Washer Motor

You mean a dimmer? Not unless you have a really big dimmer switch or a really small washing machine motor....You need a DC motor, like out of a treadmill....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghl5apSuvzU

Now they need a home made ball retriever.

• Quote: Lyn "Now they need a home made ball retriever. "

That part is easy!

Just don't mind the slobber...

google_AC+motor+speed+control

There are a myriad of different motor technologies used in washing machines, depending on how old it is. So the term basically means nothing.

Assuming it is an AC motor and it is single phase, then probably not. There are a number of different types of single phase motors, the majority of which cannot be effectively controlled for speed. Of the three that can, only two can be controlled with a "dimmer", meaning a voltage controller. One is a "Shaded Pole" motor, and there is almost zero chance that you have a washing machine that uses a Shaded Pole motor, they are typically too weak for anything other than a fan. The other is a "Universal" motor which is really a DC motor, but constructed in such a way as to accept AC voltage, and varying the voltage will vary the speed. But Universal motors have brushes, so they are unpopular for large appliances because they would need regular servicing.

If it is a newer washing machine it may have a 3 phase motor and an inverter in it, or maybe even a Permanent Magnet type motor, but either way but you would also have to use the speed controller that comes with it, and that will take some electrical skills that are not evident from the fact that you asked this question.

As Solar Eagle said, if you plan on robbing a motor from an appliance, a treadmill will usually have a DC motor inside, but again, you would have to also use the DC speed controller.

What you could do more easily is to just get a stepped sheave for your drive motor and change the belt position when you want to change speeds, like on older drill presses. For a pitching machine, you are not going to be changing speed continuously.

Just went through this exercise a month ago - someone in mechanical ordered a single phase AC motor for the main pump on a CIP skid which was to be VFD controlled - after checking all 4 companies that make single phase speed controls, it was determined that it would not work. (majority of single phase motors cannot be controlled by a VFD) The big clue that it wouldn't work was the 43A in rush on a 1 HP motor. Capacitive start is the problem. They usually have a can sitting on the side of them with the capacitor in it. Check your motor for this. If it is capacitive start - no speed control will work with it.

wrong application!!!!

washers have AC wound motors, you need to be able to adjust the frequency of incoming (supply) ac voltage to alter the motors speed. go with a DC motor and just adjust the voltage you're feeding it, a dimmer wont cut it.

Most washing machine motors are brushless AC motors and are capacitor start, with a mechanical governor relay that kicks it out of start mode after the motor is at design speed. You cannot use a speed control on these motors, you at best will burn it out, at worse you will catch it on fire.

Use a motor out of a power tool such as a router or grinder, etc. These are brushed motor and can be controlled with a TRIAC / DIAC speed control, which is a PWM type VFD.

Good Luck :)