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Unread 10-05-2004, 22:58
arpus maximus arpus maximus is offline
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Re: Powering a Larger Motor?

Wow! Thanks for all the replies! Perhaps a little background information on my project will allow for some more detailed advice:

I, along with two friends, are converting a full-size car (an '87 chevy nova) into a remote control car. The nova has an automatic transmission and power steering.

We need to work on 3 elements: 1) the gas, 2) the brakes, and 3) the steering.

For the gas, we have a small 5V servo hooked via PWM cables into the robot controller. This servo pulls the gas line, and works well; no troubles here!

For the brakes, we will use a larger, 12V motor (probably a globe motor) hooked up to either a worm gear or, more likely, a sort of rack with teeth... I don't know what it's called or how else to describe it. This will push the brakes. Preferably this motor can spin in both directions, but we COULD automatically return it to the initial off position via a spring.

For the steering, we will again use a 12V motor. This motor needs to turn both directions.

We will most likely draw power from the car's battery, possibly through the cigarette lighter outlet.

The robot controller we have is the FIRST robot controller from a few years back... perhaps the 2001 edition. I am not entirely certain. It has 5V output and 16 pins. It uses PBASIC.

My plan for the larger motors is to use victors. joystick forward will activate the servo on the gas line, joystick back will operate the 12V globe motor on the brakes, joystick left/right will operate the 12V globe motor working the steering wheel.

Does anything about this plan sound bad? Are there any glaring errors? Again, Thanks so much for your continued assistance!

ARP

EDIT: Oh, and our budget is minimal. The three of us pay for everything right out of our pockets, so cheap is good!

Last edited by arpus maximus : 10-05-2004 at 23:05.