Society of Robots - Robot Forum
Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: Rebelgium on September 11, 2007, 07:16:04 PM
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You know, those small (crappy) motors with two flat sides that need 1.5V-3V .
You can find these motors in almost all toys and other light-duty equipment...
I'm thinking about powering these with three 1.2V NiMh cells, that makes 3.6V.
The motors are going to drive treads through gearboxes.
Will this 0.6V kill the motors?
I'm thinking a (crappy) DIY heatsink attached (crappily) to the (crappy) motors. Maybe I'll solder them directly to the motors for good thermic contact.
sounds pretty crappy eh?
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.6v will not kill the motors. I have run those motors on 6 V before without any imediate damage( maybe some long term though...)
But an extra .6v will definitely not do anything to the motors except make it run faster.
Now why do you need a heat sink for?
You're dealing with very very low amperage here. If it was a 10 amp motor than maybe maybe if you wanted to be safe you can add a heatsink. But thats if you want the motors running continuous for a long time.
Summarized answer ( lol :P)
Go ahead with the extra .6 Volts and no heat sink is needed.
Also when you buy a miniature gearbox it usually comes with a motor included. Search around and you'll ifnd it for cheap.
Also, where are you getting the treads from?
P.S. Those motors are very weak and you must be making a very small robot . If you're going bigger get a motor with higher rated torque of look for continuous movement servos( buy or modify an existing standard servo)
Hope I helped,
Eric
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Also, where are you getting the treads from?
P.S. Those motors are very weak and you must be making a very small robot . If you're going bigger get a motor with higher rated torque of look for continuous movement servos( buy or modify an existing standard servo)
The motors inside a servo are usually FA130 motors...
And I'm using an existing toy as robot base, so the motors shoulc do fine :)
tnx for the reply
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To increase the life of your 'el-cheapo' motors, solder a small ceramic capacitor between both the motor leads.
Im not sure of the optimal value, but something like 10nF to 1uF I think will help . . .
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There are already capacitors soldered to them :)
Tnx for the tip though...