Convert toy motor to Solar Power - where to begin?

Question

Following a visit to the Amazing MAD museum in Stratford, UK - my Son saved his allowance to buy a "glow in the dark rail race" kit.

Which is so brilliant, he hasn't actually let me play much with it yet.

It has an Archimedes screw, driven via a reduction gearbox (which I've not looked at yet) from a motor powered by a single C cell battery.

My only complaint about this great kit is that the motor and gearing is OUTRAGEOUSLY noisy given what is does. It's sounds more like its driving a compressor!

So, I'd like to convert the motor to optionally run (much slower) from a small solar cell.

It can then sit on the shelf, and periodically, during daylight, marbles will set off.

I'll continue to do my own research, but does anyone have any tips? (I suspect once I find the right solution, it won't prove very complicated)

My first thought is some form of Juele-thief circuit, with a diode with a 1.5V on-voltage?

Many thanks...

danielw · Answer

We went MAD museum Last month over Easter. It's amazing! I got the much smaller wooden marble run... For myself, I think my wife thought I was the biggest child! Especially when I started tweeting a box on the wall!

Have a look at BEAM solarbotics BEAM Circuits -- Solar engines

There are quite a few simple solar engine designs that will harvest power until there is enough stored charge and then dump the energy into a motor. This way it'll work intermittently even with low light.

It'll be interesting to see how you get on.

Dan.

drmikeg · Answer

I'm going to link here to this amazing project: https://www.element14.com/community/community/project14/solarpowerdevices/blog/2018/08/07/solar-bubble-blaster Many thanks

mcb1 · Answer

I liked the one in Fracture where Anthony Hopkins plays the lead role. This was the opening credits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-v6E9H6nh0 It was designed by a Dutch artist Mark Bischof. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZB7FpXX30w Apparently you can have a tour. https://adutchexperience.com/events/gravity-random-and-rolling-balls-in-kinetic-art/ They have some in Australia and you can buy them (at fairly expensive prices) Rolling Ball Sculpture - Kinetic rolling ball sculptures designed and created by David Morrell But back to your issue. The gearbox is the item making the noise, so changing the motor is unlikely to fix this problem. Solar powered is simply a lot weaker, and may not even power it. The motor will still require gearing, but you may be able to use a motor and gearbox combined. I'd suggest investigating the gearbox to determine what is causing the noise. It could be a lack of lubrication, and one of the best things you can do is measure the motor current while trying to determine what is loading it. Assumming it is running well, it could simply be transferring the movement into one of the surfaces, which is translating that into the sound. Poking or prodding these should show what is the source. I note that the structures in the movie used a large wheel to transfer the balls to the top. This is certainly a far more efficient way to do it, and is likely to use less power and be silent. Perhaps some design and 3D printing, or some woodworking might solve it.? Mark.

Convert toy motor to Solar Power - where to begin?

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