DIY remote curtain puller, RC car motor?

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kenkeniff

628 posts

Ultimate Geek

#141131 2-Mar-2014 09:40

I'm looking to setup a simple rig to pull open/closed my curtains via remote.

The simplest way I see is to attach a remote controlled bi-directional motor (RC car maybe) to the pull cord so forwards winds the curtains open and reverse pulls closed.

I've measured the peak pulling force required to open/close the curtains at 2-3kg.

Not sure if an RC car will have the torque to do this out of the box or will need to find a gear assembly too.

Plan B is an electric screwdriver but would need to figure out how to remote control it into forward and reverse. There's a power outlet close by too.

Any advice please?

hellonearthisman

1819 posts

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#997477 2-Mar-2014 10:30

You might want something like this geared motor. from dx.com

DC 3~24V; Rated speed (6V): 120 revolutions per minute; Coaxial type; Axis diameter: 5mm; Output axis is D; Motor diameter: 25mm; Current: 250mA; Power: 1W; Torsion: 5kg x cm

kenkeniff

628 posts

Ultimate Geek

#997487 2-Mar-2014 11:00

Thanks but ideally I'm looking for something I can rig up today-ish from stuff I can find at the Warehouse down the road.

I realised that if I hang about 3kg of weights on one side of the pull cord the curtains will default to open 'automatically' which means a single direction high-torque (now 5-6kg) screwdriver could be on the cards.

I could rig up some sort of ratchet so that powering the drill will cause the curtains to close up until a point where it releases the cord and the curtains spring open due to the weights.

hellonearthisman

1819 posts

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#997507 2-Mar-2014 12:01

http://www.mindkits.co.nz/store/movement/mini-metal-gearmotor-100-1 In NZ
and http://www.surplustronics.co.nz/categories/507-motors-gearboxes

richms

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#997531 2-Mar-2014 13:10

Electric screwdriver then. Low speed and good strong gearbox which I doubt an rc car of similar price would have.

Richard rich.ms

kenkeniff

628 posts

Ultimate Geek

#997535 2-Mar-2014 13:32

richms: Electric screwdriver then. Low speed and good strong gearbox which I doubt an rc car of similar price would have.

Yeah.. still have to figure out how to remotecontrolificate it though..

Niel

3267 posts

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#997750 2-Mar-2014 19:53

There is a mod to change an RC servo motor into continuous rotation, then you can move it backwards/forwards with an off-the-shelf RC radio.

Or buy a cheap $50-or-so RC toy car about shoe box size, the gear ratio will probably be close enough.

You can never have enough Volvos!

richms

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#997758 2-Mar-2014 20:13

kenkeniff:
richms: Electric screwdriver then. Low speed and good strong gearbox which I doubt an rc car of similar price would have.

Yeah.. still have to figure out how to remotecontrolificate it though..

2 button rf remote relay board off ebay. Will take a while to get here tho.

Richard rich.ms

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Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#998516 3-Mar-2014 23:35

Car windscreen wiper motor. High torque, low speed, 2 different speed settings, Inbuilt park switch. (The switch that turns off the motor when the wiper blades are at the bottom of the windscreen) This means you could rig up a simple counter circuit to make it rotate a set number of turns then stop. And since it is a brushed DC motor just reverse the polarity to change direction.

Although an even easier method to control would be a hall effect sensor in the middle and another one at the end. With each one interfaced to a relay with the relay contacts wired in an H bridge to control forward / reverse of the motor. Then all you need is a control system that will liven one wire to make the curtains open, and liven another one to make them close. With the hall sensors and relays automaticly disconnecting the power to the motor when the curtains are fully open / closed.

Transcendent

16 posts

Geek

#998941 4-Mar-2014 17:07

I have a couple of these http://www.pololu.com/product/1094.
This is exactly the kind of stuff I do if you're interested