[TriEmbed] Low Voltage Stepper with A488 controller

[Brian Henning]

Unless the motor is getting hot enough to burn your fingers (or at least be very uncomfortable to touch), you probably have nothing to worry about, unless you're planning to run the thing 24/7.  

-----Original Message-----
From: TriEmbed [mailto:triembed-bounces at triembed.org] On Behalf Of Grawburg
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2015 12:41 PM
To: Triangle Embedded Devices
Subject: [TriEmbed] Low Voltage Stepper with A488 controller

I understand that the key issue with a stepper motor and the A488 controller is the current and not necessarily the voltage. I have a 9V power source that I use with the controller and a motor that seems to be rated for voltage in that realm since it does not get very hot (just warm) when I "play" with it. And it does not get hot (just warm) in idle position.

However, I have another motor (from a printer) that gets more than warm sitting in idle.  Not TOO hot to touch, though.  That makes me wonder if I'm putting 9V into a motor that is designed for 6. (I cannot see any writing on the motor-some parts are behind frame from the assembly.) My concern is that I might eventually damage the motor.  Shouldn't I do something to reduce the voltage to the motor and see at what voltage it still works (it's not going to used for anything other than instruction)?  I already have a step-down board I made that reduces 9V to 5 (I think).


Brian Grawburg




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