Blue box MOD 0

[supremewhirlpol]

It's time to start MOD0 on the Blue Whirlpool BD. This mod will change a good part of its operation. I'd say 70% - 80% is nothing but electrical. For that purpose, I'm going to be very vague on the electrical configuration of the components. Thus, schematics and wiring diagrams won't be posted. I don't want people who know nothing about electrics, machine controls, and high voltage to be attempting this. So now the question is, what is MOD0? What will it change about this machine? What do you think? Hint:What is the purpose of this box?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

What is special about this box?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

What is this device? What does it do?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Here is front of the unit. What is this device? Think industrial Machine Controls.

 

[pulsator]

Are you gonna give it a variable speed motor? Potentially giving a far wider range of spin/agitation speeds and perhaps making the spin speed quite a bit higher?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Correct!

Oh hi Jaime!

 

Now that was good! Yes the AF-300 will make this machine capable of such a feature.  I want this machine to still function on 120V AC 1 PH, but use a 3 phase motor to make this machine have variable speeds.  The original motor is 1/2hp, 1725rpm/1140 rpm, keeping the pulley ratio and other mechanics the same the new motor is 1/2hp, 3600 rpm(nameplate).  More on that later.  Very good answer Jamie!  MOD0 is making the machine have variable speeds.

 

[combo52]

FAST SPINNING WP BD WASHER

Melvin be careful back around the time WP brought out the Calypso washer a WP engeneer told us about experments they did with DD washers to see how fast they could get them to spin. When they reached around 1000 RPMS the wash baskets would dissinergrate in a deadly way. See exploding Candy washers.

 

As I may have mentioned I modified my 1971 LK washer to spin at 700 RPMs when I rebuilt it 20+ years ago, and even for this I added extra bearings and reinforced the base plate. And the machine still walks badly if the load is even slightly off-balanced. The suspension system on BD machines is not designed for much speed, it would also be better to start with a washer that has good bearings etc. Still this sounds very exciting be sure to do videos with sound and be careful.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Yes, John you are so right. I don't want this machine to fly apart, I'd surely have a bad day.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Oh and yes, those who want details of the electrical modifications can always send me an email. There I will disclose how to make it work. Here are more pictures of the AF-300. A small unit to operate a 1/2 hp 3 phase motor.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

AF-300

nameplate

 

[supremewhirlpol]

heatsink->I'll probably put a fan in the control box.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

bottom

 

[supremewhirlpol]

terminal layout

 

[supremewhirlpol]

mounting the control box

I've drilled holes through the back panel to mount the control box to the machine.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Control box mounted

using 4x 1/4-28 bolts and nuts

 

[supremewhirlpol]

.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Machine right side up->looks good!

 

[supremewhirlpol]

The box adds at least 30-50 LB. of weight to the machine. So it turns out that this box was never used. It was built ~1982 to operate some sort of pump. The box is rated for wet locations. The contactor has never been used, the contacts are not scored. The coil is 120VAC, perfect for my application. The fixture on the side of it has a small flasher module on the base of the light bulb, as the fixture was used to indicate if the pump was running or not. I'll keep the fixture on there for much of the same purpose, except a 35W HPS lamp and Ballast will be used.

 

[aldspinboy]

That is very interesting work Melvin.. keep it going and the best of luck to you.

The light bulb on the back is strange looking by far.

So where is that GE Interface with the run & stop buttons going ?

Boy Lights ,Varible Speed motor, now you have to come up with a new nomenclature for that machine !

 

 

 

Darren k