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use of a voltage controler on a motor

joeaf1911a1joeaf1911a1 Member Posts: 2,962 ✭✭
edited February 2009 in General Discussion
Can I use a voltage controler to lower the voltage to slow down the rpm of a small blower motor without harming the motor from low voltage?. Motor is a 1.2 amp 115 volt C frame induction motor and fan cooled. About 1/50 h.p.. To get the blower assembly to fit as a replacement it has twice the CFM I need and is noisy. Thank you guys.
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    farfromnormalfarfromnormal Member Posts: 247 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    By reducing the voltage, you'll raise the current and cook the motor without slowing it down. The motor runs at a certain speed because of the windings and the cycles of A.C.(60 hertz). Also, if you could slow it down, you would probably cook it because it wouldn't get the proper cooling. They are designed for one speed and the fan should provide the right amount of cooling for the motor. You will need to get the right motor for the application.
    Hope this helps.
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    scrumpyjackscrumpyjack Member Posts: 5,336 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You could do it with a rheostat but its rather inefficient. The proper way to do it would be with a variable speed control, but this is pricey. An AC induction motor's RPM is defined by the frequency of the input voltage. Here in the US that's 60 Hertz.

    What are you trying to replace this in, Joe?
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    savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,455 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you want to control speeds you need a DC motor and some controllers have a transformer buit in to go from ac to dc
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    LesWVaLesWVa Member Posts: 10,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    May want to check into a Leviton ceiling fan speed control ($20.00+/-) or a Pass & Seymour fan speed control ($10 +/-).

    I like Leviton better for most of them are rated at 5A/120 volt.
    Pass & Seymour are mostly rated at 1.5 or 3 amp.

    A company out of Jamestown, NY called Fruit Ridge Tools have them.

    Going on a wood stove?
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    AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,052 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Controlling an AC motor requires a different type of adjustment than simply controlling the voltage.

    AC motor control is done by using SCRs. They turn off and on very quickly and are commonly used in controlling ceiling fan motors. You don't use power wasting resistance (a rheostat for instance) to control an AC motor.

    However I would look for the proper sized motor for the blower. One more component is just another thing to go wrong. Look at E Barf, there are hundreds of motors for sale cheap.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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    OleDukOleDuk Member Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Did I miss something? Why not a small transformer?

    OleDuk[:)][:)]
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    perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,390 ✭
    edited November -1
    Go with a proper airflow MUFFIN FAN like used in PC's and all kinds of electrical equipment or a multi speed motor.
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