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Thread: 3.6 volt motor usb

  1. #1
    some custom title eh Cannibal23's Avatar
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    Default 3.6 volt motor usb

    hey there. need some help on this one. i have a motor that runs using 3.6 volts DC. if i plug that into 5 volts dc will it fry? i would like to hook this up to usb but it only outputs 5v. alternitively there is a 3.3 volt line from the power supply. would it work if i spliced into that to get my voltage ?
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  2. #2
    baaah. billygoat333's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    how many amps does the dc motor take?
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    SOB Fettler xmastree's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    Connecting a couple of rectifier diodes (1N4001 would be an ideal one to use) in series with the motor will drop the 5V down to about 3.8. That should be near enough, although you will only be able to get 500mA, so billygoat's question is important.

    The 3.3V line would also work, but there's an awful lot of current available there. Could be fireworks if things go wrong.

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    some custom title eh Cannibal23's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    hey there. its a very small device. i have looked all over but i dont see a voltage rating or a rating for milliamps on it at all unfortunately. if i give something not enough miliamps will the device just not turn on or will it get damaged ?
    - The stone knows not why the chistle cleves it
    - The steel knows not why the fire scorches it
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    SOB Fettler xmastree's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    If it needs higher current than your supply can provide, it won't get damaged but the supply will be dragged down to a lower voltage. This shouldn't affect the supply if it's well protected.
    Are you sure it's 3.6V? Where did it come from?

    Quote Originally Posted by aintnothang View Post
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  6. #6
    some custom title eh Cannibal23's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    well i know the battery pack measured out to 3.6 volts on the multi meter so im assuming thats the correct input voltage as there isnt really any other major electronics between the battery contacts and the motor itself. not really sure what it was from. found it in my pile of spare electronics parts with 3 button cell batterys taped to it and figured i would see if i could make it run from my computer some how.
    - The stone knows not why the chistle cleves it
    - The steel knows not why the fire scorches it
    - When thy life is cleft and scorched
    - Curse not thine evil fate
    - Thank the builder for the trials that shape thee.

  7. #7
    SOB Fettler xmastree's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    If it runs off three button cells, then a USB port will have enough power to drive it.

    If you can find a couple of suitable diodes in that stack of electronic parts, they should be ok to drop the voltage. Each one will drop it by 0.6V so two in series will drop 1.2V, leaving 3.8V for the motor.

    They look like this:

    Quote Originally Posted by aintnothang View Post
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  8. #8
    some custom title eh Cannibal23's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    thanks for your help guys! 1 more quick question. if i hooked up a potentiometer to this thing could i in theory speed up and slow down the motor like a fan controler does or is a diffrent device used for that?
    - The stone knows not why the chistle cleves it
    - The steel knows not why the fire scorches it
    - When thy life is cleft and scorched
    - Curse not thine evil fate
    - Thank the builder for the trials that shape thee.

  9. #9
    SOB Fettler xmastree's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    It would, but you'd need to get the right value. Get it running and measure the current first to see what kind of resistance you need to introduce.

    Quote Originally Posted by aintnothang View Post
    Think of a way to simulate a real bullet hole, like shooting it.

  10. #10
    some custom title eh Cannibal23's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3.6 volt motor usb

    tried the motor on 3.3 volts as i dont have any of those diodes available to me at the moment. i also tried it hooked up to the batteries. the motor worked on both. although it seemed to run alot faster when i had it connected to the 3.3 volt line on a computer power supply then when i had 3 1.3 volt button cells connected. is this from the diffrence in current from my power supply and whats available from the batteries ? i even ran it off of one battery at 1.3 volts and it still turned on but alot slower rpm.
    - The stone knows not why the chistle cleves it
    - The steel knows not why the fire scorches it
    - When thy life is cleft and scorched
    - Curse not thine evil fate
    - Thank the builder for the trials that shape thee.

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