DC Motor Controller User Guide 59757 V0210
This kit provides a great exercise of intermediate soldering skills and creates a device that enables you to control various Pitsco motors, Tamiya gearboxes, and other DC motors. With this device, you can turn the motors on and off, switch directions, and change speed from zero revolutions per minute (rpm) to the motor s full rpm. This kit requires soldering skills. If you do not know how to solder, ask your instructor or see the Dr. Zoon Learning to Solder Video (58687) for assistance. To learn more about what motors the DC Motor Controller connects to, see page 8. Materials Included B C D I A G O N M H E L K A. Printed circuit board I. Potentiometer, 10 k B. Battery holder J. Resistor, 10 k C. 4 AA batteries K. 4 diodes D. 4 stick-on rubber feet L. 4 ceramic capacitors, 0.1 μf E. Motor 280 M. 8-pin chip socket F. Two-conductor wire, 24" N. 555 timer chip G. 2 slide switches O. Transistor H. 2 screw terminal blocks J F 2 DC Motor Controller 59757 V0210
Items Required (not included) Soldering iron and rosin core solder Small pair wire cutters Soldering the Controller Wire strippers Phillips screwdriver 1. Set up and turn on the soldering iron and make sure you have enough solder for the project. 2. Lay the circuit board on a work surface in front of you. Make sure the board is face up and turned so you can read the printing on the board. Notice the board has labels such as C2, D4, and Q1 these will help you find where to solder on the parts. 3. Place the eight-pin chip socket into the area labeled U1. Make sure the notch on the socket is facing the same direction as the notch on the print outline (Figure 2). Also, the pins should face down and go through the holes. Holding the socket in place, turn over the board and solder the eight pins onto the board. Turn the board over in its original position. Figure 2 4. Find the four ceramic capacitors. If their wire ends are held together with tape, cut off the ends of the wire with the tape using the wire cutters. 5. Find the areas labeled C1, C2, C3, and C4 on the board. One at a time, bend each capacitor so the ceramic bead in the middle forms the end of a long-legged U shape (Figure 3). Figure 3 DC Motor Controller 59757 V0210 3
6. Insert one capacitor into each position and bend the legs out on the back side of the board (Figure 4). Hold the capacitor in place and turn over the board. Solder each end onto the board. Trim off the excess wire and turn the board over in its original position. 7. Find the four diodes (they will have a stripe at one end of the middle bead). Again, if held together with tape, trim it off. Find the areas labeled D1, D2, D3, and D4. One at a time, bend each diode as you did the capacitors. 8. Insert one diode into each position and bend the legs out. When placing the diodes, make sure the striped end is aligned with the striped end on the board s printing (Figure 5). Hold Figure 4 the diode in place Figure 5 Figure 6 and turn over the board. Solder each end onto the board. Trim off the excess wire and turn the board back over. 9. Find the resistor and bend it as you did the capacitors and diodes. Place it into the R2 position on the board (Figure 6); it can be turned either way. Hold it in place and turn over the board; solder the two ends onto the board. Trim off the excess wire and turn the board back over. 10. Find the two screw terminal blocks. Place one into the area labeled Power (at the top of the board). Make sure it is placed so the block fits within the printed block outline on the board (Figure 7 on the next page). Holding the block in place, turn the board over and solder the two ends. 4 DC Motor Controller 59757 V0210
11. Place the other terminal block into the position labeled Motor Output (right of the Power block). Make sure it is placed so the block fits within the printed outline on the Figure 7 board. Holding the block in place, turn the board over and solder the ends. 12. Find the potentiometer. Place it into the area labeled Speed, making sure to properly line up the three bottom pins and two side pins into the Figure 8 holes (Figure 8). Holding the potentiometer in place, turn the board over and solder the five pins to the board. Turn the board back over. 13. Find the two slide switches. Place one in the On/Off place on the board (Figure 9). It doesn t matter which way it faces as long as the six pins fit into the holes. Holding it in place, turn over the board and solder the six pins into place. Turn the board back over. Figure 9 DC Motor Controller 59757 V0210 5
14. Place the other slide switch in the Fwd/Rev place on the board. It doesn t matter which way it faces as long as the six pins fit into the holes. Holding it, turn over the board and solder the six pins into place. Turn the board back over. 15. Find the transistor and then Figure 10 the area labeled Q1 on the board. Note how the middle pin on the transistor will need to be carefully bent out in the direction away from the tab sticking up on top of the transistor. Bend this pin and then place the transistor in place (Figure 10). 16. Holding the transistor in place, turn over the board and solder the three pins to the board. Turn the board over. Figure 11 17. Find the 555 timer chip it has a small circle on one end. With this end facing the top of the board, push the chip into the socket (Figure 11). Connecting the Remaining Parts 1. Find the four rubber feet and turn over the board. One at a time, remove the feet from the paper backing and place one in each corner of the board. Turn the board over so it faces up. 2. Take the wire and split both ends approximately one inch. Using the wire strippers, strip a quarter inch from each of the four split ends (Figure 12). Figure 12 Figure 13 6 DC Motor Controller 59757 V0210
3. Solder the split ends of one wire end to the two motor terminals (Figure 13 on the previous page). Place the other ends under the screws on the Motor Output screw terminal (Figure 14). Tighten the screws. 4. Find the battery holder. Place the prestripped leads under the screws on the Power screw terminal. The red lead should line up with the positive (+) side and the black with the negative (-) side. Tighten the screws. 5. Find the four batteries. Turn the power switch on the board to the off position, and place the batteries into the battery holder as indicated (Figure 15). Figure 14 Operating the DC Motor Controller Figure 15 Turn the power switch to the On position. Then, follow the directions below to adjust the different parts of the controller. Speed To control speed, you use the potentiometer in the middle of the board. Turn it left to go slower and turn it right to go faster. Motor Direction To change the direction of the motor, slide the Fwd/Rev switch to the opposite position. Using the Controller with Other Devices The DC Motor Controller will also work with small light sockets with a bulb and piezo buzzers. Instead of soldering the leads to the Motor 280, solder them to the terminals of the device you wish to use. Continued on the next page DC Motor Controller 59757 V0210 7
For a light socket and bulb, adjust the potentiometer on the controller to dim or brighten the light coming from the bulb. For a buzzer, adjusting the potentiometer will make the buzz quieter or louder. Note: The Fwd/Rev switch will not change anything for these other devices. Compatible Motors You can connect your DC Motor Controller to many different DC motors any with three to 18 VDC and no more than six amps. It s a great way to get some control over electronic and robotic devices you build. Listed below are several compatible motors. Caution: Do not operate the controller with a motor with more than 18 VDC and six amps. It will not work with anything larger. Motor 280 (comes with kit) Right-Angle Gear Motor 6 (31591) Motor 385 (50076) Gear Motor 7 (31592) Motor 500 (50075) Gear Motor 17 (31589) All Tamiya-brand gearboxes using a DC motor Other Compatible Devices Lamp Socket (59391) with Bulb (59392, 59393, 59394) Piezo buzzers Note: To order any of the motors or devices listed with an item number, visit shop.pitsco.com or call 800-835-0686. P.O. Box 1708 Pittsburg, KS 66762 shop.pitsco.com Toll-Free Orders 800-835-0686 8 DC Motor Controller 59757 V0210