I'm guessing "string excitation mode" would mean it is for series-wound motors. (normal brush-type motors.)

The fields and armature are wired as a "string" in series motors, in parallel for shunt-wound motors.

What model Asko?

I have  a lot of parts for model 12004. If you need anything, it is yours. You would only have to reimburse me for postage.

Some Askos of that vintage, including the 12004, had a very interesting motor, made by Siemens. It will NOT work with that controller. It is some sort of weird hybrid, I think it functions as an induction motor on wash and as a series motor (brush motor) on spin. I have a couple, I should pull one apart to confirm. Miele used a two-in-one motor, basically two motors on one shaft, but this is different. It is one motor that functions in two ways. Unless I am mistaken. Does anyone have a service manual for a Asko 12004 or 12005?

The base model Asko of the time, 10505 I think it was, had a standard brush motor and probably would work.

Hi Dave

I still have 1 or 2 of those motors in the shed.

I can unearth one and find its model number, and post it here if you like.

It is made by Siemens.

AFAIK there is absolutely no electronic control in that machine. Just switching windings to achieve different speeds.

The motor gives a steady wash speed of maybe 50 rpm?

The motor gives 2 spin speeds, 900 rpm, and 1400 rpm.

That is pretty amazing for a machine with no electronic controls.

Chris.

Dave... well I've found 2 of those motors. One is definitely Siemens and has markings on it that I can't read clearly. I have added a photo. Hopefully your eyes are better than mine.

the other is identical but has no markings on it. It has a sticker on it with the number 8051138.

Google gives me a few matches but for some reason they are all in Russian. They are for an Acko (Asko) washer so they are a match. They show some alternative part numbers that might lead you somewhere...

They are both off Asko 12004 washers, at a guess 20 years old? One I have is very rusty, the other appears excellent. I'm in Australia so not much use to you.

I haven't pulled one apart yet, but I've peered inside. There are clearly windings that indicate an induction motor. But it has brushes. There are only six wires to it. I think it works on witchcraft...

Hi Henrik

This is not a PWM system. It has absolutely no electronic control. There is no tacho for feedback. I am very familiar with PWM systems. They require an electronic control, this machine has none.

It simply has a mechanical timer (AKO brand?) which switches motor windings to change from wash to spin.

I will try to give a clearer explanation later, it is late and  I need some sleep.

I used to understand the correct terminology to use to describe what I think happens on the wash phase but I need to refresh my understanding before I say much more.

Think of a 2 speed induction washing machine motor, the type common in Italian machines of the 1970s and 1980s. Each speed has two windings, one winding is fed by a capacitor, the other direct. The timer changes which of the 2 windings is fed by capacitor to reverse the motor.

I believe this is what happens in the Asko motor for wash.

The spin is simple - a brush motor is fed 240 volts for spin. To increase the spin speed from 900 to 1400 rpm, the timer bypasses half of the field winding. UK Hotpoints used to do this, too.

The magic is that the same motor works as induction motor in wash and universal motor in spin. Yet they use the same rotor. Very clever engineering. I only half understand how it is done... I'd like to understand the rest.

My machine was from 1992.

Chris.

Hi Dave

I also have the remains of one of those motors with the reduction gear on the end. It too was made by Siemens. I don't remember what it came out of, I think also an old Asea or Asko? Mine was a two speed motor only. Very clever engineering - two speed motor, on slow (1400rpm) it operated through the reduction gear, I think it was about 10 to 1 reduction? When the motor switched to high speed (2800rpm) the centrifugal weights flew out, locking out the reduction gear so the pulley turned at motor speed. This would give about 20:1 ratio of wash speed to spin speed, so if geared for a 55rpm drum speed wash it would be 1100 rpm spin. Must have been expensive to manufacture.

Chris.