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Unread 19-02-2011, 21:28
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AKA: Simon Bohn
FRC #0639 (Code Red)
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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Location: Baltimore MD (JHU)
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Window Motor question

We are using one window motor to power the winch that pulls up our ladder. The ladder assembly being pulled up is about 10 lbs, more if you count the lever being our grabber assembly at the end. I don't know how to calculate that, but it's 7 inches long, and the grabber weighs ~6 lbs, making the total 10+grabber. If someone could explain how to calculate this to me, I would love it!

Anyways, we were testing it today, and it randomly stops when going up. The motor is getting very hot, and when we cool it down (with snow of course!), it starts working again. However, when we measure the current going through, it's only 10 amps. I thought that the stall current of a window motor was 21, or 18 (I dont remember if we're using right or left here).

What is causing this problem? Is it that we are simply pulling too much with a window motor? Or is it the thermal breaker in the motor breaking? Is something causing the motor to overheat? Or is it the infamous issue with Jags and Window motors? Would that cause it to overheat?

We are running it on a Black Jaguar, on the CAN bus, wired to the 40 amp breakers.

Any help would be helpful!

Picture of device, imagine that there is cable going off of those spools to pulleys: