Providing electricity for lights on a revolving carousel

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi all, my first posting.

I'm thinking of a project for the holidays involving lights on a Arduino programmed spinning carousel, but I can't get my mind wrapped around how to get electricity to the lights. I'm sure there is some way this is done, can someone enlighten me?

For simplifications sake, let's just say the lights are situated on a disk centered on a servo shaft.

Thanks!

PS. I'm writing this from my hospital bed with Covid. Reminding everyone to wear a mask, wash hands and socially distance yourselves.

2

For simplifications sake, let's just say the lights are situated on a disk centered on a servo shaft.

Is this a real servo or a continuous rotation "servo"

3

I think you're talking about a slip ring (q.v.).

4

Digikey carries slipring assemblies in varying sizes. For example:

https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/sparkfun-electronics/ROB-13064/5762403

5

Right, a servo is an "angle motor" that doesn't rotate 360 degrees. You probably want a "gearmotor" which is a motor with a built-in speed-reduction gear.

6

a servo is an "angle motor" that doesn't rotate 360 degrees

Except when it does, as in the case of a sail winch servo

7

a servo is an "angle motor" that doesn't rotate 360 degrees

Except when it does, as in the case of a sail winch servo

except when it does such as a servo that is used on a CNC machine

8

Right! Learned a bunch already from y'all! Thanks. I think I want a brushless DC motor that can be geared down to incredibly slow RPMs... like 1 RPM and I don't need much torque. Any suggesstions?

And the slip ring... never heard of it before today but that's exactly what I need, but ouch, they're expensive!

9

28BYJ-48.
5V powered, geared motor, no problem going slow - the gearing prevents them from going too fast.

$15 for 6 leads is not bad

10

You can make a cheap, limited-life slip ring with a quarter inch, 3.5mm or 2.5 mm jack and socket.

11

A lot is going to depend on how much power you want to transfer. If you're drawing a few mA then TMFKAA's idea of repurposing a jack is great. If you want to pass several amps to a bazillion smart LEDs then you'll need something more robust.

Same thing for lifetime: Is this just a quick one-off thing or do you want it to run for years once built?

12

So a jack like this?
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tubedepot/P-SC-12B/10489798
and a mating plug
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/barrel-audio-connectors/434?s=N4IgTCBcDaIIwHoAsACADgGwK4HMQF0BfIA
Filter for stereo, etc from there.

So the motor would be stationary, somehow making the disc rotate (belt/pulley off the center shaft somehow? rubber wheel on the rim of the disc?), and the jack/plug would be at the center of the disc feeding power/gnd, and maybe a signal thru?

13

Or put the batteries on the turntable ..

14

Or use copper foil tape and braided wire wipers.