Help needed with Hyde Generator

[gotoluc]

Did you try higher voltage to the motor to get more RPM's by using your variac?  since many variac's can output higher than the 120v grid voltage.

If that's not enough you can use 2 variac's on separate phases to go higher.

You are so close! it would be sad to rebuild just to verify if it's indeed true that the magic starts at 6,000 RPM

If you need a second variac to do the test I''ll be glad to come over and help if you wish.

Luc

[Steven Dufresne]

Actually my last runs have been with the motor controller plugged directly into the grid, no variac, and I turn the motor controller up full. So I'm using the maximum I can get from the grid, without adding phases.

Also, the motor documentation says it's rated for 110V so I wouldn't want to go too much higher out of fear of damaging the motor.

Plus, the number of extra RPMs I get per added volts in is small. To get the last 1500 RPM I'd have to increase the voltage substantially. Keep in mind that the faster I turn it the bigger the load from the air, and doesn't that go up as the square of the velocity?

I may just have to go back to using the vacuum cleaner motor (see first post in this topic) but with a new straighter and shorter shaft than I tried before; 10" instead of 16".
-Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org

[Paul-R]

Another way to go in the reduced pressure direction would be to put the
gear in a heavy steel box, and look out for an old secondhand laboratory
vacuum pump, possibly from Ebay.

[gotoluc]

Is the motor an induction motor?   if so, then it's brushless and it's only experiencing slip because the field coils are too weak to keep the rotor in sync with the load and more volts will strengthen the field coils to correct this. An induction motor can take more volts without any damage as long as the temperature of the field coils do not exceed 120 Celsius. So if the motor is not experiencing a heat issue at this time I would say it's worth a try. If you only knew how much Thane Heins induction motor heated under load and showed no sign of damage

Anyways, you only need it to reach the 6,000 RPM mark for maybe 60 seconds to confirm if the magic starts so there's no way this short of a voltage burst will have any time to heat the coils.

I do also have a couple of remote digital thermostats with 3 foot probe if you want to monitor the temperature.

Let me know if you need anything.

Luc

[Steven Dufresne]

Is the motor an induction motor?   if so, then it's brushless and it's only experiencing slip because the field coils are too weak to keep the rotor in sync with the load and more volts will strengthen the field coils to correct this. An induction motor can take more volts without any damage as long as the temperature of the field coils do not exceed 120 Celsius. So if the motor is not experiencing a heat issue at this time I would say it's worth a try. If you only knew how much Thane Heins induction motor heated under load and showed no sign of damage

I just checked the exploded view diagram from the manual and there are two brushes. Anyone know if it's okay to run these at well over their rated voltage and current (110VAC, 1.5A under load)? I guess I can put an ammeter in series and see what my current draw is.

Anyways, you only need it to reach the 6,000 RPM mark for maybe 60 seconds to confirm if the magic starts so there's no way this short of a voltage burst will have any time to heat the coils.

I do also have a couple of remote digital thermostats with 3 foot probe if you want to monitor the temperature.

Good point. I have the same with 10 foot probes. The motor housing does get hot during a minute or so run.

Let me know if you need anything.

Luc

Actually Luc, if you want to drop by some time even if just to exchange ideas you're more than welcome. I know I've plenty to share that'd be impractical through email. Just send me private email or call (613-748-7810).
-Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org