I ripped my side view mirror off backing down the driveway and catching the tail of another car. While I dismantled the pieces I thought that maybe I could hook the motors the control the mirror up to my arduino. I'm not sure if 5V is ok or it is expecting 12V. I can't find the part number on it or from VW yet but maybe the picture will have a clue that some of you might spot.
Thanks,
rd42
rd42:
I ripped my side view mirror off backing down the driveway and catching the tail of another car. While I dismantled the pieces I thought that maybe I could hook the motors the control the mirror up to my arduino. I'm not sure if 5V is ok or it is expecting 12V. I can't find the part number on it or from VW yet but maybe the picture will have a clue that some of you might spot.Thanks,
rd42
Most likely +12vdc. Doesn't really matter because even if they were 5vdc motors they would most likely draw more current then can be directly controlled by an arduino without an external power source. Looks like it might be simple to interface with, ground to the center pin and +12dc to one or the other pin depending on what direction you want the mirror to move. Mine go left and right and up and down, so I always assumed they had four motors in them?
Anyway could be a key part to a Arduino laser pointing/aiming thingee that you aim a laser pointer at and let the arduino cause it to scan around.
Lefty
You might be lucky, they aren't usually very high power, they are geared down a lot
Thanks for all the responses, I was curious if an harm could be done using a 12V device on a 5V supply. So just most likely poor performance and no risk to the arduino?
Thanks for taking the time,
Rd42
Ah that makes sense. Thanks.
rd42:
Thanks for all the responses, I was curious if an harm could be done using a 12V device on a 5V supply. So just most likely poor performance and no risk to the arduino?Thanks for taking the time,
Rd42
"poor performance" might translate into "the motors not spinning at all"; depending on the efficiency of the motors, the inherent friction in the drive train/gearbox, and the overall load of the rest of the components - you might get it to move, but it is probably unlikely. Most of the time, you want to run the motor at its rated (or educated-guessed at) actual voltage - in the case of this mirror, that would likely be 12 VDC. If you have to go under the voltage for any reason, more than a 50 percent drop will likely not get the motor to turn (unless it is the motor only - and even then, you might have to nudge the shaft, depending on the current draw and source, of course).
retrolefty:
Mine go left and right and up and down, so I always assumed they had four motors in them?
???
Why would you need four motors to move a mirror in a dual axis pan/tilt system? Think about it...
cr0sh:
"poor performance" might translate into "the motors not spinning at all"; depending on the efficiency of the motors, the inherent friction in the drive train/gearbox, and the overall load of the rest of the components - you might get it to move, but it is probably unlikely. Most of the time, you want to run the motor at its rated (or educated-guessed at) actual voltage - in the case of this mirror, that would likely be 12 VDC. If you have to go under the voltage for any reason, more than a 50 percent drop will likely not get the motor to turn (unless it is the motor only - and even then, you might have to nudge the shaft, depending on the current draw and source, of course).
Generally small DC motor speed is controlled by voltage, torque is limited by current available or winding resistance. Usually running a motor at a lower voltage means it runs slower in proportion, but the available torque shouldn't be that compromised unless the winding resistance is the limiting factor (sometimes its engineered that way to protect the mechanics from over-torque). I personally wouldn't be surprised if it works at 1V.