???

 

Mike,

I have not worked with that specific speed controller but it appears the HF speed controller is similar to one I own from MLCS. Speed controllers are designed specifically for universal brush-type motors as used in routers. They work well with basic (non-electronic controlled) routers.

Routers with electronic circuitry for slow-start, variable speed or electronic braking may have issues with them however. Some people who are handy with electronics and electrical devices have gone in and bypassed the electronics in the router to use the speed controls but that is obviously done at your own risk, both for your safety and the risk of damage to the router.

Since your Craftsman does not have speed control and is unlikely to have electronic braking, I would focus on whether or not it has a soft-start. If it doesn't have a soft-start you will feel a very noticable torque in the router (trying to rotate) when you turn it on. Soft-start is added to some routers to accelerate the router speed slowly (speeding up over a second or two) rather than turning on like a light switch.

I hope this helps.

Jim

 

If your router does not have speed control, it does not have soft start either. both features are provided by the same electronics. The HF unit should work very well with your router, Mike.

 

Duane
I have a craftsman with slow start and no variable speed

 

I use the HF speed controller with my PC 892 table router and it works just fine. Even if it only lasts a year and has to be replaced I have still saved money.

 

Great Thanks so much. I have 2. The one I want to use does not have soft start. The other one does. Again great info thanks a BUNCH!!!!!

 

I have been using the HF speed controller for a few months and it works great with my older routers.

 

Question: why can't a simple dimmer control be wired up as a speed control for a router with neither variable speed or soft start?

 

In North America most line power is 60 cycles per second (60hz). A huge portion of the rest of the planet uses a 50hz system. The RPM of 'dumb motors' can be affected by reducing or increasing the frequency or voltage delivered to the motor.

I'm not entirely sure what the affects of lowering the voltage to decrease the speed would be. As I understand it, the speed control devices manufactured for the 'router' application function by removing some of the AC pulses from the time period.

I suspect that decreasing the frequency instead of the voltage minimizes the proportional loss of torque (from the horsepower potential of the motor).

Would any of the 'real' motor geniuses on the board like to jump into this foray and let us know how far off (or possibly on!) target my best guesses are?

 

I see dimmers offered at Home Depot rated at 1000 watts. But with prices that are approaching $20, one may as well do the HF model. I haven't checked out E-bay.

 

1000W only pencils out to about 8 amps, most routers would smoke it quick.

 

Hi

I have tried it and the dimmers don't work they burn out in short order or to say right off the bat I have used the HF ones for over 6 years and no problems at all you can get the 15amp or the 20 amp models from MLCS , stick with the device that works...sometimes you need to step up to the pump to play..

====

 

...sometimes you need to step up to the plump to play..

Don't let your Bride hear you saying that, BJ! :fie::fie::fie::haha::haha::haha:

Jim

 

Hello!

I've been formed as an electronics tech, and I can tell that it has to be designed for motor use.

The ones for dimmers are not.

Some made for motors will stand the power, but with poor results:
When need for some power, the motor will slow down.

Some made for motors will "try"to understand motor's speed and need for power and
giving a bit more when needed.
-Those are the best ones to use separate from the motor.

The ones inside the machine can take advantage of using a motion captor
witch tell them what is the actual real speed of rotation.
Those are the best ones!

They are inside: Bosh, Festool, Metabo, Makita,and others witch I'm not aware, being far away from american market for tools.

Most of cheap routers don't have it even if they have "Speed control".
They just work as if they where outside the machine.

Been in the speed control problem as electronic specialist, we had to go for
motion caption, It's working a lot better.

About External Speed controlers I would not go to cheap because it's a difficult problem for the external circuitry to guess motor needs.

Two basical designs:

giving the motor a part of an alternance of alternative current.
Most of cheap design.

Giving the motor full waves, but not all the waves, far better.
not frequently used, but a lot better.

The third design,that you will see in future for your tools is to use some tri-phas motors and then change the speed by changing the number of cycles by second.

It already is made for CNC's.
And for a tiny battery operated drill made by Festool.



About 50 HZ or 60Hz it does not change much things.
Things made for 50Hz should work on 60Hz , except turntables.
Regards.
Gérard

 

Hello!

I've been formed as an electronics tech, and I can tell that it has to be designed for motor use.

The ones for dimmers are not.

Agreed!

Some made for motors will stand the power, but with poor results:
When need for some power, the motor will slow down.

They give you variable speed, not constant speed!

Some made for motors will "try"to understand motor's speed and need for power and
giving a bit more when needed.
-Those are the best ones to use separate from the motor.

The ones inside the machine can take advantage of using a motion captor
witch tell them what is the actual real speed of rotation.
Those are the best ones!

Again, agreed! Constant speed

They are inside: Bosh, Festool, Metabo, Makita,and others witch I'm not aware, being far away from american market for tools.

Most of cheap routers don't have it even if they have "Speed control".
They just work as if they where outside the machine.

Been in the speed control problem as electronic specialist, we had to go for
motion caption, It's working a lot better.

About External Speed controlers I would not go to cheap because it's a difficult problem for the external circuitry to guess motor needs.

Two basical designs:

giving the motor a part of an alternance of alternative current.
Most of cheap design.

Most, if not all inexpensive external controllers are this type!

Giving the motor full waves, but not all the waves, far better.
not frequently used, but a lot better.

The third design,that you will see in future for your tools is to use some tri-phas motors and then change the speed by changing the number of cycles by second.

Used in many high end lathes.. wont solve your current router speed problem!

It already is made for CNC's.
And for a tiny battery operated drill made by Festool.



About 50 HZ or 60Hz it does not change much things.
Things made for 50Hz should work on 60Hz , except turntables.

True, but not necessarily the other way around for all motors, but ok on the universal motors routers use.

Regards.
Gérard

After all that, if your goal is to not spin a 3 1/2 inch panel raising bit at 25000 RPM... the $20.00 HF unit will work quite nicely!