How To Set Up A Motor

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Most motors that are commercially built have complicated parts and specifications to optimize their performance. However, on the more bones level almost anyone can build an electric motor using some cheap and commonly available tools. This simple electrical motor uses electricity and magnetism to spin a wire coil that'due south supported by paper clips. It is a fun do that helps yous learn near the underlying scientific principles plant in every motor no thing how advanced it may be.

1. 1

   Get together all of your materials. This project will require copper wire (annihilation from 24 to 28 gauge volition do), a magnet, electrical tape, a D bombardment, and two paper clips. Place them all on the table in forepart of yous and so you accept easy access every bit yous go about assembling the motor.^[i]

   • Y'all will likewise need wire strippers or a blade if your wire is insulated.
   • You can purchase all of these things at your local hardware store or at most large retail stores.

2. two

   Roll wire around a cylindrical object like a battery to make a coil. Accept the D battery or any other cylindrical object and wrap your wire around it at to the lowest degree 7 to ten times with 2 inches (5.1 cm) of wire sticking out from each end. This will create a gyre that will ultimately make up the majority of the motor.^[2]

   • Proceed the coil tight as yous wrap the wire around the battery.
   • Make certain to leave plenty of slack on either end of the coil as y'all wrap it.

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3. iii

   Loosen the coil (if necessary) and remove the battery. Pull the battery (or whatever cylinder you used) out from the top or bottom of the loop you created with the wire and set it aside. You should exist left with simply a coil.^[3]

   • Be careful non to permit the wire unravel as you handle the coil.
   • If the battery or cylinder is stuck, loosen the gyre wrapped around it a scrap to slide it out.

4. 4

   Wrap each end of the wire around the whorl several times. Take i end of the wire and pull it through the coil so it wraps around the wire and helps to concur the shape of the coil. Then repeat the process with the other end of the wire on the opposite side of the loop of the coil.^[four]

   • You may want to wrap each stop around the wire 2 or 3 times.
   • Brand sure to leave at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) of wire extending out of each terminate of the coil.

5. 5

   Tie a knot around the curlicue with each loose end of wire. Printing the terminate of the wire through the coil i more time, then run the wire through the loop that creates to secure it like a knot around the whorl. So repeat the process on the opposite side of the coil using the other finish of the wire.^[5]

   • Once finished, the coil should expect like a wire circle with the 2 ends extending out from opposing sides.
   • These knots aren't required for the part of the motor, simply will help ensure the whorl doesn't unravel when you're not property it.

6. 6

   Add electrical tape to opposite ends of the coil if it seems loose. If the loop of the coil isn't holding its shape well, take a small piece of record and wrap information technology effectually the wire on the top or bottom, where the wire ends aren't extending out from. Use the aforementioned size slice of record on the other side of the ringlet to go along it balanced.^[six]

   • You lot don't need much electrical tape. A piece only about .5 inches (i.3 cm) long will be fine.
   • If the roll holds the shape of a circle without the tape, yous tin can skip this step.

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1. 1

   Pull the wire ends out away from the coil. The extended ends of the wire should be pointed straight out from either side of the loop and extend for around 2 inches (five.one cm). Work whatsoever small bends out of the wire that is extended then they are more or less completely straight.^[7]

   • Make sure that where the wires extend out from the loop on either side is even, and then the roll will exist fifty-fifty once the motor is assembled.

2. two

   Strip off the insulation on both ends, if present. If the wire yous are using has insulation on information technology, you will need to expose the wire beneath. Use a pair of wire strippers or a bract to slice through the insulation layer without damaging the wire, then pull the insulation away from the wire to betrayal it.^[8]

   • Make sure that at least ane inch (two.5 cm) of wire is exposed on both sides.
   • If the wire is not insulated, you tin skip this step.

3. 3

   Coat one side of each wire terminate with a permanent marker. Concur the coil in one hand with your index finger and thumb then the loop is standing upright and the wires are extending out to either side. Then use a permanent mark to color in just the top of the exposed wire extending out from either side.^[9]

   • Simply color in the top side of the exposed wire on either side. Exit the bottom side uncolored.
   • This variation in the wire will help to engage the motor.

4. 4

   Stretch out the ends of two metallic paper clips. Accept your paper clips and unfold the ends of them so they are directly. Get out the remaining loop of the newspaper prune intact. It will hold the extended ends of the wire on your scroll once the motor is assembled.^[10]

   • The paper clips should now each look like a loop with a long arm extending from it.
   • If yous don't have paper clips, yous tin can create loops with stiff wire for the same purpose.

5. 5

   Tape the extended ends of each paperclip to opposing sides of a D bombardment. Lay the battery on its side. Identify the extended cease of one paper clip against the positive side of the D battery and secure it in place with a piece of tape. Then touch the extended end of the other paper clip to the negative side of the battery and tape it in identify too.^[11]

   • Make sure both paperclips are pointed in the same management.
   • You can add some more than tape to the lesser of the battery to keep it from rolling from side to side, but it'southward optional.

6. 6

   Slide the ends of the scroll into the paperclips similar a holder. Property the battery to prevent it from rolling (unless you lot created a record kickstand) insert the extended wire from one side of the coil into one of the paper clips, and then slide the other extended finish through the other paper clip.^[12]

   • Let get of the scroll so information technology is resting on the newspaper clips via the extended and exposed arms of the whorl.
   • If the paper clips are too far autonomously, bend them inwards and then they tin can hold the coil.

7. 7

   Use tape to secure a magnet to the battery below the coil. Place a piece of tape over your magnet, then option it up and stick it onto the battery centered beneath the coil you merely put on. The bombardment will provide a electric current that flows through the coil, which when coupled with the magnet, will force the coil to rotate.^[13]

   • The magnet is the final piece you demand to complete the motor, so you may spot the roll quiver a bit every bit you put it in place.
   • Secure the magnet with tape so you don't have to concur information technology in place.
   • At that place is no gamble of injury or daze when doing this, but always exercise circumspection when working with electronics.

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1. 1

   Remove or adjust annihilation the prevents the coil from spinning. If the ringlet volition run into the magnet as it spins, remove the tape holding the paper clips to either side of the battery and move them up until the ringlet can clear the battery.^[14]

   • The gyre needs to be able to spin freely in order for the motor to piece of work.
   • If you used the battery to create your curlicue, it should be small enough to skip this stride.

2. 2

   Conform the balance past moving the paperclips to make the motor spin freely. Yous may demand to experiment a fleck with the placement and positioning of the paper clips to hold the scroll in place. Squeeze them in shut if the ends of the wire go on popping out or bend them out further if the clips are coming into contact with the loop of the coil itself.^[15]

   • Brand sure both paperclips are even with 1 another. If they're crooked, it could impede the coil from spinning.

3. three

   Requite the coil a little spin if it doesn't get-go on its own. If the ringlet doesn't brainstorm to spin on its own, nudge information technology with your finger to get it started. If it doesn't spin, press on the tape belongings the paper clips to the battery to ensure they're secure.^[16]

   • The coil will likely begin to spin freely. If information technology does, the motor is complete.
   • The coil will continue to spin until the battery is depleted or you finish it.

4. 4

   Try the opposite direction if information technology still doesn't spin. If the motor doesn't start spinning when you nudge it in ane direction, attempt nudging it in the contrary direction to see if that works. This motor should only spin one manner, so you may just need to try both directions to observe the right one.^[17]

   • Once it starts spinning, it won't finish unless you lot finish it.
   • If it doesn't start spinning, cheque to brand sure your connections are all strong and then endeavour again.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  How big does the magnet have to exist?

  

  I had this same question when I took honors physics my inferior year (I built at least fifty of these things). The way my question was answered was just that it all depends on the size of the bombardment and your gyre, along with other factors. With my larger scale model I used a large toy magnet (from a inexpensive souvenir toy set), however for this sized model, a smaller magnet would suffice. I borrowed the ones from my teacher's whiteboard and removed the small-scale plastic cap. Yous would merely have to experiment with unlike sized batteries to find ane that offers enough forcefulness to go on the motor moving, but not likewise much to accept sparks flying off of the paperclips.

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• If you find it hard to necktie the coil using the remaining wire y'all can merely use electrical tape or scotch record to hold the motor coil instead.

• Yous can apply this method to build a motor of any blazon past replacing the battery and battery holder with other sources of energy and their respective containers. The cadre idea is to get culling energy flowing through the motor armature in some way.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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Things You'll Need

• Copper Wire
• Magnet
• D sized battery
• Wire strippers, pair of scissors or a blade
• Paper clips (2)
• Electrical tape
• Pliers (optional)

About This Commodity

Article Summary 10

To build a motor, first you'll demand to make a wire coil by wrapping copper wire around a cylindrical object, like a battery. Then, remove the object and wrap the ends of the wire effectually the coil several times and tie a knot. One time you've fabricated the gyre, strip whatever insulation off the ends of the wire and color 1 side of each stop with permanent marker. Next, straighten out the ends of two metal paperclips and tape the ends to opposing sides of a D battery. Finally, slide the ends of the wire coil into the paperclips and secure a magnet to the battery below the coil. To learn how to operate your homemade motor, scroll downward!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Motor

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