Do you have any information on that light dimmer that you tried?

 

I've been having a really hard time finding a simple cutaway diagram of one of these style of pumps

While this is an industrial type pump, it should be similar to your pump, but on a much smaller scale. I'd be surprised if your pump doesn't have a real motor in it.

 

These days you also have to consider an ECM motor, already Electronically Commutated, It could also be an Out Runner version where the magnetic field rotates.
If it is such a motor this will be synchronously controlled, making it virtually impossible to control electronically.
These are used on anything from a PC fan to HVAC blower motors and washing machines.
Max.

 

Do you have any information on that light dimmer that you tried?

no, but its your average everyday light dimmer purchased from home depot.

While this is an industrial type pump, it should be similar to your pump, but on a much smaller scale. I'd be surprised if your pump doesn't have a real motor in it.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "have a real motor in it", just because it is the motor itself, it's just magnetically coupled.

These days you also have to consider an ECM motor, already Electronically Commutated, It could also be an Out Runner version where the magnetic field rotates.
If it is such a motor this will be synchronously controlled, making it virtually impossible to control electronically.
These are used on anything from a PC fan to HVAC blower motors and washing machines.
Max.

I would guess that the magnetic field isn't rotating in these motors only because the impeller doesn't "spin" when there's no water entering the pump, it just moves back and forth rapidly.
to be fair though, I can't say for sure if the impeller spins when there is water in it because I can't see it.....

 

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "have a real motor in it", just because it is the motor itself, it's just magnetically coupled.

Then what makes the impeller turn? There has to be something making the magnetic field in the sealed part turn, a normal rotating stator field like in an induction motor wouldn't do it.

 

I believe the rotor rotates inside the stator like a bicycle wheel inside a fender. The fender (stator) rotates a field....and the wheel (rotor, impeller) syncs with it.................without physically touching it.

But it's hard to tell without photos.

 

I believe the rotor rotates inside the stator like a bicycle wheel inside a fender. The fender (stator) rotates a field....and the wheel (rotor, impeller) syncs with it.................without physically touching it.

But it's hard to tell without photos.

That's probably the best way to describe it.


What makes the impeller turn is magnet of some kind in the housing, which is all potted. but there's nothing in housing that moves.

I'll take some pics and see how they turn out

 

Here's the pump, you can see with the impeller removed that it's just a hole. The impeller is magnetically driven and this is old technology, aquarium pumps have been built like this for a long time without any real design changes.
The black cylinder on the impeller shaft is a magnet.
The entire pump is submersible.

 

Are you not able to dis-assemble the rest of the cover around the stator?

That's completely different than what I had in mind.

 

I thought the impeller was the rotor. But clearly it is not.

 

Actually that is not an impeller.....it's a paddle wheel.

 

the rest won't come apart without causing irreparable damage.

 

A slightly different wheel would pump less water. If you could find spares, you could grind down the tips off the blades. Of course that doesn't give you control, only a lower flow.

 

That's a good idea. Can you get a spare and shave it down a little?

I believe this might work with an analog inverter. A real VFD. Where one can truly change frequency.

But without knowing how the stator starts, it could be a waste of time.

Your best solution is probably buying the proper pump that can be controlled.

 

Well going by the instruction PDF for the Ecoplus 633 water pump, it has a motor. Page 2 under the heading of "use" it says, "The pumps have an economical, powerful and reliable motor." On page 4 it has a parts view an says part #8 is the motor housing. sunlightsupply.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/.../728300_Instructions.pd.

 

Well going by the instruction PDF for the Ecoplus 633 water pump, it has a motor. Page 2 under the heading of "use" it says, "The pumps have an economical, powerful and reliable motor." On page 4 it has a parts view an says part #8 is the motor housing. sunlightsupply.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/.../728300_Instructions.pd.

I think the motor part may just be referring to whatever mechanism drives the impeller/paddle wheel. the only thing that moves on these pumps is the impeller. If I pull that out and then plug the "motor" in nothing happens. No sounds, vibrations, movement, nothing.

It is be noted that when there is no power going to the motor there is still a strong magnetic field that will pull the impeller into the center hole. So there's probably permanent magnets in there.

 

It is be noted that when there is no power going to the motor there is still a strong magnetic field that will pull the impeller into the center hole. So there's probably permanent magnets in there.

Correct. I is the driving force of the impeller. If you take a screwdriver and put it where the impeller goes it will be pulled in too. The impeller shaft is just a magnetic steel covered with a plastic to keep it from rusting.