Hi there. I was gifted a very old pottery wheel as part of a set but it doesn't function properly.

1. It originally would run on full speed when plugged in and turned on. The foot pedal didn't control it at all.
2. Determined that the foot pedal potentiometer was broken so we replaced that. Also noticed some broken connections on the PCB, so we soldered a new wire on to complete the connection. We tested for continuity on a few of the circuits and also checked the resistors and other components. Everything seems to check out okay.
3. With the new potentiometer wired in, we decided to give the wheel test. Plugged it in and pressed the pedal. Nothing happened at the wheel. Pressed the pedal again and a poof came from the foot pedal box, we cooked the new potentiometer.
4. Tried to test the wheel by bypassing the foot pedal completely to see if the wheel would turn. No luck and something shorted on the circuit board.

The motor is super old. Nothing comes up on google with this motor related to being used with a pottery wheel. Wondering if anyone has any insights on this. Thanks.

Photos attached with desctiptions on them.

 

It is almost impossible for us to suggest how to trouble shoot this circuit without knowing how it is designed. Can you trace the circuit board and draw a schematic diagram of it? That would give us a starting point for diagnosing the problem.

 

Can you at least detect the nature of the motor and supply suitable power directly to it to test,? removing it first , if possible.

 

It is almost impossible for us to suggest how to trouble shoot this circuit without knowing how it is designed. Can you trace the circuit board and draw a schematic diagram of it? That would give us a starting point for diagnosing the problem.

Hi Keith, I will try and do that this week. Understandable that more info is required!

 

Can you at least detect the nature of the motor and supply suitable power directly to it to test,? removing it first , if possible.

Hi, it is a dc motor that receives ac power with a rectifier to convert. This weekend we are trying to bypass the foot pedal as we don't have a functioning potentiometer to replace the broken one currently. Hopefully we can get power to the motor just to make sure it works or if the problem is indeed in the PCB and not the foot pedal potentiometer. Will update as we go.
The motor itself is 1/2hp 1000rpm 90V DC motor. Picture attached of the plate on it.

 

First I wou;d test the motor , power connected directly , e.g. Run it on an automotive battery source.
There are better controllers now, using power Mosfets, an ideal solution may be use a TM MC2100 board, the speed is controlled by a simple LV pot.