Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Cut two slots in the 4 by 2 by 1/4-inch piece of wood or thick cardboard which is the base of your motor speed control. One slot should be 1/2-inch from the top and the other slot should be 1/2-inch from the bottom on the 4-inch side. The slots need to be about 1/8-inch deep.
Slide the bare wire into the top slot so it's held in place. Ensure you leave about 3-inches of wire protruding from the slot as you need to connect this end to another wire later.
Wind the bare wire around the outside of the wood. It's important you wind it tightly and that as you wind down the 4-inch length of the wood, the wire lay neatly next to itself. You don't want to see the wood through the wire.
Continue to wind the wire down until you get to the slot at the bottom of the wood. Slide the wire into the slot so it's held firmly, then cut the wire using a knife.
Cut three strips of plastic-coated single core AWG 16 gauge wire. The strips need to be long enough to connect between the motor control, the battery or transformer and the motor, so use a tape measure if necessary. Strip 1/2-inch of plastic off the ends of the three wire strips using wire strippers.
Twist the end of the one of the strips of wire onto the end of the 3-inch strip of bare wire extending from the wood. Wrap a small strip of electrical tape around the twisted wires to keep them together.
Attach the opposite end to the "+" terminal on the battery or transformer. If you are using a battery, use a strip of tape to hold the wire in place. If you're using a transformer, loosen the terminal screw using a screwdriver, slide the end of the wire under the screw then tighten the screw.
Attach the end of a second strip of wire to the "-" terminal on the transformer or battery using the same method as before. Attach the opposite end to the "-" terminal on the motor. Loosen the terminal screw on the motor and slide the wire under then tighten the screw. Attach one end of the last strip of wire to the "-" terminal of the motor using the same method.
Wind the opposite end around the top of a steel nail. Wrap tape around the wire and nail to hold it in place. Place the end of the nail at the bottom of the wire that wrapped around the wood. That is the end that is farthest away from the twisted wire. The motor will rotate slowly. Slide the nail up toward the top. As you move the nail, the speed of the motor increases. Moving the nail enables you to control the motor's speed.