How to Get a Pager Motor to Vibrate

The motor inside of a pager is often used to make mini bots.

Getting a pager motor to vibrate when it is actually inside a pager is easy. Simply access the pager’s menu, locate the “alert” select option, and select “vibrate” or “vibe.” With the alert set to vibrate, the motor shakes whenever someone pages you. Getting a pager motor to vibrate when it is not inside a pager, while also a simple task, is a more involved process. All the motor needs is a 1.5 to 3 volt power supply.

Things You'll Need

• Watch battery
• Tape
• Copper wire
• Soldering iron

Instructions

1. Plug the soldering iron into an electrical outlet. Allow it to get hot.

2. Hold a small piece of copper wire against one of the terminals on the back of the motor. Press the soldering iron against the copper wire, and solder the copper wire lead to the terminal. Remove the soldering iron. Repeat to solder a copper wire lead to the motor’s other terminal.

3. Use a small piece of tape to secure one of the pager motor’s copper leads to one side of the watch battery.

4. Use another small piece of tape to secure the pager motor’s other copper lead to the other side of the watch battery. The pager motor will begin to vibrate.

Tips & Warnings

• Some pager motors are sold with the copper wire leads already attached. If this is the type of pager motor you are using, skip Steps 1 and 2.

References

• EvilMadsSientist: Bristlebot
• Motorola LS550 Pager Manual