Obsolete Drum Switches

The drum controller was an integral part of industrial manufacturing in the past. Motor starting and control has evolved tremendously over the years in the industrial environment and the drum controller, in most cases, has become a thing of the past. The drum controller was an inefficient means of motor strating and control. It suffered from continual mechanical wear and arcing of the contacts.

However, obsolete drum switches open up a new page in the book of down-time. Since failure of these units usually amounts to an upgrade, being able to replace wearable contact parts on the fly can at the very least, reduce down-toime as an upgrade is planned and budgeted.

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Drum Switch Troubleshooting

For the most parts, human discretion and the human touch was responasible for the speed at which the motor was to be accelerated. When they operate properly, they provided us with a controlled motor starting. When they failed, they could leave us helpless in a costly situation on the shop floor. Some factories still use the drum controller on machinery that is old but still functional, in production but not worthy of upgrading.

Fortunately, drum controller problems can be fairly simple to diagnose, sometimes the bigger issue is finding replacement parts for drum controllers in an environment where ever-changing technology and design can phase out, or completely eliminate this type of technology from the available parts catalog annually. Drum controller contacts, the copper or silver alloy coated conductors, seem to be the most commonly failed parts due to arcing and mechanical wear.

For ease of use, accessibility, and available industrial Drum Switches, we've been referring individuals to eBay. It almost seems too easy but we've found many parts available that we thought we'd never find. Even after checking with larger parts houses, we still come back and check here regularly. It is not unusual to find obsolete Allen Bradly Drum Switches, Westinghouse Drum Switches, Square D Drum Switches, or obsolete GE Drum Switches listed daily.

These parts are those that were posted as a result of hard times at other companies and in many cases are NOS (new old stock).

Machine downtime due to an obsolete drum switch is a reality for many. There are options, however, nothing is ever easy. Here is a systematic approach, a simple yet effective method in dealing with a failed component that has likely been phased out by the manufacturer and no longer readily available.

1. Identify your problem... Making a positive identification of the failed component is the crucial first step. Troubleshooting is not a synonym for guess-work. It is a scientific method of determining a problem. There should be no doubt as to the source of the problem. This is determined through testing and not guessing.

2. Check the shelf... That's right, all too many times has a spare component or unit been passed over and found a day late. It sounds simple, but it is always the next step. Don't go looking for something that doesn't need to be found.

3. Check with the manufacturer... A website visit, email, or quick phone call to inquire about a a drop-in replacement is common sense. This step will deliver the bad news if obsolescence is indeed the case.

4. Check eBay... Believe it or not, this has become somewhat of a flea market for old industrial parts. By many, it is still considered to be a website for collectibles and the like, but a quick search can actually reveal a different side to the 'bay. Many private sellers post industrial components as a buy it now type listing, therefore bypassing the auction format all together.

Take a moment and browse the eBay listings since they are always changing...

5. No positive results? explore other options... If your particular drum switch is ultimately deemed obsolete and unavailable, you'll need to take the next path of least resistance. This may be upgrade or update your equipment with newer components. The good news is that your machinery or industrial equipment will most likely not need complete re-engineering or a top-to-bottom overhaul to accomodate new components. Adjustments to your system are possible when there is no other choice.

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Our maintenance forum is jam packed with troubleshooting questions and answer, historical data, and general conversation on almost any topic . Forums are broken down into the maintenance saloon, troubleshooting 101, electrical and electronics, mechanical issues, and the classified ads.SMF file version (2.1.2) does not match SMF database version (2.1.4).
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We also offer free industrial classified ad system complete with a category designed for want ads. We strongly encourage those with individual parts for sale, specifically new or vintage drum switches, to list them at OI. Ad creation takes only a few minutes and is free of charge.

Those requiring an odd-ball part or obsolete component can place a want ad just as easily, again, with no fees associated with ads. The OI ad system is at your disposal... Place a want ad, list your individual parts for sale, or post a listing for your company here.

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We are a technology based organization. All information regarding drum switches has been contributed by a community of industrialists. We do not warehouse parts and components, but provide a means for perspective buyers and sellers to achieve their goals.

See also: DC Magnetic Motor Controllers | Contactors | Relays | Servo Motors | Stepper Motors | Stepping Motors | Proximity Sensors | PLC Hardware | Variable Frequency Drives | Motor Inverters | PLC Racks | Vintage Breakers | Electro-Pneumatic Valves | Position Encoders | Position Resolvers | Pulse Coders | Reversing Motor Starters | Variable Speed Drives | Contactor Coils | Gear Motors | Relay Solenoids | Electronic Solenoids | Varidrive Parts | Soft Starters | Servo Amps | Electic Motor Tachs

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