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Posted

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

Posted

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. 

Posted

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.   

Posted

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.

  • Like 2
Posted
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

Posted (edited)
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 by wls1971
Posted
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.

  • Like 1
Posted
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.

Posted (edited)

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 by robmack
  • Like 1
Posted

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

Posted

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

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