6/13/2017 ElectronicCircuitProjects:ClosedLoopSinglePhaseACMotorSpeedControllerCircuit

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Closed Loop Single Phase AC Motor Speed Controller Circuit

The article presented here explains a very simple circuit that may be used for controlling single
phase AC motor speeds.
The circuit is very cheap and uses ordinary electronic components for the required
implementations. The main feature of the circuit is that its a closed loop type, that means the
speed or the torque of the motor can never get affected by the load or the speed of the motor
in this circuit, on the contrary the torque is indirectly proportional to the magnitude of the
speed.

Circuit Description:
Referring the circuit diagram of the proposed single phase closed loop AC motor controller, the
involved operations may be understood through the following points:

For the positive half cycles of the input AC, the capacitor C2 is charged through the resistor R1
and the diode D1.

The charging of C2 persists until the voltage across this capacitor becomes equivalent to the
simulating zener voltage of the configuration.

The circuit wired around transistor T1 effectively simulates the operation of a zener diode.

The inclusion of the pot P1 makes it possible to adjust the voltage of this zener diode.
Precisely speaking, the voltage developed across T1 is literally determined by the combined
values of P1, R3 and R4.

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The voltage across the resistor R4 is always maintained equal to the 0.6 volts thats equal to the
required conducting voltage of T1s base emitter voltage.

Therefore it means that the above explained zener voltage should be equal to the value that
may be acquired by solving the expression:

(P1 + R3 + R4) o.6 / R4

A careful investigation reveals that the motor or the load is not introduced at the usual
position; rather its wired up just after the SCR, at its cathode.

This causes an interesting feature to be introduced with this circuit.

The above special position of the motor within the circuit makes the firing time of the SCR
dependant on the potential difference between the back EMF of the motor and the zener
voltage of the circuit.

That simply means that the more the motor is loaded, the quicker the SCR fires.

The procedure quite simulate a closed loop type of functioning where the feedback s received
in the form of back EMF generated by the motor itself.

However the circuit is associated with a slight drawback. The adoption of an SCR means the
circuit can handle only 180 degrees of phase control and the motor cannot be controlled
throughout the speed range but only for 50% of it.

Another disadvantage associated due to the inexpensive nature of the circuit is that the motor
tends to produce hiccups at lower speeds, however as the speed is increased this issue
completely disappears.

L1 and C1 are included for checking the high frequency RFs generated due to the rapid phase
chopping by the SCR.

Need less to say the device (SCR) must be mounted on a suitable heatsink for optimal results.

Parts List

R1 = 56K,
R2 = 33K,
R3 = 10K,
R4 = 22K,
VR1 = 330K,
Al diodes = 1N4007,
C1 = 0.1/400V,
C2 = 100uF/25V,
T1 = BC547B,
L1 = 30 turns of 25 SWG wire over a 3mm ferrite rod

at 05 January

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19 comments:

Anonymous January 19, 2012 at 2:37 AM

Thanks for sharing

Have You Info for SCR ?

Reply

Swagatam January 19, 2012 at 8:37 AM

You are welcome.

You may try SCR BT151.

Reply

S M OMAR Faruk September 3, 2013 at 9:43 AM

I would like to ask, What is this P1?
Reply

Replies

Swagatam Majumdar September 3, 2013 at 5:14 PM

Where's P1?

Reply

kamran October 21, 2013 at 5:41 PM

P1 = VR1
Reply

Replies

Swagatam Majumdar October 22, 2013 at 10:40 AM

yes.

Reply

Francisco Santander November 29, 2013 at 9:17 AM

what kind of motor (HP or Wattage) can you aplly this circuit to?

Reply
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6/13/2017 ElectronicCircuitProjects:ClosedLoopSinglePhaseACMotorSpeedControllerCircuit

Reply

Replies

Swagatam Majumdar November 29, 2013 at 11:17 AM

you can use any wattage AC motor provided the SCr is rated appropriately for handling
the current.

Reply

Anonymous December 18, 2013 at 10:30 AM

how make controller thyristor for ampere not for voltage
Reply

Replies

Swagatam Majumdar December 19, 2013 at 10:32 AM

at what voltage??

Reply

pathak February 4, 2015 at 1:36 PM

Sir , How AC supply to motor is completed? Means Both the half cycles. My another Q is can I
connect Transfomer pri to control 230 ac v , so that sec volage automaticaly get controlled. Sir
Expecting your reply. my email vijayraopathak@yahoo.co.in
Thanks, & Regards,
Reply

Replies

Swagatam Majumdar February 4, 2015 at 8:16 PM

Pathak, the above circuit will control only one half cycles of the AC and therefore will be
able to provide a 180 degree phase control only....for full control you can make any
regular dimmer switch circuit....the transformer can be also controlled by using a
dimmer switch circuit in by connecting it series with the trafo primary

Reply

Arkhantos July 25, 2016 at 5:52 AM

Will this circuit provide a stable frequency of revolution (RPM) even under load?
Meaning the motor will keep spinning at the same speed even when a load is aplied?
Reply

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Replies

Swagatam Majumdar July 25, 2016 at 8:39 AM

yes it will as long as long as the input voltage does not fluctuate....

Arkhantos July 25, 2016 at 1:53 PM

Thanks!
Im thinking to use it to control a washing machine universal motor in order to make a
belt sander.
Will a 10amp thyristor be enought?
Also, what power dissipation capability will be needed in the resistors?

Swagatam Majumdar July 25, 2016 at 8:30 PM

The design was originally intended to control drill machines, so probably any similar
motor can be controlled with this circuit, although the capability is restricted to 180
degrees only....The resistors can be all 1/4 watt rated, a 10amp SCR will do if the motor
max consumption does not exceed this value.

Reply

Arkhantos July 31, 2016 at 2:30 AM

Do you have the inductance value of L1? May i use a toroidal inductor instead?
By the way, amazing blog you have, and i really appreciate that you answer!
Reply

Replies

Swagatam Majumdar July 31, 2016 at 10:49 AM

L1/C1 are not crucial, they are placed for PFC....to reduce RF interference in the
atmosphere.

still if you want to include them , you can try 200 turns of 24 SWG magnet wire on any
iron core such as an iron bolt.

I am glad you liked my website...please keep reading.

Reply

Dhanasekar Manickam June 12, 2017 at 1:38 PM

Does it control motor speed precisely without a use of tachogenerator?
Reply

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