Spindle Power Supply

[jaysteel]

Hey! I just bought a Wolfgang 12V TB650. I've read it's a nice spindle. I have a question of you guys regarding the power supply. The power requirements needed are a 12 Volt power supply with a minimum of 12amps to run the motor effectively. The motor can handle up to 20 amps total.

I want to vary the speed of the motor. Wolfgang says I need a 12V variable power supply. To allow me to vary the voltage, which will vary the speed of the motor.

Does anyone have a good recommendation - by model and name, for a good quality 12V variable power supply??

I don't know a lot about electrics so that's why I'm asking. Could I get a 12V power supply and vary the speed by using an inexpensive common router speed control?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Jeff

[jm51]

You'll need a 12v dc controller, router speed controllers plug into the mains afaik.

I've just ordered a 12v 12A Meanwell smps for my Wolfgang spindle after much frustration trying to get it to work with whatever power supplies I had already. A 500w pc psu quoted at 12v 27A wouldn't drive it but the 5v line had the spindle turning.

I did suspect the motor at first but a cordless drill battery had the Wolfgang spinning just fine.

This might be ok for speed control:

12V/24V/36V 10A DC Motor Speed PWM Control Controller on eBay (end time 09-Jul-11 06:59:20 BST)

[cameraguy]

A 500w pc psu quoted at 12v 27A wouldn't drive it but the 5v line had the spindle turning.

If its a PC power supply, it is a switcher, and so it needs a certain minimum load before it will activate and come on. There is also a 'power good' signal line that needs activated before it can power up. PC supplies are a bit tricky until you get the hang of them.

[rpovey]

PC PSU's are a complete crapshoot, some need a pretty large load on the 5V line to get close to the 12V specs.
I have a 400W one I converted and I ended up with what I think was a 5 ohm/20W resistor loading the 5V line, you end up having to dissipate the heat the load generates, it just isn't worth the effort.

[sonic1954]

PC power supplies have only 1 green wire in the bundle. Tie that green wire to any black wire and it should come on.

Yellow wires will have the +12 volts. Black are ground.

[jm51]

My audio amp is powered by a Skynet smps which is supposed to need a 1A draw on the 5v line. (It does work without it.)

I fitted 2 old tubes + sockets to the top of the project case and powered the tube heaters from the 5v line. Much prettier than a wirewound resistor and besides, not everyone has a tubed smps.

It's getting interesting with my Wolfgang spindle. A 12v 12A Meanwell arrived and nada, just a quarter turn each attempt as the auto protection kicked in. (No 5v line on the Meanwell smps.)

When I tried again with quite thin wire, it burst into life and ran like a good 'un but the wire got so hot that I couldn't hold it for long.

The 12A smps will do great for audio apps so no loss but I'm going to be miffed if I order a 30A or 40A smps and that won't run the motor.

[cameraguy]

stop playing with switchers, look on ebay for a surplus industrial linear supply. i have found them periodically, often for dirt cheap. just got a couple of 24v 1000w linears for like $15 each still new in the box from a surplus liquidator.
try 'outback6' or 'sunnking' or folks like that. sometimes they have some killer stuff from closed factories.

[vbgraves]

I use a PWM controller with my Wolfgang spindle, and it seems to work fine. I got the controller off Ebay, and it looks like this one, although I don't remember if this was the buyer I got it from.

12V 30A DC Motor Speed Control PWM HHO RC Controller | eBay

[cameraguy]

I use a PWM controller with my Wolfgang spindle, and it seems to work fine. I got the controller off Ebay, and it looks like this one, although I don't remember if this was the buyer I got it from.

12V 30A DC Motor Speed Control PWM HHO RC Controller | eBay

Most of those on Ebay were meant to control electric scooters/ebikes. The one you post looks like one of those. They are awesome for speed control of brushed motors (they have similar ones for brushless as well, btw, so make sure you get the right kind), but still require the 12v supply in the first place for input.
So, unfortunately does not solve his problem.


As I mentioned before, a cheap unregulated surplus industrial supply is common and cheap on Ebay, and will suit just fine. Coupled with your speed controller, an unbeatable combo, but you have to get the power to the speed controller in the first place.