Wiring a DC motor
Wiring a DC motor
(OP)
Hi,
I am attempting to Improve the operation of an old DC motor running a Potter's Wheel. The DC motor is a GE Type BC, model#5BC45AB5A . The motor plate says it is a 32 volt motor, I just measured the supply voltage with a meter and it says it's getting around 16 volts whether it is at high or low speed so I am guessing the controller is sending it a PWM signal.
1. Is this a good assumption?
2. If it is a PWM signal, and I measure 16 volts, would the supply probably be 32 volts but the meter reads 16 because it is zero volts half the time?
3. The motor has 4 wiring inputs, only 2 are being used (that's where I measured the 16 volts). Any idea what the other 2 might be for?
Thanks a lot for your help
B
I am attempting to Improve the operation of an old DC motor running a Potter's Wheel. The DC motor is a GE Type BC, model#5BC45AB5A . The motor plate says it is a 32 volt motor, I just measured the supply voltage with a meter and it says it's getting around 16 volts whether it is at high or low speed so I am guessing the controller is sending it a PWM signal.
1. Is this a good assumption?
2. If it is a PWM signal, and I measure 16 volts, would the supply probably be 32 volts but the meter reads 16 because it is zero volts half the time?
3. The motor has 4 wiring inputs, only 2 are being used (that's where I measured the 16 volts). Any idea what the other 2 might be for?
Thanks a lot for your help
B





RE: Wiring a DC motor
1)
It is a good assumption IF you see a control board somewhere or the foot pedal is a rheostat(variable resistor). Otherwise since wheels are slow affairs the maker could've just decided to supply te motor with 1/2 voltage.
2) Yes.
3)It could be a multispeed motor that has just been wired to use one speed. Or a reversible motor that is only wired to use one direction.
OH!! You didn't measure across the two leads actually running the motor!?!?! Naughty, naughty! Who knows then.
Discard the reading and measure across the two lines RUNNING the motor. Tell us what you see.
Also follow the power path thru the system and without the motor even activated (no pedal) measure the voltage just comming out of the power supply. This will tell you the actual voltage the motor should be able to ever see.
RE: Wiring a DC motor
RE: Wiring a DC motor
This doesn't change any of the other comments though.
Do you know what's inside the pedal? A LARGE variable resistor or a small one? If it's small then it is just sending a control signal to your wheel's speed controller which will then be PWMing the motor.
Perhaps if you were clearer on what "improving the performance" meant we could help you further the cause.
RE: Wiring a DC motor
Thanks for the help
RE: Wiring a DC motor
RE: Wiring a DC motor
Thanks
RE: Wiring a DC motor
RE: Wiring a DC motor
RE: Wiring a DC motor
It will take a while since he's closed on Mondays. :(
RE: Wiring a DC motor
RE: Wiring a DC motor
A way to check this would be to clip on the test leads and with zero speed commanded turn the wheel, as this "state of affairs" would not stay stable you would get different readings.
RE: Wiring a DC motor
About your question I have another oner. This motor is permanent magnet field? If you are using only two wires to fed this motor and you have four wires , whats going up with the another two wires?
Normally in a DC Motor you have to fed two windings, the field and the armature.
Please tell me more about this four wires.
Regards
PETRONILA
RE: Wiring a DC motor
I have no idea if this motor is permanent magnet or not. I only know what is in the plate on the motor:
The DC motor is a GE Type BC, model#5BC45AB5A . The motor plate says it is a 32 volt motor
How could I tell if it is permanent magnet.
It seems to be working fine, low torque at slow speeds, but otherwise fine. Of the 4 connectors on the motor, only 2 are being used. I have no idea what the other 2 might be for. I am afraid to apply voltage to the other 2 for fear of damaging the motor. Any ideas? Any idea where I can find more info on this motor?
Thanks
RE: Wiring a DC motor
RE: Wiring a DC motor
Regards
PETRONILA
RE: Wiring a DC motor
RE: Wiring a DC motor
My goodness, there IS some sort of echo