The PWM signal going to the motor speed control board is basically a square wave with a variable pulse width to control the speed.
Already have an account? Log In.
To make the experience fit your profile, pick a username and tell us what interests you.
I found a simple 555 based oscillator circuit that has controls for adjusting the frequency and pulse width that should be able to operate the speed controller on Electro Schematics. They have both the parts list and circuit board layout to use for making one. You can also buy a ready built unit on Ebay with a display showing the frequency and pulse width on a small screen for $3.50 that uses push buttons instead of rotary knobs.
http://www.electroschematics.com/5834/pulse-generator-with-555/
MaytagSpeedControl.inoArduino sketch that generates a 133 Hz PWM signal for speed control running on Arduino Nano.ino - 484.00 bytes - 01/10/2018 at 03:22 |
|
Here are the older motor and controller from the MAH4000 on the right compared to the newer ones from the MAH6500 on the left. The MAH6500 uses a motor made in France with a label saying 2 A., 3 Phase, Variable Speed, 0-250 Volts, 0-380 Hz. The older motor has a 17mm shaft while the newer motor has a 15mm shaft. There are no specs on the older motor but the service manual says it has an 850 RPM top speed using 400 Watts. For the newer motor the manual says it can spin to 1000 RPMs. Both speed controls will work with the same PWM signal using an Arduino or signal generator to produce the PWM signal to control the speed.
None of this will work with newer models like the MAH9700 that has a pancake motor mounted right on the back of the drum and I think the speed control in inside the front control panel assembly since all the cables go into that. The first one I had was the MAH4000 with the old mechanical timer that you turned with a big knob that had a large motor with speed sensor on it hanging from the drum and fairly large motor control module mounted below the motor. They changed the design a lot over the years though and the model MAH6500 with LED display at the back has a smaller motor made in France with a really compact speed control module. The newer MAH9700 with the controls at the front is made more like a Whirlpool since the drum looks the same and must have had a lot of influence from them when they were taking over the Maytag company although the machine was assembled in Korea by Samsung.
This motor turned out to be difficult to mount due to the odd shape and lack of mounting holes. I cut off the grooved pulley from the shaft in order to be able to mount a standard 5/8" V belt pulley but I had to ream out the hole in the pulley to 17mm. I also cut off the 2 big tabs that stick out on the side to get them out of the way. I fashioned a motor mount that will give me a flat base to bolt the motor on with by using a swamp cooler motor base from Home Depot that sells for $10.50 and cutting out a flat plate to go over the front of the motor that bolts on with the one mounting bolt. The 4 bolts in the motor don't appear very strong and were not long enough to mount it with so I just cut out holes to allow them clearance through the plate. It's not shown in the photo but there is going to also be a U shaped clamp around the back of the motor to hold it securely in place.
Since the grooved pulley is larger than the shaft and prevents putting on a V belt pulley I sawed it off with a band saw. The shaft on the older motor is smaller at the end where the pulley is mounted and really soft steel and is easy to cut. The shaft on this old model is 17mm in diameter and pretty long so that still leaves a lot to mount a V belt pulley on. On newer motors with a shorter 2" shaft that is 15mm in diameter I wouldn't cut the shaft since that would only leave 1" sticking out. In that case I'd either use a puller to remove the pulley or cut a slot into the side of it and break it off.
Looks good! I am planning to use the original mounting tabs. I will either drill two holes for the tabs or drill through the tabs and insert a bolt through both tabs. This will allow the motor to rotate. I intend to use some big springs to hold it in position. This is similar to how the motor on my table saw is mounted. Uses the weight of the motor (and the spring) to tension the belt.
What did you use to cut the grooved pulley? I haven't decided if I'm going to keep that piece.
Steve
nicoud jean-daniel
shlonkin
Rory
Hi, I have all the necessary hardware for the Maytag speed control project you shown, The only difference is that I have an Arduino uno instead and I don’t know where to look for the PWM.h library. Appreciate your help.