How to Make Your Own DC Motor Controller Joystick

A DPDT toggle switch has six pins.

DC motors are used in robotics, remote-controlled cars and other devices to rotate parts, such as a robot's arms or a vehicle's wheels. DC motors are especially useful because they can rotate clockwise and counterclockwise when they're connected to an appropriate motor controller. Control a DC motor by soldering a joystick made from a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) toggle switch to the motor and its power supply.

Things You'll Need

• DPDT center-off toggle switch
• Solder
• Multicore wire
• Soldering iron
• DC motor
• Battery clip

Instructions

1. Move the DPDT center-off toggle switch's toggle to the center-off position.

2. Turn the switch upside down, and then turn it until the pins are aligned in two vertical columns.

3. Solder one end of a piece of multicore wire to the switch's top-right pin with a soldering iron.

4. Solder the remaining end of the wire to the switch's bottom-left pin.

5. Solder one end of a piece of wire to the switch's top-left pin.

6. Solder the remaining end of the wire to the switch's bottom-right pin.

7. Solder a piece of wire to the following pins on the switch: top-left, center-left, bottom-left and center-right. Use one piece of wire per pin.

8. Solder the unsoldered end of the wire connected to the switch's center-left pin to the DC motor's positive terminal.

9. Solder the unsoldered end of the wire connected to the switch's center-right pin to the DC motor's negative terminal.

10. Solder the unsoldered end of the wire connected to the switch's top-left pin to the battery clip's positive terminal.

11. Solder the unsoldered end of the wire connected to the switch's bottom-left pin to the battery clip's negative terminal.

Tips & Warnings

• Always put the battery in the battery clip after you've finished soldering.

• Build this project on a breadboard to test it before you start soldering.

• Put a toggle switch cover on the DPDT switch to make it easier to grip.

• Building this circuit while a battery is in the battery clip can be hazardous to your health.

References

• Robot Room: Simplest Method to Make a Motor Turn Off, Turn On, Go Forwards, and Go Backwards
• Electronics in Meccano: Motor Reversing Switches