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Old 03-06-2009, 02:42 AM   #12 (permalink)
NiHaoMike
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MazdaMatt View Post
Two questions I"ve been pondering...

1 - Can you run a 120V motor off of 12V and 10x step-up transformer? Similarly, could you run a 208V 3-phase motor from a 10x step-up transformer and 24v? (or more generally, can you run a motor off of step-up transformer?)

2 - What about a vaccuum cleaner motor? These things are 120v at 10amps = 1200W (approx 0.8hp?). That's plenty for a scooter. Maybe 4 of them could each power a wheel of a small car? I'm pretty sure they run at very high rpm, but doubt they have any reasonably good torque or dyanamics.
It would make more sense to step up the voltage using a DC/DC converter and then convert to AC. 24v is on the low side even for a bicycle, so it would be more usual to simply start with a high battery voltage.

Most vacuum cleaner motors are universal meaning they will operate from DC. I don't think they'll last long for constant service, but it could get interesting to use one with a centrifugal clutch connecting it to the belt as a heavy duty starter. It would work great for EOC and FAS.
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