Electronic – the terminal labelled ā€œUā€ in some autotransformers

acterminaltransformer

I'm trying to wire an autotransformer for usage as a speed controller for a brushless motor fan.

The terminals are quite self explanatory:

Pe for ground, L-N are my input, N1-L1 are unregulated output (same as L-N) and U-N are the output to my motor. Having that said, I'm still hesitant to wire this up before I understand the the following:

  • Q1: What is the U terminal? What does it stand for?
  • Q2: Do I connect my motor's ground to the common Pe? I'd have imagined that there would be a dedicated terminal for the ground near the output to the motor.

Here's a picture from inside the transformer's case:

Transformer's datasheet https://www.sentera.eu/Product/ViewDocument/ENG/?DocumentId=690814&ArticleID=108450

Best Answer

Sentera's website shows a connection diagram for a similar controller:

enter image description here

Figure 1. Source: Sentera.

Pe for ground, L-N are my input, N1-L are unregulated output (same as L-N) and U-N are the output to my motor.

N1-L should read N-L1. Yes, unregulated output but on when running so it is switched.

Q1: What is the U terminal? What does it stand for?

'U' is commonly used in Europe to mean 'voltage'. It makes sense when you think that we use 'I' for current and avoids confusion between 'voltage' and 'volts'. U1 and U2 are the fan terminals and the naming suggests that neither of them is at neutral potential so the triac is likely to be in the neutral line.

Q2: Do I connect my motor's ground to the common Pe? I'd have imagined that there would be a dedicated terminal for the ground near the output to the motor

Yes. It appears that they have been a bit mean with the terminals.