Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Revesby - Sydney Australia
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,183

    Default Dead winch, motor reversal issue

    Customer has a fairly new winch. Something like this:




    which has been working OK for a month, but suddenly stopped working in one direction.
    Can drop it down, but not lift up!!!


    No problem, thinks I, broken switch?

    Go there today, momentary DPDT switch seems OK. Look into circuit:
    IMG_3743.jpg IMG_3744.jpg
    there is a dual capacitor. 15uF and 40uF.
    I've never actually played around with reversing single phase motors.
    I'm guessing one cap value drives it forward, and one is sufficiently out of phase to drive it backward?

    I test the cap(s?) with a little LCR:
    IMG_3745.jpg IMG_3746.jpg
    and they seem OK.


    Then I try something. Swap the cap wires on the switch.
    I thought this would cause the "up" position to go down.

    It didn't. The up position gave a slight motor hum for a microsecond, then nothing.
    And the down position still went down.


    Very confused!!!!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Nigel,

    A bad connection to the cap can still give you a good capacitor reading on those digital meters ! Whilst to get a capacitance reading and what seems like a good esr, there is not enough current in the circuit to be sure that the capacitor is good under operating conditions.

    Anyway reversing a single phase motor is not difficult. Simply reversing the start coil connections will do that. Which is what the lower switch does. I would check that the switch actually works !
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Gulfview Heights, Adelaide
    Posts
    83

    Default

    There may be a faulty limit switch or adjustment somewhere in the lifting mechanism.
    If you have a in line current meter, check the current in both directions.
    It is unlikely to be the capacitor given that it works ok in one direction.

    Paul

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    168

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by paul33 View Post
    There may be a faulty limit switch or adjustment somewhere in the lifting mechanism.
    If you have a in line current meter, check the current in both directions.
    It is unlikely to be the capacitor given that it works ok in one direction.

    Paul
    Those cheap hoists have a ring arrangement and a disc clamped around the cable which activates a limit switch to stop the up operation.
    Probable a issue with adjustment of the limit switch or faulty switch. For their price they are a handy hoist. We used a few where I previously
    worked to move motors and Vac pumps from and to mezzanine platforms. Had a few instances of the up limits failing.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Australind , WA
    Age
    58
    Posts
    1,277

    Default

    How many wires going to the motor itself?
    If its 3 , it might be similar to a lathe I worked on once. It had a centre tapped winding. Centre tapping was neutral and one end was Active for Forward, the other end was Active for reverse.
    It used the same configuration switch that a 3 phase motor would use.....effectively reversing 2 phases.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Revesby - Sydney Australia
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,183

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sterob View Post
    How many wires going to the motor itself?
    Unknown. Four from the handset up, but I didn't have a 3m high ladder to investigate the other end.
    Tomorrow morning's problem

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    Almost guarantee a molten switch. Possibly the change-over switch on the pendant. They are awfully wimpy for the starting current of those motors. Or the limit switch as mentioned already. Same crappy quality....
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Revesby - Sydney Australia
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,183

    Default

    Took the tall ladder, and investigated.

    Paul and Sparksy were correct. The limit switch was somehow jamming.

    The cable goes to a pulley, and its support was somehow twisting:
    IMG_3762.jpg



    I twisted the pulley around a little, attached an extra brace:
    IMG_3763.jpg
    and instructed the owner to check the limit switch (cable guiding loop) is free, if the fault ever happens again.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    168

    Default

    Hope they dont use it for much load, way that pulley is setup guiding the cable to end of the drum it will bunch up on that end and put strain on the cable. Should have been 2 pulleys used, first one a bit lower to drum and central and the other in similar position to existing. Could do away with the limit switch as it wont work anyway.

Similar Threads

  1. winch motor
    By shedhappens in forum ELECTRICALS
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 8th Mar 2021, 09:40 PM
  2. Unimac DC motor controller issue.
    By lamestllama in forum ELECTRICALS
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11th Sep 2020, 06:03 AM
  3. Electric drive motor issue
    By ratters in forum THE HERCUS AREA
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 29th Aug 2016, 12:55 PM
  4. Winch post angle
    By mbaldwin in forum TRAILERS & OTHER FABRICATED STUFF
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 6th Aug 2016, 11:57 AM
  5. Motor Issue
    By Stustoys in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 55
    Last Post: 29th Dec 2013, 10:14 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •