Solar Motor Controller is an electronic device with DC power input terminals that may connect directly to solar PV panels, and output terminals that may connect directly to single or multiphase phase AC electric motors without requiring an energy storage subsystem. The Controller runs electric motors of many frequencies and is capable of interfacing to multiple voltages of solar PV panels with or without maximum power point tracking. The Controller may drive motors in water pumping, HVAC, refrigeration, compressors operation, blowers, machine tools, and many other applications; some controller applications may operate at motor speeds adjusted to conform to power available from attached solar panels.

Solar Motor Controller is an electronic device with DC power input terminals that may connect directly to solar PV panels, and output terminals that may connect directly to single or multiphase phase AC electric motors without requiring an energy storage subsystem. The Controller runs electric motors of many frequencies and is capable of interfacing to multiple voltages of solar PV panels with or without maximum power point tracking. The Controller may drive motors in water pumping, HVAC, refrigeration, compressors operation, blowers, machine tools, and many other applications; some controller applications may operate at motor speeds adjusted to conform to power available from attached solar panels.

Controllers for controlling hybrid motor drive circuits configured to drive a motor are provided herein. A controller is configured to drive the motor using an inverter when a motor commanded frequency is not within a predetermined range of line input power frequencies, and couple line input power to an output of the inverter using a first switch device when the motor commanded frequency is within the predetermined range of line input power frequencies.

An induction-type AC electric motor system has a variable frequency motor (VFD) drive having at least two outputs, the VFD drive coupled to be powered by a solar input and to power the motor with a switching device in a first setting. With the switching device in a second setting, a run winding of the AC electric motor couples to an AC input and a start winding of the AC motor couples through a capacitor and start switch to the AC input. The system is configured to, upon determining motor start, put the contactor in first setting and use the VFD drive to continue running the motor, and, when the AC motor is not rotating, the system is configured to periodically measure available solar power and to start the AC motor if the available solar power exceeds a first threshold power determined sufficient to run the AC motor.

A controller for a drive motor (60) of a product conveyor belt at a checkout has a phase-start cutting and/or phase-end cutting controller (50) that controls the drive motor (60) in such a manner that the product conveyor belt is accelerated with reduced torque from a non-driven state. A start controller controls the drive motor (60) in such a manner that the drive motor (60) initially drives with a non-reduced torque when accelerating the product conveyor belt from the non-driven state before the phase-start cutting and/or phase-end cutting controller (50) further accelerates the product conveyor belt with reduced torque.

A controller for a drive motor (60) of a product conveyor belt at a checkout has a phase-start cutting and/or phase-end cutting controller (50) that controls the drive motor (60) in such a manner that the product conveyor belt is accelerated with reduced torque from a non-driven state. A start controller controls the drive motor (60) in such a manner that the drive motor (60) initially drives with a non-reduced torque when accelerating the product conveyor belt from the non-driven state before the phase-start cutting and/or phase-end cutting controller (50) further accelerates the product conveyor belt with reduced torque.

A system for controlling an AC motor is provided. The system comprises an electrical connection path for connecting an electrical input of the AC motor to a first phase of alternating current from an electric power supply. The system also comprises two or more motor controllers, each motor controller is located on the electrical connection path between the electric power supply and the AC motor and is operable to regulate current of the first phase passing through it. Each motor controller is connected in parallel, relative to the other motor controllers, to the electrical connection path. At least one processor is configured to control the motor controllers to repeatedly change which of the motor controllers current of the first phase passes through, such that at any given time current of the first phase only passes through one of the motor controllers. A corresponding method is also provided.

A motor drive control device causes a single phase motor including a coil of a first system and a coil of a second system to be driven. The motor drive control device has a first driving circuit configured to perform control to energize the coil of the first system, a second driving circuit configured to perform control to energize the coil of the second system, and a driving control unit configured to control an operation of the first driving circuit and an operation of the second driving circuit. The driving control unit has a driving voltage detecting unit configured to detect a driving voltage applied to the first driving circuit and a driving voltage applied to the second driving circuit, and a compensation control unit configured to cause one driving circuit between the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit to execute a maintenance operation for maintaining rotation of the single phase motor, based on a detection result of the driving voltage detecting unit.

A reactive power system comprises a plurality of electrical capacitor banks, with each electrical capacitor bank electrically connected in series with an electrical switch. The electrical switches may be electrically connected to a system such as, for example, an electrical induction motor starter system. A controller is coupled with the motor starter system and each of the electrical switches. The controller, in response to receiving a signal from the motor starter system, determines which of the plurality of electrical capacitor banks from which electrical power should be provided for the motor starter system. For the determined or identified electrical capacitor bank(s), the controller identifies the corresponding electrical switch(es) and communicates a signal to close the switch(es). Closing the switches results in the capacitors in the corresponding electrical capacitor banks to be electrically connected to the motor starter system and to provide current to the motor starter system.

A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.