melted the cooling fan off the end of the motor.
I need a better cooling system. I took a 3 inch aluminum duct, hole sawed the fan cover so the aluminum duct will fit in side then spray foamed it into place, hooked it up to an old noisy bathroom fan to force air through the motor.
Now I can cool the motor with the wood chipper off.
I still may need to get a gasoline powered one.

I was looking at electric ones and the cheapest I could find was over $2,000.

Please post a picture that sounds hilarious.
do you have 220V power readily available? you could probably pick up a free gas chipper on craiglist and slap a "5hp compressor motor" on it as a direct engine replacement.

FYI mine has no fan at all.

oil pan 4 · 09-16-20, 11:58 PM

Yes I have 240v on 20 amp breaker out side the garage for leaf charging and to run my electric pressure washer.
Then have 240v on a 60 or 70 amp breaker inside by the garage door.

07-02-20, 02:50 AM	#11
u3b3rg33k Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Rustbelt, USA Posts: 114 Thanks: 5 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	I wanted an electric chipper but I couldn't find one I liked, so I threw a face mount motor and VFD on where an engine once lived. Idles at 300W, makes 10+ torque for short periods, full power at half of original rated RPM. not having to deal with a gas engine is nice. It costs about $0.04/hr to idle at speed. Attached Thumbnails

09-15-20, 08:11 AM	#12
kevinelliott Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: UK Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I am new to gardening and I found this forum so informative! Last edited by kevinelliott; 09-16-20 at 02:18 AM..

09-15-20, 12:45 PM	#13
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	Well I almost killed my little electric wood chipper. I took the guard off the top so I could fit more sticks in it. It's definitely dangerous, it's a good way to lose some fingers. It's also about 10x easier to overload the little machine. So I got the armature so hot it melted the cooling fan off the end of the motor. I need a better cooling system. I took a 3 inch aluminum duct, hole sawed the fan cover so the aluminum duct will fit in side then spray foamed it into place, hooked it up to an old noisy bathroom fan to force air through the motor. Now I can cool the motor with the wood chipper off. I still may need to get a gasoline powered one. I was looking at electric ones and the cheapest I could find was over $2,000.

09-16-20, 11:58 PM	#15
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	Yes I have 240v on 20 amp breaker out side the garage for leaf charging and to run my electric pressure washer. Then have 240v on a 60 or 70 amp breaker inside by the garage door.