Hillbilly Spinner

[gdog]

A couple of years ago I built a bunch of Hillbilly Spinners using some Pitman 9v motors with a potentiometer to regulate the speed. These things work great, but man they eat the batteries. Like in two hours it needs a new one. So, for anyone who knows more about electricity than me, or has built these before, do you think that the potentiometer is the problem or the motor? Or if you have built one, what have you used that gives better battery life? Thanks!

[Gordie]

Mine use to have a 9 volt battery but as you said it ate them p to fast so I just wired it to regular 12 volt battery, like the ones that the depth finders use. you will not be disappointed you did this. It also lets you regulate the speed better.

[SevenTine]

I'm assuming that is a brushed DC gear motor you have. What is the rated voltage? For what you are doing, a stepper motor would be perfect but the electronics to drive it make it impractical. It would be very efficient though. If you want to keep it light weight and small I would look into rechargeable batteries.

[merkman]

Pittmans work good... the latest ones I used had two 9 volts together for a total of 18 volts.

I would get much more than 2 hours from one battery though...

I plug mine into the 12 volt from the shack now so I don't have those issues.

.

[MJ1657]

I've got one of Merks spinners. I swear if something ever stopped my spoon the whole house would spin.

[gdog]

Thanks guys. I am going to take Gordie's advice and convert to 12V. A little more to haul but it will be worth it.

[Mike89]

I hooked mine to the battery too, I have that in there for the computer ceiling fan and the radio. Along with the light.

[Gordie]

I've got one of Merks spinners. I swear if something ever stopped my spoon the whole house would spin.

Thought of hooking mine to a drive axel for first ice. Mine is a merks original HB spinner too.

[BOUNCED]

WARNING: After a half hour of listening to that annoying motor you'll want to jam that spear in your ears!!

[Gordie]

WARNING: After a half hour of listening to that annoying motor you'll want to jam that spear in your ears!!

You will have your limit long before that Half hour Spearhead