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Author Topic: Urgent...Variable speed motor/controller Anhtu Vu Film Handler Posts: 98 From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Registered: Jun 2013 posted 10-28-2019 01:04 PM                     I will be installing 2 simplex 35 mm projectors soon. I need to replace the old variable speed motor/controller. Advice? I'm located in Montreal.  |  IP: Logged Julian Antos Film Handler Posts: 76 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: Nov 2009 posted 10-28-2019 04:57 PM                     To start, you'll need a three phase motor and an inverter/variable frequency drive. The motor needs to be "inverter duty" or you will wear it out prematurely. Eaton and Lense (found in Kinotons) are both reliable VFDs for this purpose. You need to be careful that everything is properly insulated or you'll get a horrible "whine" in the sound system.  |  IP: Logged Anhtu Vu Film Handler Posts: 98 From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Registered: Jun 2013 posted 10-28-2019 09:51 PM                     Will this VFD work ? https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/catalog/industrial-control--drives--automation---sensors/powerxl-dc1-variable-frequency-drives-na.html and what motor would you recommend ?  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-28-2019 10:26 PM                        I've always seen this done with AC motors and inverters, but DC motors are another option. Or, if you don't actually need variable speed, you could replace the existing motors with fixed-speed AC motors. There are some practical limits to the speed range that you can use. Simplexes require a minimum speed to keep the oil pump working properly, and slower speeds also cause more heat to be transferred to the film. You can definitely do 18-25fps on Simplexes, but slower or faster speeds may be problematic. especially with large lamps installed.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-29-2019 10:15 AM                     We often used the Bodine 3 phase sync motors and a Baldor or Gavazi invertor drive  |  IP: Logged Anhtu Vu Film Handler Posts: 98 From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Registered: Jun 2013 posted 10-31-2019 04:56 PM                     We use Superior Slo-Syn Motors and Slo-syn SS2000d6 . Unfortunately the latter just died and we're desperately looking to replace it. We need 16 to 25 fps.  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 10-31-2019 06:49 PM                     Boston Light & Sound used these GS-2 units on all their 35/70mm installations for HATEFUL 8 & DUNKIRK, and I've also seen them at several screening rooms I work at. All the machines I've seen these installed on had Bodine 3-phase motors, but I don't know the HP rating or which model number. These work really well. What you see here is only the 'control head' the actual electronics go inside the projector pedestal or console. You'll have to do a little bit of math & programming to convert Hz to FPS if you want it read out directly in Frames/sec as you see in my photo, but I've had to do that with almost every VFD I've encountered. As they say in North Korea: it's not rocket science  |  IP: Logged Anhtu Vu Film Handler Posts: 98 From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Registered: Jun 2013 posted 11-01-2019 08:18 AM                     Hi Jim, Thank you for the great info. Do you have a contact at Boston Light and sound ? It would be great if i can get the exact model for all components.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 11-07-2019 02:43 PM                        Anthu, Feel free to email me at the address in my profile and I will help you out.  |  IP: Logged

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