[xpertgammer136]

Hi,

I have been looking for hours and still could not find a switch I want. I need a Slide Switch, BUT instead of when you switch it it clicks, I want it to gradually (slide) move. Let’s make this simple and let’s say I have 2 motors and a battery. I want the battery wired in the middle and 1st motor will go on the left side, and the other on the right side. I want a switch to slide and gradually switch to one motor to another. Here is a picture of what I want.



Do any of you people know what kind of switch this is? If so please reply or if you know something similar like this. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I'm hoping I can figure this out

Thanks,
Chris

[labman]

A sliding variable resistor may do it. The wattage of the switch must exceed the wattage of the motors. It the motors are very big, that may be a problem. Connect the battery to the slider, and the a motor to each end. If you have trouble finding what you need, try www.mouser.com.

[xpertgammer136]

Yes that's what I’m looking for. A sliding slide switch (I’m mainly looking for a mini one. I am only using a 3 volt battery, and a 3 volt motor. So that's not a worry. I looked for it on the site, but don't really know what to look at or look for. Is it possible that you can point some out for me?

Thanks,
Chris

[icandoit]

http://www.ittcannon.com/products/pr...pid=1026&cf=pl
http://www.nkkswitches.com/switchcategory.asp?S3=4
http://www.newark.com/product-detail...D121/4893.html

[xpertgammer136]

Hi, thanks for the sites! As I was looking at them, I had a little trouble finding the ones that slides (glide), but not click. Got any pointers? Sorry for asking so many questions.

Thanks,
Chris

[labman]

Try http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?&han...potentiometers or just put "slide potentiometers" into the search box on their home page. Potentiometer is another name for varible resistor. You can find ones as near as your local Radio shack if you can use one where you turn a knob to adjust it.

[xpertgammer136]

Hi,

I looked at them, I almost bought one, but something has confused me. The potentiometers you’re talking about only have 3 connections. I'm looking for 6 connections (motor 1, + and - wires, motor 2, + and - wires, and battery, + and - wires). I don't know if it's me, but is there anything that I don't know about. Is there an easy fix? Also I have found some cool slide potentiometers. I will upload another picture of what I want to make it easier to understand.

Thanks,
Chris

[labman]

You only need to run 1 of the wires to each motor through the potentiometer. The battery, and each motor have 2 connections each for a total of 6. Connect one wire from the battery to one wire from each motor. That takes care of 3 connections. Buy a potentiometer with 3 connections. Connect the other wire from the battery to the center connection, the one that slides. Connect the other wire from each motor to the ends of the potentiometer.



Motor 1____|wwwwwww|wwwwwww|______Motor 2

Power will flow from the battery to the potentiometer, and divide according the position of the slider, and to each motor, and then back to the battery completing the circuit.

[xpertgammer136]

There you go! That completes the piece of the puzzle! Thanks very much. I am going to buy one tomorrow. Thanks again. I will tell you if my project works out.

Chris

[xpertgammer136]

Hi,

Well I went to Radio shack and looked at the potentiometers. They have different numbers on them like 10k-Ohm and 50-ohm, and 100-ohm, and a 1 mega-Ohm. I didn't know what to buy, but I bought the 100-ohm potentiometer. I built it like you said. It worked, but it was WAY too sensitive. When I turn it just a tiny bit it would shut off. So I took it back and bought the smallest number potentiometer, the 10k one. It was a little better, but still too sensitive. I have noticed that the motor runs slower on the potentiometer (even all the way turned) (even on the 100 k one) then when directly connected to the batteries. I only get 2 volts on it (used to get 8 when connected to batteries). Any suggestions? Should I take the 10k potentiometer back, or am I doing anything wrong?

Thanks,
Chris

[labman]

I am afraid we are both confused. 10K is 10,000 ohms. A mega ohm is 1,000,000 ohms. Are you sure the first one wasn't 100K? A potentiometer will never go clear to 0. The smaller the value, the closer it should go. Perhaps you can find a smaller one someplace else.

[xpertgammer136]

Hi,

The first one I bought was 100,000 ohms, and then second I exchanged it for a 10,000 ohms one. What makes me confused is when I hook the motor directly to the battery (which is 2, 1.5 volt) I measure 8 volts running through it. But when I use it through the 10,000 or the 100,000 potentiometers, I only measure 2 volts. Even when I have it turned ALL the way to get the max speed. Is it because the ohms are too big, or am I doing anything wrong.

Thanks very much for your replies,
Chris

[labman]

Something isn't right. You should only get about 3 volts out of 2 standard cells. 2 volts sounds like a bigger drop than all the way to one side should give, but you will have some.

[xpertgammer136]

Hi,

I have bought a mini 200 ohms potentiometer. And I have been doing some lots of testing and came up with this... When the motor was directly connected to battery I get 3 volts (sorry about the mistake, not 8 volts). When I get the potentiometer setup I still get the same voltage. However when the motor is directly connected to the battery, It runs a lot faster then on the potentiometer setup. The confusing part is when they both have the same voltage! So it made me think that the potentiometer's ohms are not going all the way to zero when turned all the way. So I tested it and I was right. When the potentiometer was all the way turned I get 1 ohm. Could that be the reason why the motor is slower on the potentiometer’s setup?? Is it normal for a potentiometer to do that? Is there anyway I can fix it, because I cannot, and will not have any resistance for my project

Thanks,
Chris

[labman]

I am afraid the potentionometer is working correctly. I don't have any good ideas for correcting it. I am surprised the motors are so sensitive to a small voltage drop.

[xpertgammer136]

Well I’m going to buy a 6 OHM POTENTIOMETER off eBay. Maybe this won't be as bad. It's worth a shot. Here is a link Potentiometer