[HAM] Variacs and tone generator motors

[Bohachewsky, Andrew V.]

A synchronous AC motor is designed to turn a certain speed at a certain
frequency and voltage combination. Specifically in this case 115VAC/60Hz
at which the motor will be operating will be operating most efficiently.


Electrical energy is converted into heat and rotation. Once you get
below a certain voltage (90VAC as someone pointed out) the motor will
stop spinning, it's now running at 0% efficiency and all the electrical
energy is being converted into heat through the coil windings.

I personally have never tested how robust these motors might be, but it
is not a good idea to keep pumping power into a non-rotating motor.

As for the pedal... how about using your foot to put it in the position
you want? Any halfway serious Hammond player is gonna be F'in annoyed if
the volume cuts out anytime he shifts his foot off the pedal. Come on,
think a little bit... 

-----Original Message-----
From: hammond-bounces at zeni.net [mailto:hammond-bounces at zeni.net] On
Behalf Of Steve Leigh
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 10:39 PM
To: The Hammond Forum
Subject: Re: [HAM] Variacs and tone generator motors

At 09:57 PM 5/9/2007, Pothead Hawthorne wrote:


>The synchronous motor could be damaged by excessively low voltage.

Ridiculous.  Simply ridiculous.  Proof REQUIRED.