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Low power motor sources

Started by IanT, Jul 13 2011 09:52

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IanT

I'm looking for a small(ish) electric motor for one of my (many) projects - a very small battery powered G3 loco (e.g. will need a custom gearbox and there's not too much room for on-board batteries)

I have a number of electric motors acquired over the years from various sources and have recently been looking them over. They are all pretty noisy (poor bearings/commutators?) and suck lots of current. I do have some commercial motor/gearbox units (for another project) that have (what seem to be) good quality motors - that are not only quiet but also draw about a quarter of the current (under load) that the cheaper ones seem to do.

So can anyone recommend a source of low-power, quiet motors - preferably that don't run too fast (to ease problems with gearing). Price is still a constraint but is a secondary issue compared to current draw and quietness/smoothness of running.

I'm sure someone here has already found such a useful wonder and I look forward to hearing about it.

Regards,


IanT
Nothing's ever Easy - At least the first time around.

AllWight

Hi Ian

Have you thought about the 3v motors as used in scalextric cars they are small, cheap and reliable. Ihave one in the kit for the Wickham trolley kit that i am building and it is way over the top on power for what its needed for. It runs on two AAA disposeable batteries.

Mark

cabbage

#2
Yes.

regards

ralph

I suspect Ralph may be referring to this...I dare say he will confirm or deny.
http://lakes-pages.com/gauge3.co.uk/G3Forum/index.php?topic=598.msg3009#msg3009

Richard T

There are quite a few motors available through the model trade that would be suitable, mainly supplied to the G0 and G1 modellers.
One of the most popular is the Mashima 1833 with a small 40:1 worm and wheel and etched gearbox.




Freely available from suppliers - an example being Roxey Mouldings
  http://www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/store_front/index.php?cat_id=45&catname='OMEGA PLUS 0 GAUGE GEARBOXES'
If you spread your search you can buy similar Canon motors from the USA for between £4-£5 if bought in small quantities (6)
These motors typically draw less than 100ma and rev up to 8-9000rpm - so very suitable for slow running at lower supply voltages.

As you go up the power and "scale" the price increases as you would expect, and you find the gearboxes will be suitable for 1/4 axles as against 3/16 which is standard for O gauge.





Regards
Richard
Richard

Richard T

Most of the 3v "model" motors that are available for around £1 are very poor performers compared to the type of motors that are now standard in the model railway trade.
Motors such as the Mashima and Canon types have skew wound rotors which prevents the "cogging" so beloved of old Triang/Hornby type motors.



With battery technology improving all the time and the much greater efficiency of quality motors, the running time has increased considerably and space required to house high capacity batteries has been reduced, so R/C or free running operation with on board speed control, has become much easier for smaller locos.

Regards
Richard
 
Richard

cabbage

#5
No.

http://www.cabbagepatchrailway.co.uk/mls/g3/gearbox1.pdf

regards

ralph

Thank you,Ralph.
Before anyone asks, the motors listed are available from Technobots

Richard T

Just a bit more motor info....

I spotted at G1 North at the weekend a couple more motor/gearboxes from JPL Models in Tyldesley



Both for 1/4" axles and using Powermaster motors.

Slaters Plastikard do a small range of motors  https://slatersplastikard.com/assets/pdfs/MotorGearboxFlyer.pdf

As do MSC models http://www.mscmodels.co.uk/

Another good source of high quality motor/gearbox assys are ABC gears http://www.abcgears.co.uk/

All these drive units are designed specifically for model railway use in the larger scales and have proven themselves over many years.

There are also available from various suppliers including Ebay traders etc lots of surplus, quality motors from Maxon, Falhauber,Pittman etc, which can be attached
to some of the gearboxes mentioned above.
Some of the other motors available are usually for marine use or surplus auto electric window / battery drill motors which tend to have high current consumption.

Regards

Richard
Richard