I have some motors with no markings on them. Don't know what they came out of. Does anyone know of a routine that can be done with a volt/ohm meter to determine the voltage of the motor?
Thanks in advance.
Allthumbs9

A good first step would be to determine if they are 1Ø or 3Ø motors.

If they're 3Ø they will have either 3, 9 or 12 leads brought out of the stator for connection.

A lot of single Ø motors will have a connection diagram inside of the connection box lid if it's there.

It would also be helpful to have an idea what the motors came from, or photos of the motors.

Once you get that far in the sorting process, there are other indicators you look for.

Franz you are one cruel SOB. I bet I can predict the next question...

Moe, there is a big difference between factual & cruel.

The question as posed is completely devoid of any information that enables me or probably anyone elst to answer it. The question is akin to me asking you how to start a Harley, and not even telling you the year of said Hog.

I can't beat thin empty air up against the rolodex of what I know to answer a question, and neither can you.

Well, unlike Franz, I'll actually give a test procedure instead of asking dumb questions.

Start hooking them up and see what voltage makes them run. See what voltage makes one of them burn.

Chances are, you'll have at least one good one at the end and you'll know its voltage!

Well, I guess after all of that, the real answer to my question is, no. You are right, I did not give any information about the motors, but I was not asking you to identify them. The question was about a volt/ohm meter check.

They are from vcr's, tape players, and the like. Most likely dc and each have only two leads. I will probably end up hooking a model railroad power pack up and check them that way.

I've heard you can check the impedance of a speaker be measuring the voice coil with a volt/ohm meter. So, I wondered if it was possible to measure the windings of the motor and run it through a math formula to get a voltage.

Thanks again,
allthumbs9

Do you still have the carcasses of the machines they came out of? The power supply inside will tell you their nominal operating voltage. DC motors can usually be fed with less voltage to lower the speed.

Look at the printed circuit boards they were connected to. Usually you can find a voltage on them, or at least see what kind of caps and resistors they were using. I'd be willing to bet most of those are 12-15vdc. The most common IC chips used on those boards are rated for optimal performance between 9-15v, so 12v being middle ground (median for speed of function and heat produced) is where they tend to be run.

That would be my WAEG (wild azz educated guess).

Mac, did you learn that highly accurate voltage testing technique during your period of government employment over at the dam site?

That will let the smoke out..

I was too vague. I would have bet that someone would ask what you were talking about.. Still too vague??

Again with the questions... :D