3 phase fan control

[zacmac1003]

Hi everyone, my name is Zack and I am in need of help. I have some basic electrical knowledge but I am in need of more, trying to start a new hobby. I have no idea where to start so here's what I am trying to do. I have a 3 phase fan that i need to either find or build a controller for, if anyone could point me in the right direction or inform me what i need to look for that would be great. Thanks in advance!

 

[ADRT]

Three phase fan? Is this a large industrial type fan? What is the voltage rating? Can you give details on the fan like a model number?

 

[zacmac1003]

It's off a car, so uses 12 volts, no part number, looking to use it on a hobby vehicle

 

[ADRT]

Ok so it's not three phase then. You have three wires coming off the fan motor correct? Sometimes they use three wires to have two separate speeds. In other applications the third wire is connected to thermostat to turn the fan on, and in yet another application the third wire may be used to change rotation. What exactly are you trying to do? By simply testing the wires on a battery you should be able to figure out what does what.

 

[zacmac1003]

I'm positive it's 3 phase, I work on the cars it came off of, it has 2 large wires for power and 2 small that are for its control unit I'm going to attach some pics

 

[CDRIVE]

I'm positive it's 3 phase, I work on the cars it came off of, it has 2 large wires for power and 2 small that are for its control unit I'm going to attach some pics

Perhaps you could define what you think 3 phase means.

Chris

 

[zacmac1003]

I don't honestly that's just what I learned when I was being taught about these cars, I do know it's not a normal fan.

 

[CDRIVE]

This is just a guess but information in this link may provide clues as to how and why your peers call it a 3 Phase motor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushless_DC_electric_motor

This image found in that link is probably why it garnered that name.

Chris

 

[Martaine2005]

Even some laptops have 3 phase motors!
No, I didn't know that. I just read it here.

Martin

 

[ADRT]

OK! This is a brushless motor and yes, you are right it is three phase. My apologies. Brushless motors need to have their stator pulsed at exactly the right time. This is done by sensing the position of the rotor. Here is a link with some explanations and if you search for "Brushless DC motor Control" you will find all kinds of good stuff.

http://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2013/mar/an-introduction-to-brushless-dc-motor-control

 

[CDRIVE]

I don't think that it's a good idea to ever let the 3PH moniker stick when referring to a BLDC motor. If it ever does we're going to be forever differentiating them from one of these beasts! Note the eye bolt. It ain't there because it looks cool.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Minder]

It sounds like you are talking about the 3 winding RC outrunner etc?
If so there is quite a few examples of controller out there.
If the fan has three wires it could be a BLDC motor and if so you could look at the Picmicro fan controller such as TC653 ic.
The difference between 3ph and BLDC control is 3ph energises all three windings at any given time, BLDC only supplies two windings at once.
M.

 

[GPG]

Even some laptops have 3 phase motors!

So do a majority of VCRs for drum and usually capstan motors.
Sinusoidal and sensorless controllers are available.
http://www.allegromicro.com/en/Prod...Interface-ICs/Brushless-DC-Motor-Drivers.aspx
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/22310b.pdf
http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/DRV10963

 

[Minder]

As do modern washing machines, search Fischer-Paykel motor.
Its an outrunner.
And not forgetting HVAC use 3ph Electronically commutated motors now, (ECM).
M.

 

[GPG]

Fisher and paykel factory is ~150K down the road. They started with the Gentle Annie motor (a story in itself) with a ribbed belt reduction and then got rid of the belt with the larger diameter (more torque) smart drive motor. Both sensorless. Still using it
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=s...ei=OC0yVsCtGIS0mAXLuZnQAQ#q=smart+drive+motor