lighting control

Mike,
If you run the maxi at a voltage substantially lower than 120 it will either not run or burn up the motor quickly. To vary the speed of an AC motor, you have to change the frequency not the voltage....
AND if you can build your own transformer, lets hook up and start a business lol
 
Ever try it on a ceiling fan speed controller?

(I know this probably won't work, but I'm asking this hoping the EE guru's around here will tell everyone exactly WHY this won't work)

Afterall, aren't all motor's the same? (no I'm not serious)
 
Yeah, I dont understand why it would burn up, aren't they just plain magnetic impellers with a current causing a spin on the solid magnet in the impeller? Its not like we're talking some complicated motor with brushes and all... I guess I'm missing the way in which AC motors and DC motors differ. I understand DC sine thats most of everything we use here at work, but I'm clearly missing the boat on AC somewhere.
 
I have a hard time with AC motor too. But I think we are on to something. Even with that contoller factored into a price its still way cheaper than Tunze.

Tax time is coming so maybe I could squeeze one of those in and we can play with it. I know that many people are using the Seio controllers with Maximods. My guess is this is the same thing...But since you can write a custom Ladder logic and save those progs as marcos you should be able to all kind of things....If we can figure out the wavelength of a tank we could create waves.

The best part of it is since the controller will ramp the speed up and down we don't have to worry about restarts and propeller damage. IMO this is were the damage occurs to the motor.

Scott
 
Its not that expensive. Its still cheaper than the Seio controller and the Tunze controller.

Remember were trying to replicate this
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TZTS48

With that controller and 2 maxis your only looking at $170. Thats awfully attractive.

Also since that controller has analog inputs that are sensitive to 0-10VDC would you be able to connect a Thermosister to it to allow it to control heaters?

Scott
 
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Ah yes see, but that controller only does AC Relay or DC Modulation. It can start and stop AC pumps with the relay function, or do wonders for light timing, temp controlling, float switches, or other stuff. But it cant speed up or slow down an AC motor
 
It can't slow it down unless it turnd that relay on and off really really fast to PWM the motor speed.

(again, no I'm not serious)

(unless it would actually work)
 
Opps I mis-read. I though it allow AC frequency modulation. It does "DC" modulation....

Sorry. BTW I found an old Modicon PLC box in my garage. The software is kinda limiting though. Unless you can program in Ladder Logic.

I also have plenty of 5amp inductive 10amp regular AC relays. I can get more too, I just need to have my Dad send them to me.

Scott
 
Ladder logic is really easy to learn, I haven't done it since undergrad, but if memory serves I was up to speed in an hour or 2 with the important basic functionality.
 
YOu might get away with changing the motor speed by lowering the voltage but it will most likely shorten the life of the motor.
Motors are designed with a winding, rotor and stator to run at 60 Hertz, 120VAC (in our discussion). If you vary the voltage, you change the characteristics of the field that causes the motor (rotor) to turn. Doing that puts undo stress on the design, most often noticed by increased heat of the motor, which in turn, causes the motor to fail prematurely.
Changing the frequency does not result in this and apparently does not damage the motor at all.
I use the VFD (variable frequency drives) at work all the time but they are a bit cost prohibitive for what I think the intentions are....
 
you don't want a dc motor trust me, not the right application.

Ladder logic is a breeze and I am familiar with Modicon...at least I was a couple years ago.

The links I posted were more in line with My original question regarding lighting control, not motor control..

BTW, PWM is a method used to control DC motors....not AC motors
Pulse Width Modulated and it is an old technology pretty much.


sorry for the confusion :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9118272#post9118272 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bosborn1
Man it would be so much easier if we were dealing with DC. I wonder exactly how the Seio Controller is ramping speeds
http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=27600&cat=0&page=3

Scott
Click to expand...

Its just a slightly overpriced AC controller. These things are pretty common in industry for a typical asking price of $130-$150. Dunno exactly how they work but perhaps they modulate the frequency BJ?
 
Mike,
I am betting that is what they do. For small motors like these, that would not be a difficult circuit to build.
A few relay contacts and a few capacitors and I think it would be done.....would take some playing around to set it up right...
They probably are using chips to control the switching instead of relays tho
 
speed controls for AC motors is done in solid state, not relays.
Most of the speed controllers use PWM to simulate a frequency, 60 Hz is full speed.

I believe a lot of these are Integrated Circuits already. This, together with some timing circuits (IC555) would get the wave simulation done.

This does not help with the initial request of the lighting. For the lighting you would want a controller with a real time clock.

Automation Direct DL06

Waffleman
 
Waffleman,
That unit is 2x the price of the programmable relay I was looking at and I am sure you would need the I/O module cuz that PLC won't handle the load for ballasts.
 
Check out Marine Depot,they carry Coral life power centers,these are (if I followed the thread right)what you may be looking for.They run around 25-40 bucks.
 
I saw that Henry. Problem is the reviews on that unit are horrible and a rep from Marine Depot steered me away from them.
 
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