I built an handmade rod wrapper (I have used a motor from Merrick Tackle), it works well but it is a bit fast ! To reduce the speed I bought a rheostat switch (spare part from American tackle) to install that between the motor and the pedal. Now my rheostat come with only two wire and I don't know how to install that. Does anyone help me? Is it possible share a schematics diagram ?
Thanks in advance for help

You hook the two wires up in line with your hot wire. If your cord is a twin wire, one should be ribbed. This is the neutral. You want to cut the other wire which is your hot and connect the rheostat wires, one to each end. I used a regular light dimmer switch on mine, but it didn't work well. Seemed like it lost torque. Maybe due to using two rheostats in series. One being the foot pedal. I abandoned the whole set up because the speed control was to sensitive. However, my parts were pieced together. A light dimmer, sewing machine motor and foot pedal. No reduction pulleys. I know use a 1/2in drill, but loose the ability to turn by hand easily. Which is fine for me since I normally use a hand wrapper. Hope this helps, maybe someone will chime in with experience on your specific products.

Assuming your in the US or using a 120V system



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2011 05:37PM by Brandon Gay.

Marco,
The best thing to do, if you stay with this motor is to add a couple more stages of speed reduction.
You just need some pulleys, belts and bearings to further reduce the speed.

If you want to use the speed control, cut one of the AC wires that go to the motor and put your speed control in series with the one single wire that you have cut as was posted earlier.

Roger

This was one of the first AC power units that I made, using a couple of pulleys and belts to get the speed down.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Take care
Roger

Thanks guy for your support, this is a great forum!

for Brandon: Yes i use a 120V system, thank you for your electrical explanation.

for Roger: My rod wrapper has a couple of pulley to reduce the speed, with rheostat I want have better control of it.

Marco,
When you bought the motor, did it come with a foot controller?

I do agree with you on the use of an inline speed controller.
When I used to use sewing machine motors for my wrappers, I used a foot pedal speed control for the speed, but I also had an inline speed control to further reduce the speed.

Good luck
Roger

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Marco,
> When you bought the motor, did it come with a foot
> controller?
>
> I do agree with you on the use of an inline speed
> controller.
> When I used to use sewing machine motors for my
> wrappers, I used a foot pedal speed control for
> the speed, but I also had an inline speed control
> to further reduce the speed.
>
> Good luck
> Roger

Yes Roger, did it come with a foot controller. Thank you.

Marco,
One thing that I did to make my speed controller a bit more universal was to insert it into one line of an extension cord.

I went to the hardware store and picked up a 6 foot extension cord for about $2.

Then, I went to about the middle of the cord, split the two conductors apart, and cut one of the conductors.

Then I simply wired the speed controller to each end of the cut extension cord wire.

I insulated all of the wiring, used heat shrink tubing to take care of the extra wiring and the job was complete.

Now, when using the controller, simply plug the wrapper plug into the end of the extension cord.
Plug the extension cord into the wall.

Put the wrapper pedal all of the way to the floor, and then dial down the speed to what you need by use of the speed control - control knob. Double check the low end to be sure that you still have the starting torque that you need. If you need a bit more starting torqe, just turn up the dial on your speed controller a bit and you will be in good shape to go.

Be safe

Roger

Roger,
you gave me a great help with yor answer. Very clear I'll follow your suggestion.

Be sure I'll be safe.
Thank you again
Ciao
Marco