Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: alzaabi on July 22, 2012, 04:41:39 PM

Title: Balancing robot: SPDT metal lever switch help
Post by: alzaabi on July 22, 2012, 04:41:39 PM

Hey, this is my first project and I need a bit of help. I'm making a self balancing robot akin to this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Balancing-Robot/?ALLSTEPS (http://www.instructables.com/id/Balancing-Robot/?ALLSTEPS)
I'm aware that it's very rudimentary and simple but that's kind of the point.

My problem is when the metal spdt switch is pushed the motor stops instead of changing direction.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. It might be worth mentioning that the gearbox and motor were basically stripped from a toy car and all I did was connect the two wires protruding from the encasement to my circuit. There are pictures below that might clarify further.

This is a link to  diagram of the wiring: http://cdn.instructables.com/F83/L9H2/FJMBXRBN/F83L9H2FJMBXRBN.LARGE.jpg (http://cdn.instructables.com/F83/L9H2/FJMBXRBN/F83L9H2FJMBXRBN.LARGE.jpg)

Title: Re: Balancing robot: SPDT metal lever switch help
Post by: mstacho on July 23, 2012, 07:25:39 AM

Might be good to make sure your motor CAN reverse like that.   Take its wires and put them across the battery.  It should move in one direction.  Reverse the wires.  Does it reverse?

Then check to make sure your switch is doing what you think it's doing.  Might be that the middle or end position is OPEN, not "DIRECTION 2".

MIKE