Any size construction project requires the use of an electric concrete mixer. They guarantee a more consistent concrete mix, save time and labor, and improve the strength and longevity of any structure. The success of your project can be greatly impacted by your ability to select and connect an electric concrete mixer, regardless of whether you’re a professional contractor or a do-it-yourself enthusiast.
It is crucial to take into account various factors such as motor power, drum capacity, and the type of mixer that best fits your requirements when choosing an electric concrete mixer. For larger projects, having a larger drum capacity allows you to mix more concrete at once. The mixer’s efficiency and capacity to handle dense mixtures are influenced by the motor power. Furthermore, being aware of the various mixer types—such as stationary and portable—will assist you in making an informed choice based on your unique needs.
While connecting and using an electric concrete mixer is quite simple, it is important to adhere to manufacturer instructions and safety precautions. A well-configured machine guarantees the durability of the equipment as well as the caliber of the concrete mixture. Crucial actions in this process include making sure the power source is steady and assembling the mixer’s parts correctly. Using an electric concrete mixer can be a smooth and efficient part of your construction workflow if you have the proper planning and knowledge.
We’ll go into more detail about the features to consider when selecting an electric concrete mixer in the upcoming sections, along with a detailed walkthrough on how to connect and operate it. You’ll know exactly how to utilize this indispensable construction tool by the end of this article.
- Types of concrete mixers
- Stages of choosing a concrete mixer
- Concrete mixer design
- Concrete mixer drive
- Wiring diagrams for concrete mixer motors
- Connecting single-phase concrete mixer motors
- Connecting three-phase concrete mixer motors
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Types of concrete mixers
Let’s first identify the various kinds of concrete mixers that exist. Many of these devices have been developed over the last century for a range of uses.
However, small-capacity mobile devices are what we are mainly interested in. 300 liters is not a very large capacity.
- First of all, such devices differ in the principle of operation. There are so-called electric concrete mixers of forced and gravity type.
These devices have numerous drawbacks despite offering extremely high-quality solution mixing.
That is, such a machine cannot have gravel added to it, and it may have issues with large crushed stone pieces.
A drum that rotates around the device’s axis is where mixing takes place.
However, you can add almost any size of building material to this kind of mixer.
Additionally, the solution is extracted with relative ease thanks to unique emptying mechanisms.
In light of all of this, we will discuss the gravity type of concrete mixer—which is more typical and less erratic—in the upcoming chapters of our article.
Concrete mixing can be streamlined considerably with the selection and installation of an electric concrete mixer, which will speed up and improve the efficiency of your construction projects. This post will walk you through the key elements—like capacity, power, and portability—that you should take into account when choosing the best mixer for your requirements. It will also include detailed instructions on how to connect and use the mixer safely, so you can make the most of this useful tool while preserving efficiency and safety on the job site.
Stages of choosing a concrete mixer
Once the device type has been determined, you can select the mixing machine itself. There are several parameters to consider here that you should not overlook.
Concrete mixer design
Let us first take a look at the product’s design. There are options here, after all, and the design selection has a significant impact on both task completion and ease of use.
The mixer tank’s volume is one of the most crucial factors. Everything in this case is based on how much solution we require.
- A product up to 100 liters is suitable for small-scale construction – pouring a small path, building a garage or a gazebo.
- When building a house, you need to choose models from 100 to 150 liters. They are capable of preparing from 60 to 100 liters of solution at a time. Yes, yes, we are not mistaken – a 130-liter concrete mixer is not capable of preparing 130 liters of solution at a time. In the best case, it will be 100 liters. This is due to the fact that the filling of the product with a solution for mixing should not exceed 70 to 85% in various models.
- Products from 150 to 300 liters — these are almost professional models, which are supplied more for specialized teams. Although, if you are not working alone, then it is quite possible that you will need such a model. After all, it is clear that the larger the volume of the concrete mixer, the more solution it can prepare per day.
The kind of drive is the next important query. It is dependent upon the design as well as the type of electric motor that must be installed in the concrete mixer. Concrete mixers with gear and crown are available.
- Electric gear concrete mixers, have a motor installed in the lower part of the tank. The engine is rigidly fixed to the tank through a gearbox. And when the engine rotates, the container itself rotates.
One of the benefits of this kind of product is its increased dependability. Additionally, replacement parts for this kind of product are far more expensive.
Additionally, it needs a higher operating culture to prevent breakdowns. These include proper installation, rigorous adherence to the loaded mixture’s volume, and a few other factors.
- With concrete mixers you can handle it less scrupulously. The principle of operation of this machine is based on the fact that, through a belt drive, the engine rotates the crown (gear drive), which, in turn, rotates the drum itself.
These kinds of products frequently have minor malfunctions such as the crown and belt drive breaking. However, the parts for these kinds of concrete mixers are fairly inexpensive, and you don’t need to be an expert to replace them.
Kindly take note! As the most heavily loaded component of this type of concrete mixer is its crown, you should be very aware of the material that goes into making it. Steel, cast iron, or polyurethane can be used. Plastic is obviously the least expensive and least dependable material. In this sense, cast iron undoubtedly prevails, but at a higher cost. Steel is the priciest material, but it is also the most dependable. However, since any material will eventually break, we advise selecting cast iron based on both cost and quality considerations.
The thickness of the metal container is the next factor you should consider when making your selection. Many manufacturers make concrete mixers with thin walls in an effort to cut costs.
They fail very quickly due to friction and corrosion. As a result, pick goods with a minimum 1 mm metal thickness.
Additionally, consider factors like how easy it is to empty the container, how well the device is fastened in its operating position, and how well and consistently the wheels are fastened when making your selection. Take note of the additional stops that come with the concrete mixer so you can install it on uneven surfaces.
Concrete mixer drive
Concrete mixers come in electric, diesel, and gasoline varieties. Since electricity is always required for construction, electric products are the most common.
Additionally, you can connect our unit to a diesel or gasoline generator even if it is not connected. Ultimately, every electric concrete mixer is equipped with an electric motor, whose power frequently becomes an obstacle.
Although there are other factors to consider, we will naturally begin with engine power.
- An asynchronous electric motor with a squirrel-cage rotor is used for concrete mixers. Its power must provide torque for a fairly difficult start. And here a lot depends on the type of transmission.
- If we have a crown-type concrete mixer with a belt drive, then due to the slippage of the belts, starting such an engine is much easier. If such an electric concrete mixer is equipped with a toothed belt drive, then the starting conditions are an order of magnitude worse. Well, the most difficult starting conditions are for concrete mixers of the gear type.
- Based on this, the choice of engine power should be made. For products with a belt drive and a capacity of up to 100 liters, a 500 W engine will be enough. For products up to 150 liters, this can be a 700 W engine. For products of larger capacity, you should choose an electric motor for a concrete mixer with a power of 1000 W or more.
- At the same time, the power supply network plays an important role in the choice. Motors connected to a three-phase network tolerate overloads much better and produce a high starting torque. In this regard, almost all products with a volume of more than 250 liters have a three-phase motor.
- But the power for a concrete mixer motor is far from the most important thing. Usually, manufacturers calculate this parameter, and somehow select the appropriate power. But if this is a used electric concrete mixer with a non-native motor, or a home-made product, then you should pay attention to such a parameter as the motor operating mode.
The majority of motors are designed to run for a long time S1. However, a concrete mixer that runs in a "torn" mode is not appropriate for this mode.
This is where you need a product that can survive several starts, like the S4. This type of machine is specifically made for several short starts at various intervals: cooling is the operation.
Wiring diagrams for concrete mixer motors
It appears that this answers the query: which electric concrete mixer should I pick? However, a lot of people are curious about how to connect the drives for the concrete mixer. Additionally, the motor’s electrical wiring diagram is more important than the drives. We therefore made the decision to address this topic in our article.
As previously mentioned, the single-phase and three-phase motors that are installed in the above concrete mixers are of two different types. Their wiring diagrams obviously differ as well. They also offer a variety of connection options based on the needs of the motor and the local conditions. Because of the length of the article, we will only touch on the most common connections very briefly.
Connecting single-phase concrete mixer motors
There is only one working winding in a single-phase motor, and it is arranged specifically in the motor stator. The engine will sputter and heat up, but it won’t spin if voltage is applied to this winding.
This is because an engine of that kind needs an initial moment of inertia. In other words, if the engine rotor is pushed hard enough, it will begin to rotate and quickly accelerate to its maximum speed.
- But pushing the engine rotor every time, especially with a drive mechanism, is not very convenient – and it is not always possible to give it the proper inertia. In this regard, one small starting winding was added to the single-phase engine. When voltage is applied to this winding, the engine begins to rotate without outside help. But since this winding is very small and is not intended for long-term operation, after the engine reaches its rated speed, it should be disconnected.
- But the electrical circuit of the concrete mixer also provides for the presence of a capacitor of a strictly defined capacity. Why is it needed? The angle between the phases connected to the working and starting windings must be different. Moreover, it is desirable that its value be 90⁰.
- If a phase from a 220V network is supplied to the starting winding – the same as to the working winding, then the engine will not turn, even if it is pushed hard. As you probably remember from physics, connecting a capacitor to the network ensures a phase lag of exactly 90⁰. Therefore, if we connect the same phase as to the working winding, but through a capacitor, then we will provide the required phase shift angle.
- Well, we have figured out the theory of the issue – let"s move on to how the electrical circuit for connecting a concrete mixer is made. To do this, we need to figure out the engine windings. We have two windings, which means there should be 4 ends. We need to determine which one is starting and which is working. This is quite simple to do. You should measure the resistance of each of them. The one with resistance 2-3 times higher is the starting one.
Take note! Concrete mixer engines can have three conclusions at times. You shouldn’t be afraid of this. Ultimately, this indicates that the winding is already connected somewhere within the engine. In this instance, determining the resistance between the three conclusions will be necessary. The starting and stopping points of the working winding are the two conclusions with the least resistance. The launch winding has two highly resistant conclusions. And the most significant indications are the beginning of the starting and the beginning of the working winding, which are roughly equal to the sum of the preceding two indications.
- Now you can definitely go to connection. To simplify the story, suppose our concrete mixer is turned on by a circuit breaker, and we already know where it is phase and where is the zero wire. We connect the phase wire to the beginning of the working winding, and connect the end of the working winding to the neutral terminal of the machine.
- Then, we connect the phase wire from the machine to the “Start” button, sometimes it is called “overclocking”, but this is not the point. The main thing is that it has two normally open contacts, as in the video in this article. From the second contact of the button, we connect the wire to our capacitor. From the second contact of the capacitor, connect the wire to the beginning of the starting winding. All that remains is to connect the end of the starting winding to the neutral wire – and the circuit is ready for operation.
A motor with three terminals indicates that the working and starting winding ends are already connected inside the motor. Take note of this. All you have to do is join the engine’s common wire to the neutral wire.
We now operate our circuit as follows:
- When the machine is turned on, voltage is supplied to the working winding, but the motor does not start to rotate.
- After pressing the "Start" button, voltage is supplied to the starting winding, and the motor begins to rotate.
- After the motor reaches its nominal speed, you should release the "Start" button, thereby removing voltage from the starting winding.
It is important to emphasize right away that there are many other ways to connect single-phase motors. However, 90% of the time, this option is used. As a result, it is not advised to think about other choices in this article.
Connecting three-phase concrete mixer motors
A three-phase motor is another option for a home electric concrete mixer. This is the best choice if the network is three-phase.
All you have to do is connect three motor terminals to three phase wires from the network via a switching device. The motor will start when the switching device is turned on.
- But what to do if the motor is three-phase, and you have a single-phase 220V network? Don"t worry – this is not a hopeless situation, and we will now tell you what to do. In order to understand this issue, we will again have to delve a little into theory.
- A three-phase motor has three windings, and all of them are working. For the motor to work, they must be connected to each other. There are two types of connection. The first is when all three ends of the windings are connected to each other. This option is called a star.
- The second option involves connecting the beginning of one winding to the end of another. It is called a delta connection.
- All asynchronous squirrel-cage motors can be connected in one or the other way. Only for a delta connection, you should use a network with a voltage of √3 less than for a star circuit. Usually this is written in the passport and on the motor plate.
- Based on this, a motor operating with a star connection from a 380V network can be connected according to the triangle scheme from a 220V network. This is what we will use. To do this, remove the jumpers between the ends of the windings of our motor and connect them according to the triangle diagram.
- Unfortunately, the components for concrete mixers do not provide for such jumpers, so you should make them yourself. In this case, it is extremely important that the cross-section of the jumpers is no less than that of the supply wire or the cross-section of the winding wire.
- Now, we connect the phase and neutral wires to the beginning of the windings. We do not use the beginning of one winding. To connect it, we use the same method as for a single-phase motor. Select a capacitor that matches the capacitance. We connect it from the phase wire, and connect the second end from the capacitor to the not yet connected beginning of the winding.
- That"s it – now our engine is ready to work. But it will start to rotate only if there is no load on it. If there is a significant load, the engine may not turn around. To solve this problem, use a starting capacitor. Its capacity is selected based on the starting conditions.
In this instance, there will be an acceleration button on the concrete mixer. This button is linked in parallel to the working capacity, just like the starting capacitor.
Throughout the engine turnaround, hold down this button for a few seconds. The button should be released as soon as it reaches the nominal speed, or better yet, a little sooner.
Feature | Details |
Capacity | Choose a mixer with a capacity suitable for your project size. Smaller projects need less capacity, while larger ones need more. |
Power | A higher wattage motor will mix concrete more efficiently. Ensure your power supply can handle the mixer. |
Drum Material | Steel drums are durable and long-lasting, while plastic drums are lighter and easier to clean. |
Portability | Consider a mixer with wheels and a sturdy frame for easy movement around your worksite. |
Speed Settings | Multiple speed settings allow for better control over the mixing process. |
Noise Level | Some mixers can be quite loud, so consider the noise level if you’re working in a residential area. |
Ease of Cleaning | A mixer that’s easy to clean will save you time and effort after each use. |
Safety Features | Look for features like automatic shut-off and sturdy construction to prevent accidents. |
Price | Consider your budget, but remember that a more expensive mixer may offer better durability and performance. |
Warranty | A good warranty can provide peace of mind and protect your investment. |
Selecting the appropriate electric concrete mixer can greatly increase the productivity of your construction projects and their quality. Think about things like motor power, drum capacity, and portability when choosing a mixer. With these features, you can be sure that the mixer will fulfill the unique requirements of your projects, whether they’re smaller DIY projects or larger construction sites.
Although connecting an electric concrete mixer is simple, handling and safety precautions must be taken. To avoid electrical hazards, make sure the power supply is compatible with the mixer’s specifications and always use a grounded outlet. Your mixer will last longer and function more efficiently with routine maintenance, such as cleaning and wear and tear inspections.
Concrete mixing can be done more consistently and with less labor by using an electric concrete mixer, which is a useful tool that can save you time and effort. You can improve your construction projects by making well-informed decisions by being aware of the features and connection requirements. Recall that a well-selected and well-kept mixer is an investment in your work’s effectiveness and success.