I had a similar thing with a washing machine motor.

When full voltage was applied with small load, the motor made a lot of noise
and didn't spin very quickly.

I used a triac and a zero crossing detector to fire the triac in the latter
part of the cycle and that worked perfectly.

I know you're not meant to speed control induction motors with a triac but
it was done like this originally in the washing machine so I thought I'd
give it a go ;-)

Dom

-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On
Behalf Of Gus S.Calabrese
Sent: 16 June 2004 07:20
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [EE]: Troubleshooting cap start electric motor

Hi I am looking for suggestions that don't break USA law.

I have a electric motor (1/3 hp ) with capacitor start and a speed switch.
The motor rotates at about 60 RPM and draws way too much current.  I tested
the cap and it seems to be okay.
I tried spinning the motor up with a drill and applying power but the motor
immediately slows down.  Of course the drill only gets the motor to maybe
300-500 RPM.

Any suggestions ?


Disclaimer: The above statements are not intended as an endorsement of any
kind and any inference of having any verifiable knowledge about anything
referenced above is purely coincidental.


Gus S Calabrese
303.964.9670 vm   303.908.7716 cell no vm
www.omegadogs.com
4337 Raleigh St
Denver, CO 80212

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