13 replies to this topic

[iceracer]

Looking for a little advice.

 

I plan to construct a tire cleaning station/stand for our new club track. It will be powered by a 10a 30v PS.

I'd like to utilize a potentiometer so the guys can control the voltage to the station instead of the dial on the PS.

 

Problem is I have no idea what type or size to get.  We run a variety of motors from cheetahs to group 12's

 

On one of our other tracks we use an old controller but it's not as convenient as it was when it had a potentiometer on it, which has long been misplaced.

 

Thanks, Terry

[John Miller]

I would like to know the answer to this one as well.

[idare2bdul]

Was this originally posted on April 1?

[iceracer]

I don't recall asking this on April 1. If it was please post a link to it and apologies in advance.

[Samiam]

What is a tire cleaning station/stand?

 

I use a shop rag.

[Overdrive]

Iceracer, To use a potentiometer to vary the voltage to a tire cleaning fixture will be fairly cost prohibitive.

 

You see the resistor will have to absorb the power difference from the P/S and the fixture. A G12 wimpy motor will draw 3+ amps no load. Put a load on the motor and it will climb to 10+ amps pretty easily. 10 amps times 12 volts = 120 watts. Look up the price of 150+ watt pots and get ready for some sticker shock.

 

Plus you will want to protect your customers from the heat generated. Is will get hotter than a parma turbo running at half throttle for 10 laps.

 

One thing you could explore is maybe a adjustable tubular power resistor in the 4-10 ohm range. Digikey sells a 225w 10 ohm for about $15. But you will still have to solve the heat dissipation issue.  Think turbo type heatsink but much longer and maybe a small fan blowing on it.

 

Hope this Helps

 

OverDrive

[MSwiss]

I'm still trying to figure out what a tire cleaning machine is.

And why a separate speed control would be necessary / more convenient, than the one on the power supply?

[iceracer]

The tire cleaning area is just a spot to put lighter fluid on the tires and run them against what is basically a board similar to the track surface to clean them. We used to do that on the track but it got congested and messy.

Im wondering if I was using an incorrect term. Perhaps a rheostat is what I need?

[MSwiss]

Again, why not use the power ajustment on the power supply or a controller?

Unless the power supply has to be located away from the block, why not use it?

Also it seems like a controller would also work well because the spring automatically shuts down the power after use.

IOW, no worrying the guy with a "slow" motor left the power level on too high for a guy with a "fast" motor.

[iceracer]

Good point with using a controller. I was thinking some that use it may be a little heavy handed and the rheostat would be easier to replace than the adjuster on the PS. A sacrificial element if you will. But I do like the idea of power off with the controller...

[MSwiss]

What kind of rubber do you guys use that it needs cleaning with naptha that often?

Are you cleaning glue from out of the pores, or debris off the surface?

[Mark Crowley]

Like the OP tire cleaning came up at RIR for the Oval track.  Glue is not permitted and cleaning the tires with naphtha apparently helps.  I was asked to build a cleaning station since I built a drag glue station.  The thinking was that putting naphtha on the rough surface and rolling the tires would break up a "glazed" tire surface.

Not really sure what I should build so this tread is interesting?

Mrk

Pics are of the drag glue station I built

.

[Samiam]

The blue shop towels pictured are all you need to clean your tires.

 

Running your  dirty tires soaked with naptha on a test block will only wipe some superficial dirt off the surface.

[drrufo]

I have a test rig that I use to check the function of the controllers that I build or repair. I have used a potentiometer as well and it worked like a controller. Both pots that I use for sense and braking are 5 watts wire wound and they worked no different than a controller. I would use a potentiometer instead of a controller, it is cheaper to replace. 

A pot with 1 meg should work , this is  strictly a educated guess

 

John Andersen