I wish to find information on motor controllers for Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors. There was a discussion thread on this forum, “Find or Make a Motor Controller for the Fisher & Paykel Washing Machine Smart Drive Motor”, which was started in June 2019. A number of responses in that thread contain helpful information, but none seem to have provided a definitive answer.
The motor I would like to repurpose is from a Fisher and Paykel Aquasmart washing machine model WL80T65CW1, using 240 volt AC single phase power. I would particularly like to use it as a variable speed motor (rather than fixed speed), to operate a honey extractor which operates a bit like the spin dryer of a washing machine, but at a much lower speed.
There seems to be an abundance of information about BLDC motors, which explains the general principles of how they work, and I am thankful to those contributors who gave information in that discussion thread.
Likewise there seem to be many different ESC BLDC motor controllers available for very small motors, or very low power motors, and which are powered by batteries, or by low voltages. I have not found anything yet which is clearly identified as suitable for a more powerful motor such as a washing machine motor, and powered by 240 volt mains electric power.
I have found some circuit diagrams for BLDC motor controllers, but these seem to be designed for lower power / lower voltage applications – and also for fixed speed rather than variable speed. Does anyone have information which may be helpful in modifying such a circuit, to accommodate higher voltage and higher power?
It is obvious that the motor control unit from a washing machine is capable of operating the motor, but that controller has a lot of functional capability that does not apply for a honey extractor (for example water level sensing in a washing machine).
I have a motor control module (from the washing machine), which has an intermittent fault in one of its sensing circuits (the lid-lock mechanism), but it is still capable of running the motor. If it is possible to somehow inactivate those circuits which are separate from just running the motor, then I would regard this as a very helpful option.
Other than that, I hope that it may be possible to obtain a general-purpose variable-speed controller which can enable the motor to deliver its full power capability from 240 volt AC input power.
The motor I would like to repurpose is from a Fisher and Paykel Aquasmart washing machine model WL80T65CW1, using 240 volt AC single phase power. I would particularly like to use it as a variable speed motor (rather than fixed speed), to operate a honey extractor which operates a bit like the spin dryer of a washing machine, but at a much lower speed.
There seems to be an abundance of information about BLDC motors, which explains the general principles of how they work, and I am thankful to those contributors who gave information in that discussion thread.
Likewise there seem to be many different ESC BLDC motor controllers available for very small motors, or very low power motors, and which are powered by batteries, or by low voltages. I have not found anything yet which is clearly identified as suitable for a more powerful motor such as a washing machine motor, and powered by 240 volt mains electric power.
I have found some circuit diagrams for BLDC motor controllers, but these seem to be designed for lower power / lower voltage applications – and also for fixed speed rather than variable speed. Does anyone have information which may be helpful in modifying such a circuit, to accommodate higher voltage and higher power?
It is obvious that the motor control unit from a washing machine is capable of operating the motor, but that controller has a lot of functional capability that does not apply for a honey extractor (for example water level sensing in a washing machine).
I have a motor control module (from the washing machine), which has an intermittent fault in one of its sensing circuits (the lid-lock mechanism), but it is still capable of running the motor. If it is possible to somehow inactivate those circuits which are separate from just running the motor, then I would regard this as a very helpful option.
Other than that, I hope that it may be possible to obtain a general-purpose variable-speed controller which can enable the motor to deliver its full power capability from 240 volt AC input power.