Best motor/gearbox for lifting

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Sparks333

Then, divide the wattage by 12v and make sure you're not going over the current limits of the breakers. If you are, you are trying to go too fast (or you're too heavy)

Close, but no cigar.

The motor wattage rating is the mechanical power at the output shaft, not the electrical power the motor is consuming.

But your point is well taken. The operating current should be checked.

You can find the operating current by using the motor curves or this motor calculator.

[Sparks333]

Originally Posted by Ether

Close, but no cigar.

The motor wattage rating is the mechanical power at the output shaft, not the electrical power the motor is consuming.

But your point is well taken. The operating current should be checked.

You can find the operating current by using the motor curves or this motor calculator.

Fair point - but running at peak efficiency those motors are around 80% efficient anyway, so you can definitely get a ballpark assuming mechanical energy is equivalent to electrical energy. The actual motor model is a lot less fun

Sparks

[pfreivald]

We tested our lift today, and are certain that one CIM *can* do the job... But we are using two, even though the lift isn't appreciably faster, just to be sure. (We have the weight, so the extra CIM is just insurance of the current/power variety.)

"Just To Be Sure!" could be the motto for our climbing team... We're likely over-engineering everything, and adding in robot-safety features that really aren't necessary, and we're glad to do it!

[Dad1279]

Adding ballast and needing extra weight is a foreign concept to us.....

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Sparks333

The actual motor model is a lot less fun

Fun is a matter of perspective. I happen to think actual motor models are incredibly fun.

And motors running at maximum power are definitely NOT running at their peak efficiency. Current draw will be higher than you think.

Ether is right, you need to do the math. The calculators he pointed to will help you with that.