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DC Motors and Controls
- Thread starter John L
- Start date
John,
A DC controller will be (typically) either 115 VAC or 230 VAC input. Some can be set up to run on either (user selectable via jumpers). The input voltage needs to match what you have available.
Then you will need to know what the operating voltage requirements are for the motor. Typically the Armature voltage on the DC motor is either 90 VDC or 180 VDC. If your motor is of the permanent magnet type (no field windings) then your controller (drive) must supply (output voltage) only the correct armature voltage. If your motor has a field winding then the controller must also supply the correct voltage to match the motor. All of the motor specs will be on the name plate of the motor.
If you are going to run a belt grinder then I suggest that you get a motor and drive (controller) of at least 1 1/2 hp, with 2 hp being much better.
A better option than DC is to use a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) that runs on single phase input (most commonly 230 VAC input, but can be found for 115 VAC input) and gives you 230 VAC 3 phase out put voltage.
With this you will need a 3 phase AC motor for 230 VAC power. Some VFD's (but not all) will require a 50 % de-rating factor if run on single phase input. As an example, this means that you need a 3 hp drive to run a 1 1/2 hp motor.
Some will not run on single phase input at all, so be sure to ask.
Just make sure that the drive is capable of handling the rated horse power of the motor. VFD's give you speed control/reversing just as DC drives do, but the low end torque is much better. Three phase motors are usually quite a bit cheaper, too.
Hope this helps...........
Mike
A DC controller will be (typically) either 115 VAC or 230 VAC input. Some can be set up to run on either (user selectable via jumpers). The input voltage needs to match what you have available.
Then you will need to know what the operating voltage requirements are for the motor. Typically the Armature voltage on the DC motor is either 90 VDC or 180 VDC. If your motor is of the permanent magnet type (no field windings) then your controller (drive) must supply (output voltage) only the correct armature voltage. If your motor has a field winding then the controller must also supply the correct voltage to match the motor. All of the motor specs will be on the name plate of the motor.
If you are going to run a belt grinder then I suggest that you get a motor and drive (controller) of at least 1 1/2 hp, with 2 hp being much better.
A better option than DC is to use a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) that runs on single phase input (most commonly 230 VAC input, but can be found for 115 VAC input) and gives you 230 VAC 3 phase out put voltage.
With this you will need a 3 phase AC motor for 230 VAC power. Some VFD's (but not all) will require a 50 % de-rating factor if run on single phase input. As an example, this means that you need a 3 hp drive to run a 1 1/2 hp motor.
Some will not run on single phase input at all, so be sure to ask.
Just make sure that the drive is capable of handling the rated horse power of the motor. VFD's give you speed control/reversing just as DC drives do, but the low end torque is much better. Three phase motors are usually quite a bit cheaper, too.
Hope this helps...........
Mike
Hahaha, yeah that'll happen if you don't know electricity.
1. 115V AC is what comes out of your wall. 230V AC is what comes out of SOME hookups, most commonly for an electric dryer. The plug is huge and the outlet looks very different.
2. A DC power supply takes in AC current and spits out DC current, for a DC motor. This gives you the advantage of being able to easily control the speed of the motor. Its input is either in 115V or 230V AC, from your wall. Its output is: x (DC) volts, and x (DC) amps. You need to make sure your DC power supply supplies at least as many volts AND amps as the DC motor you're using requires, which will be listed in its specs, probably right on the motor plate.
3. AC motors are nice because they use AC current so they just plug right into the wall, whereas DC motors NEED a power supply to convert AC to DC for it. However it's stuck at one speed, whatever it's listed as operating at. "micad" just mentioned that if you put down some dollars, you CAN get an AC power supply to control the speed of an AC motor. There are different types of AC motor, there is only 1 type of DC motor. Capacitor start, single phase, split phase, 3-phase all describe AC motors. Basically, you'll need to tailor your AC power supply to the type.
The advantage here is mainly that AC motors are cheaper, I believe 3-phase use less electricity to run, and they're more readily available in higher horsepower ratings. They might also be stronger for their size, I could be wrong about that.
If you want to go this route, then enlist the help of "micad" he knows more about AC motor power requirements and specs than I.
Otherwise if you want an AC motor w/o speed control, just grab one that looks good (avoid 56C mount typically, as they mount via bolts in the face of the motor) at 1725+/- RPMs and go for it. 1HP is reccomended minimum around here.
Anyway I hope I simplified it down for you.
_z
1. 115V AC is what comes out of your wall. 230V AC is what comes out of SOME hookups, most commonly for an electric dryer. The plug is huge and the outlet looks very different.
2. A DC power supply takes in AC current and spits out DC current, for a DC motor. This gives you the advantage of being able to easily control the speed of the motor. Its input is either in 115V or 230V AC, from your wall. Its output is: x (DC) volts, and x (DC) amps. You need to make sure your DC power supply supplies at least as many volts AND amps as the DC motor you're using requires, which will be listed in its specs, probably right on the motor plate.
3. AC motors are nice because they use AC current so they just plug right into the wall, whereas DC motors NEED a power supply to convert AC to DC for it. However it's stuck at one speed, whatever it's listed as operating at. "micad" just mentioned that if you put down some dollars, you CAN get an AC power supply to control the speed of an AC motor. There are different types of AC motor, there is only 1 type of DC motor. Capacitor start, single phase, split phase, 3-phase all describe AC motors. Basically, you'll need to tailor your AC power supply to the type.
The advantage here is mainly that AC motors are cheaper, I believe 3-phase use less electricity to run, and they're more readily available in higher horsepower ratings. They might also be stronger for their size, I could be wrong about that.
If you want to go this route, then enlist the help of "micad" he knows more about AC motor power requirements and specs than I.
Otherwise if you want an AC motor w/o speed control, just grab one that looks good (avoid 56C mount typically, as they mount via bolts in the face of the motor) at 1725+/- RPMs and go for it. 1HP is reccomended minimum around here.
Anyway I hope I simplified it down for you.
_z
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z537z - Actually there are several types of DC motors.Permanent Magnet (PM) and Field wound are the two you will deal with as far as controlers go.Field motors require fielt voltage leads.