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Speed Controllers - How do they work?

I'm trying to figure out how these speed controllers actually control the speed of a turntable. I have a Clearaudio Champion 2, and the motor has a single AC power cord coming out of it. If I plug the motor into the speed controller, how does the signal to control the actual speed get to the motor to slow down or speed up the table? Maybe I'm missing something here, but I'm confused about how they work. I'd consider purchasing one if they are really worth having. Can someone explain this to me?
spenceroo
crem1
672 posts
 
Speed controllers keep your turntable spinning at exact speeds. Once you own one you shall never want to be without it.
markd51
741 posts
 
Hello Spenceroo,
Generally they vary the frequency of the electricity, not the voltage, to slow, or speed up the Motor Here in US that frequency is 60hz, in Eu it is 50hz.

Some speed controllers, such as the VPI SDS also ramp down voltage to a pre-determined setting after initial motor start up at full voltage. This is said as well to reduce motor noise with the lower voltage, thus helping lower the noise floor with it.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
For AC motor, controller varies frequency. For DC motor, controller varies output voltage. Make sure you buy the right kind.
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