Washing Machine Motor

[Mike WainwrightParticipant @mikewainwright87512]

Wiring the Motor

[Mike WainwrightParticipant @mikewainwright87512]

I am refurbishing a Grayson lathe and i have bought a second hand washing machine motor to run the lathe.

 

The wiring of the motor is as follows

4 wires comming out of the motor 2 black, 1 white, 1 red

1 wire coming from each brush

2 wires coming from the top of the motor.

 

Can anyone give me some advice how i wire this to get the motor to run.

 

I can post a picture if it helps

 

Ig this motor is not suitable then it does not matter as it was only £0.99 off ebay plus postage

[adyParticipant @ady]

I would upload some pictures and link them to this post.

I will link them if you cant do it after they’ve been uploaded.

 

A piccy is worth a thousand words.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Mike,

Most washing machine motors are series (universal) motors and run at quite high speeds. (About 10000 to 15000 rpm) They require a controller board to control the speed. The two wires from the top of the motor will probably be the tachometer sensor which is used for the closed loop speed control. The four wires from the motor will go to the field windings. these will either be a pair for each half of the field windings or taps on the field winding to give different speed ranges. you will have to work this out using a multimeter.

Have a look at the thread “Using old washing machine motors” I have put a link on that thread to a speed controller for these motors. The site also has more information on using these motors.

 

Les

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

You say the motor is a brush type, Not really suitable. There are a couple of books in the Workshop Practice Series, first no., 16 “Eletric Motors” 2nd ed, by Jim Cox, second ( I think this is the one you want)is no., 24″ Electric Motors in the Workshop”, by Jim Cox, this book I think will tell you about your motor, and maybe if its suitable. You really need an induction type motor, preferably capacitor start / capacitor run.

 

    Here in NZ old washing machine motor generally refers to a 1/4 or 1/3 hp split phase induction motor costing no more than $NZ25 if for some unfortunate reason you have to buy the thing, they’r all over the place, I’v 3 or 4 in the workshop, and more if I want them.  The one you have must be similar to a Hoover Washing  machine motor I have, I’v tried it with a speed control on it to drive a flexable drive, not too successful.    Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 13/11/2011 10:20:37

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