Stepper motors

[whiteoaks7]

I need a source of cheap (ie surplus) stepper motors of 5 or 12 volt variety (they make useful 12v trickle generators), anyone know any?

Cheers, David

 

[gjeffery]

I have used these quite a lot at work - but I have never heard of them being used as trickle chargers. Please can you tell more about this?

Sources - I have bought new from Maplin and from RS. I also scavenge them from old printers and disc drives.

 

[steve_cronin]

Wind-up radios

use a motor as a generator. They are like the Mabucci motors that are used in radio controlled cars & hairdryers ( uses the element as a dropper to 12volts)

I wonder at the efficiency though. How do you intend to drive the generator? Wind or water? The design of propellor/impellor would surely be the limiting factor.

Those little motors are also used in Raytheon drive units for both tiller and wheel autopilots and seem remarkable willing to keep going even when their innerds appear horibly corroded by the oggin getting in.

Steve Cronin

 

[seahorse]

American wind power sites say they can often be found inside printers & large HD unit. Must admit it's a project i'd like 2 get round 2.

 

[whiteoaks7]

Thanks everyone. The point of stepper motors is they have lots of poles so good output at low rpm and no gears. I've found one in an old printer so I'll experiment and publish something if it works out.

 

[c4pt]

Hi
If you don't already know this internet site have alook the stock changes regularly. I've bought items from them over the web with no problems. www.greenweld.co.uk

 

[stubate]

am intrigued, what do we do? put a fan on them? lets hear more, ive got loads of old printers in my work shop that usully go to landfill
s

 

[bluevelvet]

if you are looking for robust stepper motors try any gaming machine supplier,these drive the reels on all friut machines and most suppliers throw out lots of these.Interested in how you can use these with any success to charge your batteries