RIDGID PowerClear User Manual
Drain Cleaner Manual
™
PowerClear
Drain Cleaning Machine
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
PowerClear™ Drain Cleaning Machine
Table of Contents
Recording Form for Machine Serial Number ..................................................................................................................................1
Safety Symbols ..................................................................................................................................................................................2
General Power Tool Safety Warnings
Work Area Safety ............................................................................................................................................................................2
Electrical Safety ..............................................................................................................................................................................2
Personal Safety ..............................................................................................................................................................................3
Power Tool Use and Care ..............................................................................................................................................................3
Service ............................................................................................................................................................................................3
Specific Safety Information
Drain Cleaner Safety Warnings ......................................................................................................................................................3
Description and Specifications
Description ......................................................................................................................................................................................4
Specifications ..................................................................................................................................................................................5
Switch Icons ....................................................................................................................................................................................5
Machine Assembly ............................................................................................................................................................................5
Configuring Guide Hose/AUTOFEED Assembly ............................................................................................................................6
Pre-Operation Inspection ..................................................................................................................................................................6
Machine and Work Area Set-Up........................................................................................................................................................7
Operating Instructions ......................................................................................................................................................................9
Feeding the Cable into the Drain ....................................................................................................................................................9
Passing Through Traps or Other Transitions ................................................................................................................................10
Cleaning the Drain ........................................................................................................................................................................10
Working the Blockage ..................................................................................................................................................................10
Handling a Stuck Tool ..................................................................................................................................................................11
Freeing a Stuck Tool ....................................................................................................................................................................11
Retrieving the Cable......................................................................................................................................................................11
Draining the Machine ....................................................................................................................................................................11
Preparing for Transport ................................................................................................................................................................11
Maintenance Instructions
Opening Drain Cleaner/Removing Drum ......................................................................................................................................12
Cleaning ........................................................................................................................................................................................12
Replacing the Cable......................................................................................................................................................................12
Optional Equipment ........................................................................................................................................................................13
Machine Storage ..............................................................................................................................................................................13
Service and Repair ..........................................................................................................................................................................13
Disposal ............................................................................................................................................................................................13
Troubleshooting ..............................................................................................................................................................................14
EC Declaration of Conformity................................................................................................................................Inside Back Cover
Lifetime Warranty ..............................................................................................................................................................Back Cover
*Original Instructions - English
ii
Drain Cleaner
™
PowerClear
Drain Cleaning Machine
WARNING!
Read this Operator’s Manual
carefully before using this
tool. Failure to understand
and follow the contents of
this manual may result in
electrical shock, re and/or
serious personal injury.
PowerClear™ Drain Cleaning Machine
Record Serial Number below and retain product serial number which is located on name plate.
Serial
No.
PowerClear™ Drain Cleaning Machine
Safety Symbols
In this operator’s manual and on the product, safety symbols and signal words are used to communicate important safety information. This section is provided to improve understanding of these signal words and symbols.
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this
symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
DANGER
WARNING
CAUTION
NOTICE
NOTICE indicates information that relates to the protection of property.
This symbol means read the operator’s manual carefully before using the equipment. The operator’s manual
contains important information on the safe and proper
operation of the equipment.
This symbol means always wear safety glasses with
side shields or goggles when handling or using this
equipment to reduce the risk of eye injury.
DANGER indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.
General Power Tool Safety
Warnings*
WARNING
Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specifications provided with this power
tool. Failure to follow all instructions listed below
may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious
injury.
SAVE ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE!
The term "power tool" in the warnings refers to your
mains-operated (corded) power tool or battery-operated
(cordless) power tool.
Work Area Safety
• Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark
areas invite accidents.
• Do not operate power tools in explosive atmo-
spheres, such as in the presence of flammable
liquids, gases, or dust. Power tools create sparks
which may ignite the dust or fumes.
• Keep children and by-standers away while operat-
ing a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose
control.
This symbol indicates the risk of hands, fingers or other
body parts being caught, wrapped or crushed in the
drain cleaning cable.
This symbol indicates the risk of electrical shock.
Electrical Safety
• Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never
mod ify the plug in any way. Do not use any
adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power
tools. Unmodi fied plugs and matching outlets will
reduce risk of electric shock.
• Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded sur-
faces such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electrical shock
if your body is earthed or grounded.
• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet condi-
tions. Water entering a power tool will increase the risk
of electrical shock.
• Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for
carrying, pulling or unplugging the power tool.
Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or
moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase
the risk of electric shock.
• When operating a power tool outdoors, use an
extension cord suitable for outdoor use. Use of a
cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of electric shock.
• If operating a power tool in a damp location is
unavoidable, use a ground fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) protected supply. Use of a GFCI reduces
the risk of electric shock.
* The text used in the General Power Tool Safety Warnings section of this manual is verbatim, as required, from the applicable UL/CSA 62841 edition standard.
This section contains general safety practices for many different types of power tools. Not every precaution applies to every tool, and some do not apply to this
tool.
2
PowerClear™ Drain Cleaning Machine
Personal Safety
• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool. Do not
use a power tool while you are tired or under the
influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A mo -
ment of inattention while operating power tools may
result in serious personal injury.
• Use personal protective equipment. Always wear
eye protection. Protective equipment such as dust
mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing
protection used for appropriate conditions will reduce
personal injuries.
• Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch
is in the OFF position before connecting to power
source and/or battery pack, picking up or carrying
the tool. Carrying power tools with your finger on the
switch or energizing power tools that have the switch
ON invites accidents.
• Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turn-
ing the power tool ON. A wrench or a key left attached
to a rotating part of the power tool may result in personal injury.
storing power tools. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.
• Store idle power tools out of the reach of children
and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the power
tool or these instructions to operate the tool. Power
tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
• Maintain power tools. Check for misalignment or
binding of moving parts, breakage of parts and any
other condition that may affect the power tool’s op er ation. If damaged, have the power tool repaired
before use. Many accidents are caused by poorly
maintained power tools.
• Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly main-
tained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges are less
likely to bind and are easier to control.
• Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits etc. in
accordance with these instructions, taking into
account the working conditions and the work to be
performed. The use of the power tool for operations dif-
ferent from those intended could result in a hazardous
situation.
• Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and bal-
ance at all times. This enables better control of the
power tool in unexpected situations.
• Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewelry. Keep your hair, and clothing away from
moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair
can be caught in moving parts.
• If devices are provided for the connection of dust
extraction and collection facilities, ensure these are
connected and properly used. Use of dust collection
can reduce dust-related hazards.
• Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of
tools allow you to become complacent and ignore
tool safety principles. A careless action can cause
severe injury within a fraction of a second.
Power Tool Use and Care
• Do not force power tool. Use the correct power tool
for your application. The correct power tool will do the
job better and safer at the rate for which it is designed.
• Do not use power tool if the switch does not turn it
ON and OFF. Any power tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be
repaired.
• Disconnect the plug from the power source and/or
the battery pack from the power tool before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or
• Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean
and free from oil and grease. Slippery handles and
grasping surfaces do not allow for safe handling and
control of the tool in unexpected situations.
Service
• Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair
person using only identical replacement parts.
This will ensure that the safety of the power tool is
maintained.
Specific Safety Information
WARNING
This section contains important safety information
that is specific to this tool.
Read these precautions carefully before using the
PowerClear Drain Cleaning Machine to reduce the
risk of electrical shock or other serious injury.
SAVE ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE!
Keep this manual with machine for use by the operator.
Drain Cleaner Safety
• Before using the tool, test the ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI) provided with the power supply
3
PowerClear™ Drain Cleaning Machine
d to insure it is operating correctly. A properly
cor
operating GFCI reduces the risk of electrical shock.
• Only use extension cords that are protected by a
GFCI. The GFCI on the machine power cord will not
prevent electrical shock from extension cords.
• Only grasp the rotating cable with gloves recom-
mended by the manufacturer. Latex or loose fitting
gloves or rags can become wrapped around the cable
and may result in serious personal injury.
• Do not allow the cutter to stop turning while the
cable is turning. This can overstress the cable and
may cause twisting, kinking or breaking of the cable and
may result in serious personal injury.
• One person must control both the cable and the
switch. If the cable end stops rotating, the operator
must be able to turn the machine motor OFF to prevent
twisting, kinking and breaking of the cable.
• Use latex or rubber gloves inside the gloves rec-
ommended by the manufacturer, goggles, face
shields, protective clothing, and respirator when
chemicals, bacteria or other toxic or infectious
substances are suspected to be in a drain line.
Drains may contain chemicals, bacteria and other
substances that may cause burns, be toxic or infectious
or may result in other serious personal injury.
• Practice good hygiene. Do not eat or smoke while
handling or operating the tool. After handling or
operating drain cleaning equipment, use hot,
soapy water to wash hands and other body parts
exposed to drain contents. This will help reduce
the risk of health hazards due to exposure to toxic or
infectious material.
• Only use the drain cleaner for the recommended
drain sizes. Using the wrong size drain cleaner can
lead to twisting, kinking or breaking of the cable and
may result in personal injury.
• Keep gloved hand on the guide hose/AUTOFEED
unit whenever the machine is running. This provides better control of the cable and helps prevent
twisting, kinking and breaking of the cable and may
result in serious personal injury.
• Do not operate the machine in REV (reverse) rota-
tion except as described in this manual. Operating
in reverse can result in cable damage and is used to
back the cable end out of blockages.
• Keep hands away from rotating drum and guide
tube. Do not reach into drum unless machine is
unplugged. Hand may be caught in the moving parts.
• Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Keep your
hair and clothing away from moving parts. Loose
clothing, jewelry or hair can be caught in moving parts.
• Do not operate this machine if operator or machine
is standing in water. Operating machine while in
water increases the risk of electrical shock.
Description and Specifications
Description
The RIDGID®PowerClear™ Drain Cleaning machine is
designed to clean 3/4" (20mm) to 11/2" (40mm) drain lines
in sinks, tubs and showers. It is equipped with a 30' (9m)
cable.
The PowerClear Drain Cleaner features a 2-way AUTO FEED®cable feed mechanism, which advances and re trieves the cable with a push of a lever at a rate of 18' per
minute. A configurable guide hose, in conjunction with
the AUTOFEED unit allows the cable to be directly fed into
the drain which minimizes mess and helps to protect fixtures.
A FOR/OFF/REV switch controls drum and cable rotation
and a pneumatic foot switch provides ON/OFF control of
the motor. An integral Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
(GFCI) is built into the line cord.
®
The drain cleaner has a clear front housing to allow monitoring of cable.
The PowerClear Drain Cleaner is not recommended for
use with toilets.
• Position machine so that the AUTOFEED unit is
within 6" (15 cm) of the drain inlet or properly
support exposed cable when the distance exceeds
6" (15 cm). Greater distances can cause control prob-
lems leading to twisting, kinking or breaking of the
cable. Twisting, kinking or breaking cable may cause
striking or crushing injuries.
4
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
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