Washing machine motor

I am scrapping out a washing machine. I have taken off the pump as I have a use for that.

Is the electric motor worth saving? I could do with a motor to power a linisher that I have sitting on the shelf. I can probably work out the connections to motor. Is there any reason why it is inadvisable to use it for the linisher? I appreciate that it would need to be shielded, as they are hardly electrically safe as they stand.

Andrew.

Edited By Andrew Tinsley on 12/01/2017 20:15:58

All the washing machine motors that I have seen have been series wound (Universal.) motors with a speed controller that uses tachometer feedback. These motors run a very high speeds. Do not be tempted to run one without it's speed controller as it will probably destroy itself doing other damage in the process. I have read that there are some new washing machines that use brushless DC motors. I think one of these motors would be usefull.

Les.

Hello Les,

I am familiar with the fact that it is series wound and needs a speed controller, or at least a "power" controller. I have run smaller series wound motors with an SCR control.

Andrew.

I recall a very interesting article on cannibalising and using the speed controller and motor from washing machines that appeared in MEW while David Clark was editor.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 12/01/2017 21:11:45

Just be aware of the explosive force of dust and open ventilated motors.
BobH

Andrew

There were some articles on washing machine motor speed control in MEW in 2003, but these may now be too old for your machine.

Feel free to contact me should you want more details.

Not really an answer to you Andrew but does anyone remember the old washing machines with the 1/4hp foot mounted induction motors? I was friendly with Harkers scrapyard in middlesbrough "over the border" & I used to strip them out for a quid apeace, really useful for all sorts of things,I have one driving a "skomo" spindle that I've used for nearly 50 yrs & it's still going strong,one driving a belt sander one driving a disk sander, now they fetch big money.

Graham.T.

Yes, used to get them off the dump, 1/4hp British Thompson Houston, still got a couple in the garage.

Mike

Not really enough information. Washing machine motors, over the years, have changed. The really old ones were more easily adapted for alternative uses. Modern ones might be more useful as a generator than a drive motor for a small powered machine.

Got one on my Stent T&CG. Fixed speed. I can check rpm if anyone is interested. I do know with my largest pulley set up that it is a bit less than 6000 rpm, and my normal pulley set up around 3,500- 4000 rpm. Easy to wire fwd and reverse.

Thanks gentleman for your replies. I am not too bothered about the electronic side of controlling a series wound motor. I have enough experience to cope with that. It was other nasty things such as the caution about explosion risks with fine dust and series wound motors. I had not thought of that one!

The MEW articles sound interesting as it might well be better than my usual SCR type of control. I will contact Robbo on that one, unfortunately I don't have the said articles.

Regards,

Andrew.

The article in MEW used the original speed board components and the tacho, but beware the board needs enclosing in either a plastic box or an earth metal type, as the piece of aluminium on which the Triaca is mounted is alive at 240 volts. I have the article some where, perhaps some one with the index or Neil will provide the issue number. The motors are well made, well balanced and have a couple of good ball bearings which might be useful for another project. Save the carbon brushes as your next washing machine might need a pair in the future. John

It was MEW 89, April 2003 page 55 "Washing Machine Motor Speed Control".

The only article in MEW that has the word 'washing' in the titles, now what does that tell us...?

Neil

P.S. sorry for the delay, we have been hand-polishing MEW 251 for your future appreciation today

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 13/01/2017 19:30:18

"It was MEW 89, April 2003 page 55 "Washing Machine Motor Speed Control"."

Sorry Neil, that was a letter in 'Scribe a Line' expressing concern about the articles.  It is of course relevant to the subject and asks for more information.

The articles were in MEW 86 page 16 Nov 2002 "Motor Speed Control" and MEW 88 page 38 Feb/Mar 2003 "More Information on Motor Speed Control"

I have sent copies to the OP

Edited By Robbo on 14/01/2017 23:34:14

.

I regret to say ... it probably tells us that the article titles in MEW do not always include the best keywords to facilitate future searches.

MichaelG.

I regret to say I fully agree Michael. One of the worst was "An ebay Bargain" or words to that effect  - but I don't want to take the thread off topic.

Edited By Robbo on 15/01/2017 09:29:09