Speed Controller

[chadders1966]

Hi

Apologies if this is a simple question, anything electrical is really not my thing ;). I have a couple of old sewing machine style motors that use a foot pedal for speed control. I would prefer a benchtop control and have been looking at the following: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1500W-Variable-Fan-Speed-Controller-Router-Stepless-Dimmer-Acoustic-Fan-Motor/331960893392?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D5f1817857978440aae0f3442e421a25b%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D302164113996

Would this type of item (well, a 230v version :)) work as an inline speed controller for such a motor? Thanks

Stephen

[clockboy]

I use a foot pedal which works well for me. I was told by a fellow clock repair that the sewing machine pedals also work fine. Having said that sometimes it would be handy to have the lathe running at a constant speed because when my foot/leg gets tired this is an issue for me. 

[oldhippy]

My watchmakers lathe was controlled by a foot pedal, My others were controlled by moving the belts and changing the wheels all set into a single motor.   

[chadders1966]

If anyone could help me with my question I would appreciate it. Thanks

[wls1971]

I use one of these,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VARIISPEED-PLUG-IN-FAN-SPEED-CONTROLLER-FOR-GROW-TENT-LIGHT-HYDROPONICS-RVK/281377547205?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D6998aa844c574fd1a6744cbc84d864bc%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D331960893392

You will have to take off the foot pedal fitting on the motor and rewire and fit a standard three pin plug to use it. As with all things electrical if your not sure how to do this leave alone.

[clockboy]

Do you use the plug in on your lathe.

[chadders1966]

1 hour ago, wls1971 said:

I use one of these,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VARIISPEED-PLUG-IN-FAN-SPEED-CONTROLLER-FOR-GROW-TENT-LIGHT-HYDROPONICS-RVK/281377547205?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D6998aa844c574fd1a6744cbc84d864bc%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D331960893392

You will have to take off the foot pedal fitting on the motor and rewire and fit a standard three pin plug to use it. As with all things electrical if your not sure how to do this leave alone.

Thanks very much for the response. I had looked at the controller you listed and wondered whether that would work. I liked the look of the one I listed as it has off, full and variable settings, plus a longer lead so it could sit on my bench. I'm sure I have seen a 230v version with a UK plug somewhere. Do you think this would be OK?

Again thanks for the info. on the foot pedal. As I said I know little about electrical stuff so would never have thought I'd have to take it off, I would assume I could leave it on and use either. Thanks

Stephen

[wls1971]

1 hour ago, clockboy said:

Do you use the plug in on your lathe.

Yes, I rewired the plug on the sewing machine motor that goes from the motor to the foot pedal, and fitted a standard 3 pin plug and then plug that directly into the variable speed controller. You can also use a variable speed fan controller the type that looks like a dimmer switch and mount that near your lathe, but you cannot use a dimmer switch, its important that you only use one specifically for a motor.

Edited January 3, 2017 by wls1971

[wls1971]

5 minutes ago, chadders1966 said:

 

Again thanks for the info. on the foot pedal. As I said I know little about electrical stuff so would never have thought I'd have to take it off, I would assume I could leave it on and use either. Thanks

Stephen

I dont know, I think that may defeat the object of having a handy variable controller because you would still have to depress the foot pedal to get power to the motor, I think with electrics its best to keep things simple.

I would have liked to use a dimmer switch type fan controller because that would have looked neater on my lathe which is mounted on a MDF board but B and Q seem to have stopped stocking these near where I live, so I opted for the plug in controller.

I 

[BUSAKAZ]

On ‎03‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 6:32 AM, chadders1966 said:

If anyone could help me with my question I would appreciate it. Thanks

you can use a lighting dimmer switch but make sure you get one rated at 450w and not rated at 250w and if you get a push button one you can switch it on and off with that aswell motors are only rated at 120w max.

[robmack]

Whether this will work depends on the type of AC motor you are attempting to control.  As it says in the ad, "Works with any universal AC/DC brush type motor, 15 amps and under" and "Will not work with brushless type motor or soft/slow start motors".  You find universal motors in portable tools, blenders, hair driers and possibly your sewing machine.  If the motor in your machine has a wound stator (i.e. not permanent magnets), and a segmented commutator rather than slip-rings, then it probably is a universal motor.  If it is a capacitor-start motor then it won't work.

This unit looks like a pulse-width modulated speed control, similar to a variable light control.  However, it probably has protection on the MOSFET output to absorb the inductive kickback that usually occurs from a motor load.  A light dimmer would not necessarily have such protection and could be destroyed with an inductive load.

Edited January 7, 2017 by robmack

[chadders1966]

I ended up getting the one I linked and I'm very pleased with it. I particularly like that I can use it with a couple of different motors without it having to be permanently wired to one or the other.

Stephen

[david]

Chadders1996,

That is the type I use. I bought several of them from HARBOR FREIGHT for very little money. I think they called them router controllers. I like them a lot more than foot pedals because you can dial in the speed and it stays there. I especially found it useful when centering in a part with a wax chuck. I think they work great.

david