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Topic starter
2024-12-24 6:36 am
I have been searching for "circuit level" details on how to utilize these motors for possible applications for which they were not originally designed.
Some background is in order. ECM means Electronically Commutated Motor. These use a permanent magnet "armature", have no "brushes", and create 3 rotating magnetic fields by rectifying the main supply AC voltage to DC, then generate three "phase shifted" voltage "pulses" to the field coils. These motors have become prevalent in HVAC systems for their improved efficiencies and for their ability to address custom air handling scenarios. Their "models" include ECM 2.0, ECM 2.3, ECM 3.0, and others. There are differences between these models in their wiring connectors and in the signals that "program" them. I believe the older models are set by applying 24 VAC to certain connector pins. It is not clear whether this voltage can be varied. I believe that newer models might allow for serial or even bluetooth control signals.
There are ample online resources from the HVAC industry showing how to troubleshoot, replace, and repair these motors in their native applications. These are mostly focused on whether the motor needs replaced or not in their specific HVAC system. They do not address how these motors might be speed-controlled in an analog fashion outside of their specific systems. I cannot find any resources on how to "take control" of these for more generic uses and believe this would be a good fit for the Workshop.
As this is my first post, I hope this issue is appropriate and welcome responses from the Forum members.
Thanks
2024-12-24 7:48 pm
Hi @onehotvett,
Welcome to the forum!
I am sorry, I have no connection to the HVAC industry and haven't previously even heard of ECM. However, from your description of the actual motor type, it sounded like a motor style known as BLDC -- Brushless Direct Current. Wikipedia seems to support this view. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushless_DC_electric_motor)
A few Google hits seemed to suggest ECM is an HVAC industry standard of some type, which was concerned with producing interchangeable component units for that industry. The lack of useful hits left me wondering if the underlying standardisation documents are proprietary and kept 'secret' to member companies, although please note this is only wild speculation on my part, following 5 minutes with Google.
If you are interested in driving this general type of motors directly, then you might find more luck with searching out BLDC, which is not a proprietary description, but an approach that is widely used in many applications, including variable speed fans, electrically powered aircraft drones and washing machine motors. I would also point out a 'close relative', in the form of stepper motors, which often have 2 winding phases, and again find many applications, including 3D printers. The huge market for both motor types means some of the semiconductor companies produce custom chips, etc. that are specifically designed for this purpose.
Of course, if your primary interest is specifically in applying ECM devices, then my suggestions maybe irrelevant, and I apologise for the distraction. Perhaps someone else can offer more useful information?
Best wishes and good luck with your research, Dave
2024-12-24 9:43 pm
Without digging in myself, the ECM motors you are describing sounds very much like the three phase motors used in electric radio controlled helicopters. They are brushless motors with permanent magnets that rotate, and coils that do not. In the RC world I use an ESC (Electronic Speed Control) to vary the speed. You might be able to do the same. Are you looking to control speed manually with a knob, or some other automated method?
Gone Flying, Sailing, or Both..
Topic starter
2024-12-26 2:49 am
@davee Thanks Dave. I will research this from the BLDC perspective.