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IndianaRog

A powerful stepper motor generator for toy steam use

Awhile back I posted some info. on using a "stepper motor" taken from a dot matrix printer or other such devices. Such motors are also readily available on eBay. I don't pretend to know how they work (though Moose gave a pretty convincing explanation!). They come with multiple wires exiting the motor. Mine came an awful shade of olive green, so I painted that red to improve things a bit. The pulley is from a Wilesco engine.

In simplest terms two of the stepper motor wires (red in my case) are joined together to become the negative output side and each of FOUR other colored wires is soldered to a separate diode with the other end of diodes merged together to become the positive output side. I have put the directions and photos on my website for doing this including the specific diode type needed. Those details can be seen at:

http://www.indianarog.com/restorerstoolbox.htm#109090135

I built one of these generators into my Jensen 51 Replica project for DC power but decided to build this one as a standalone generator with it's own lamp post that can be tethered to any engine. Pics below.





The wooden base conceals the diodes mounted on a postage stamp size piece of circuit board. Base is actually two layers with a hollowed out center for wires and circuit board to reside. I took pics of that bit, but they did not come out before I assembled it...sorry, but you hopefully get the idea plus can see the circuit board and how it's to be wired on my website.

Lastly, I lashed it up to a Jensen #5 and it lit the 6 volt DC bulb so brightly I had to reduce power to the Jensen using a dimmer device AND cut the steam regulator a bit. On my Jensen 51 the identical generator puts out 16 volts DC and will easily light three lamps like this or a DC motor.

Total out of pocket cost was: $12 USD for the stepper motor, $0.50 USD for the diodes and the lamp post was "free" off another project, but they can be had from Jensen as a part for $12 USD. Wood etc. was scrap. So, for $25 USD or less, you can have a dandy standalone generator setup for your engines, that works very well as seen in the following video:



cheers,
Rog
James

Rog, are you taking orders?

How many LEDs do you think it would power?
IndianaRog

The guy I bought my first stepper motor from (identical to this one) had it hooked up to 15 (or 18?) LED's and was running it off a Jensen 75 with plenty of light output. I imagine one of these would be perfect for a Showmans type engine.

As for making and selling them...I'm too slow, probably had 6 hours tied up with that one (though next one would go much faster). Though I used a circuit board for this one (like the guy I bought the first from)....it would be simpler to just connect wires direct to diodes and shield them from each other with shrink tubing...smaller to conceal as well.

It's a fun project, I really recommend it.
Griffin

Wow, thats a neat and tidy generator set up, and at little cost too.
Very efficient, as that bulb was really glowing.

Rog, does the generator require much power to turn it? I take it is not as hard to turn as a Jensen #15?
IndianaRog

Hi Griff,

Hard to answer your question without some experimentation...twirling them by hand I would say the Jensen 15 turns more easily but they have a totally different feel...the Jensen 15 lets you feel the polarity of the magnet as two points of greater resistance. This stepper thing seems like it has multiple points of polarity...like 8 or 10 vs. two on Jensen.

BUT, proof is in a test...let me get back to you as I was playing around with my Jensen 5 and that generator as I type...will just swap in a 15 and see if there is any difference.

Rog
Mamodman123

Looks fantastic Rog

I tried running a meccano motor backwards to make electricity... although didn't quite get enough power
IndianaRog

MM...on my Jensen 51 replica...I used the guts of a Meccano motor provided to me by Moose as the DC motor I power off the output from the stepper motor generator I built into it. They make great little motors but not so good as generators.

My guess is you would have to turn a Meccano motor very fast to make any measurable amount of DC current, which may be why you couldn't quite get it to work.
Mamodman123

IndianaRog wrote:
MM...on my Jensen 51 replica...I used the guts of a Meccano motor provided to me by Moose as the DC motor I power off the output from the stepper motor generator I built into it. They make great little motors but not so good as generators.

My guess is you would have to turn a Meccano motor very fast to make any measurable amount of DC current, which may be why you couldn't quite get it to work.


Possibly... I think the LED I was trying to light was too much of a high voltage

I did get one to light a little off the SE3, but not as impressive as yours
IndianaRog

Griffin wrote:
Very efficient, as that bulb was really glowing.

Rog, does the generator require much power to turn it? I take it is not as hard to turn as a Jensen #15?


Griff,

Just ran a test using my Jensen 5 as the engine and a Jensen 15 generator vs. my stepper motor setup as generator/lamp loads.

The stepper motor generator easily puts out 2X the light of the Jensen 15...BUT, puts maybe 50% greater load on the engine...still more "LPG" (light per gallon if you will).

The Jensen 15 requires a 3V DC bulb whereas the Stepper Motor generator needs at least a 6V DC bulb or it will burn it out almost instantly. Somehow, some way...the stepper motor is an incredibly efficient generator...again, I don't understand the inner workings, but I can solder red here, orange there etc.

Highly recommend this as an inexpensive, fun accessory.

Rog
Griffin

IndianaRog wrote:
Griffin wrote:
Very efficient, as that bulb was really glowing.

Rog, does the generator require much power to turn it? I take it is not as hard to turn as a Jensen #15?


Griff,

Just ran a test using my Jensen 5 as the engine and a Jensen 15 generator vs. my stepper motor setup as generator/lamp loads.

The stepper motor generator easily puts out 2X the light of the Jensen 15...BUT, puts maybe 50% greater load on the engine...still more "LPG" (light per gallon if you will).

The Jensen 15 requires a 3V DC bulb whereas the Stepper Motor generator needs at least a 6V DC bulb or it will burn it out almost instantly. Somehow, some way...the stepper motor is an incredibly efficient generator...again, I don't understand the inner workings, but I can solder red here, orange there etc.

Highly recommend this as an inexpensive, fun accessory.

Rog

Thanks for the info Rog. I did not realise they would be so much harder to turn

If it can light a 6 Volt bulb it must be good.
Steve_S

That's a very nice project Rog! I must have a go at that.
MooseMan

I built a generator out of a very small stepper motor - it's not powerful enough to light an incandescent bulb, but it'll power 4 or 5 leds in parallel or in series with ease.

If anyone wants to have a go and needs some diodes - let me know, I've got hundreds of 'em!
Wallace

Great stuff Rog.

And to think, I just threw an old dot matrix printer out 2 months ago

Nice video too
IndianaRog

Hey Wallace,

I bet if you tried...you could find another defunct dot matrix printer somewhere...they seem to have all been replaced with ink jet and laser types!!! I have seen them stacked on people's trash come trash pickup day! That type of small motor was probably used in many other devices as well we are not aware of. Worth finding one if you can.

Rog
Wallace

Cheers Rog.

I will now be keeping an eye out on our next council cleanup day.

Here, if you don't have stuff in your bin, it doesn't get collected.

So the likes of printers, PC's etc have to be taken to the tip by the owner, unless they wait till cleanup day
rangerssteamtoys

Can someone make me one? I think I got an idea for my steam roller. I would liek someone to make me one or just send me some parts and give good instructions please. I bet I would mess up. but if I had all the parts and good instrucions I could make one in no time.
IndianaRog

Ranger, doubt you will find anyone willing to invest the time to make a stepper motor generator for you...but check out the following link for complete instructions:

http://www.indianarog.com/restorerstoolbox.htm#109090135

Within that link is a blue hyperlink with specific wiring instructions.

All you have to do is find the proper stepper motor and diodes.

Diodes are common and cheap. Stepper motors seem to abound on eBay, but I have had experience ONLY with the type shown at the above link. They can also be found in obsolete dot matrix printers. All I can say is they are the best generator I have ever found...turn your thumb on the pulley and you will get a flash of light...nothing else quite like it!!! If you can locate the parts, I'm sure you could build one.

cheers,
Roger
rangerssteamtoys

Thanks, I already looked at that link and it is good, I found some on ebay but am saving money for other things. My idea for my steam roller is to make the engine turn the generator and then go to my rc controls which just so happen to take 6 volts Although it will not work unless I'm going full speed I might take some rechargeable battries and put them below the boiler to be a belly tank. It would be pretty cool though because it would cool though to have a hook up to the throttle and at first the servo would go slow then speed up gradually.
IndianaRog

Ranger, the stepper motor generator might fry your RC components...it puts out 16 volts easily without a load...6-8 with a load. I popped a few bulbs til I found the right ones to take the output.
steamyjim

16 VOLTS

Rogvwhats the rough price of the engine in your 51 replica by the way Sounds a good project Just been reading about it on your site
IndianaRog

Jim, are you referring to the Jensen 50 engine/boiler which I built the 51 replica around....OR the stepper motor generator???
steamyjim

Sorry didnt make it to clear.

The Jensen 50 engine in the Jensen 51
IndianaRog

Jensen last made the Jensen 50 in the mid to late '90's...their list price new for that model was $3,500 USD (about 1750 GBP).

Used via eBay they only come up for sale a few times a year. On eBay, they have recently ranged in price from $2,000 USD (1000 GBP) up to $5,000 USD (2500 GBP) depending on condition, rarity, phase of the moon...the usual eBay factors.

I take very good care of my Jensen 51 replica and the Jensen 50 at it's core.
steamyjim



Dont think i shall be doing a replica 51 now you say that
steamyjim

Made the last one in the 90s?

Have they stopped making them altogether or just small batches are made
IndianaRog

It has been a long time since they made a 50 or 51...but never say never, perhaps they will do them again some time.

I believe each and every one was just that...a singular event made to order, not an inventory item. Both are great engines, I personally wish they would re-introduce them, I know there is demand out there just by the prices used ones command off eBay.
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