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Forum Index : Electronics : Stepper Motor woes.............
| Author | Message | ||||
piercy007 Newbie  Joined: 27/06/2008 Location: United KingdomPosts: 28 |
Right Been playing with different stepper motors now but still with no luck generating a single Volt! 
Bought two different types, followed the instruction to identify the common wires using a multimeter then give them a spin and .............nothing not squat, flicker or a cough from the multimeter. So checked wiring, checked checks (checked my eye sight!) but not a single trible of voltage. The latest one is a 24v motor24 volt motorand the previous one was the typical shape as shown here. I have seen posts roun dhere saying comments of how well they perform lighting up LEDS with ease etc etc etc - how! 
Any ideas before I go maaaaaaaaaaaad  My middle name is luck mind you my first is bad! |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5036 |
Both of those stepper motors should work for you. Have you switched your multimeter to read AC volts? The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
You could have been measuring DCV on the meter. These motors produce Alternating current. Does this help? Gordon. PS edit. Hi Gizmo, we both had the same idea. You were slightly faster on the keyboard than me. become more energy aware |
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| piercy007 Newbie Joined: 27/06/2008 Location: United KingdomPosts: 28 |
Hi Guys Yup - tried every position on the multimeter (AC and DC) still no luck. Even through it on the drill in case it was an RPM issue but not squat My middle name is luck mind you my first is bad! |
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| Dinges Senior Member Joined: 04/01/2008 Location: AlbaniaPosts: 510 |
I've never come across a stepper that did not generate at least *some* voltage. http://www.anotherpower.com/gallery/dinges/stepper_generator _resized That's a stepper genny I built a few years ago, using basically the first stepper that was lying on the desk. If I recall correctly I added an overvoltage protection zener diode to the board to protect the 7805 from too high voltages (they can't stand more than 37V input). Set the multimeter to ACV (ac-voltage), range 20V. Then connect the multimeter probes to wires in a systematic searching fashion and make notes of the voltage readings. If the stepper has e.g. 6 wires, connect and measure like this: A) 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 B) 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6 C) 3-4, 3-5, 3-6 D) 4-5, 4-6 E) 5-6 If you get no reading at all, try the tongue test: touch all the wires with your tongue and *slowly* rotate the shaft. If you feel nothing, turn a little faster. NEVER perform that tongue test on anything where higher voltages than 9-12V can be expected! If you feel no tingle at all and you measure no voltage with the multimeter then the stepper is defect. If you feel a tingle but measure no voltage, the multimeter is defect (or set to an incorrect range). If the multimeter is defect you could try repeating the above systematic search using a LED as voltage indicator. Another test: short all wires together and try turning the shaft. Does it become (ever so slightly?) harder to turn ? If it doesn't then the stepper could be defect. If it becomes noticeably harder to turn the stepper is ok. If all of the above don't work your steppers are most likely defect. Please stop wasting good money buying steppers on Ebay. I have a few of them and could send one over to the UK. Just checked, shipping isn't outrageous so I could send one across the North Sea to you, no charge, as a last resort. It'll be guaranteed not to be dead on arrival. Peter. |
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| piercy007 Newbie Joined: 27/06/2008 Location: United KingdomPosts: 28 |
Done this bit but working on resitance rather than voltage (didnt think there would be any ?)and worked out the 2 common wires and the 4 live wires tries this and yes the shaft becomes fifficult to tun cheers for this Peter - may come back to you on this but would insist on at least refunding you any postage costs/ My middle name is luck mind you my first is bad! |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5036 |
That tells us the stepper motor is working, the problem is somewhere else. I'm starting to suspect the multimeter is either faulty or not been used correctly, please dont take offence, its a learning curve we all went through. Grab a 1.5 volts ( AA or whatever ) and make sure the multimeter can read that correctly, give or take a bit. This proves it can read DC volts. Now, do you have access to a push bike with a little dynamo for the lights, these make about 6 volts AC, see if you meter can read that. Its just a matter of elimination, we know the stepper motor is working, so we move on to the next possible problem area. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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feix62k Newbie Joined: 30/07/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 36 |
what sort of output could you exspect, and what exactly are these stepper moters whats there main use prior to windmills dont the days seem lank and long when nothing gos right and everthing gos wrong |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5036 |
Steppers are used in a variery of stuff, the ones you have would come from printers. Machines like printers, photo copiers, old floppy drives etc all use stepper motors. Bigger steppers are used for CNC http://www.thebackshed.com/cnc/CNCExplained1.asp When Dinges says you should not waste your money on steppers from ebay, its becuase you can get them for free from dead inket printers, photocopiers, etc. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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