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Looking for a speed controller for my product that will slow the speed based on amp draw. I use a very small wire with this winch and I need to slow the speed down when the amps go up to prevent the wire from breaking. Any ideas? M18 LiOn battery being used. Would like for the controller to fit at the top of the handle grip area. Would like the settings for the amp draw to be adjustable.
Basically I need an electronic clutch.
Hi,
We might need more clarifications about your project. The current consumed by a DC motor is more related to the torque (load applied on the motor) rather than the speed.
Brahim,
Thank you for your response, I really appreciate your time. Agreed, as the load is applied to the motor the current increases, in my case I am pulling a thin piece of wire through an adhesive, as the angle of the wire changes during the cutting process (location of Glass Bot in relation to wire exiting the adhesive), the load increases as the cutting becomes more difficult. As the current increases I want to have a setting that would maintain a certain current draw limit to prevent the speed of the motor from breaking the wire. When the speed is reduced it give the wire more time to sever the adhesive. So the motor speed will drop as the current increases. Depending on the cutting element being used (wire or synthetic material) I would need this current draw limiter to be adjustable. Video of operation: youtube.com/watch?v=ENBaafAEfd0
Hi Nick,
The Glass Bot looks cool. Unfortunately, we don’t offer an off-the-shelf solution for this. You would need to control your motor in a closed loop configuration in current control.
First, you will need a current sensor to measure the current being consumed by your motor. The current sensor will need to be connected to a microcontroller so that you can program a closed-loop control for the motor.
When the current sensor measure a current increase within an interval that you will set, the microcontroller will communicate with the motor driver to reduce the speed of the motor.
You will also need an encoder to measure the actual RPM of the motor.
These DC Motor with Speed and Current Closed Loops and Controlling Current articles seem interesting and can provide you a lot of information about this type of control.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Brahim, hopefully the articles are written so that I can understand them. I’ll take a look.
Whoops, those are a little above my pay grade.
Perhaps I should start with an adjustable overload switch? Any such animal?
Hi Nick,
You’ll still need a current sensor and a microcontroller to close the control loop.
The only thing that comes in mind is a fuse, but a fuse will cut-off power to the motor completely if the current consumed exceeds the fuse’s rated current.
Brahim, I’m thinking of dumbing it down to a selectable series of circuit breakers once I determine the stall speed. It is a angle drive with a LOT of torque, should I test the motor prior to the drive gear instead of at the gear for amp draw?
You will need to control the motor based on its actual current consumption when it’s geared. Therefore, you will need to test it for current draw when the gear is attached.