How to Make a DC Motor Reverse
DC is short for direct current. A DC motor runs on sources such as a battery or DC power supply. Devices such as portable drills use DC motors them for power.
DC motors have armatures that rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the rotation depends on how the motor is placed inside the circuit. Reversing the motor may be simply done by changing the polarity, or which leg of the motor the current goes through first. This may be done by switching either the wires on the battery or the wires on the motor.
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Things You'll Need
- Hobby motor
- 9-volt battery
- Battery holder
- Solderless circuit board
- Jumper wires
Instructions
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1
Connect the battery holder’s red lead, which is connected to the positive side of the battery, to the circuit board. Then connect the black lead, which is connected to the negative side of the battery, to the circuit board as well. Make sure that they are placed inside different columns.
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2
Attach one end of the motor to the holder’s red lead. Do this by using placing a jumper wire between the holder and the circuit board column to which the motor wire is attached.
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3
Connect the remaining side of the motor to the holder’s black lead. Again, use a jumper wire if necessary.
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4
Insert the battery into the holder. The motor will spin either clockwise or counterclockwise.
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5
Remove the battery holder from the circuit board and reverse the wires. Do this by placing the red lead inside the slot the black one was previously in, and vice versa. The motor will spin again, but in the opposite direction.
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6
Place the leads of the holder back into their original positions. Remove the leads of the motor from the circuit board, reverse them, then place them back into the board. The motor will spin in the same direction as in Step 5.
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Tips & Warnings
Place an item such as a propeller or marked piece of paper on the armature to view the motor reversal.
Motor reversal may also be accomplished by adding one or more switches to the circuit.
Not all hobby motors use the same battery voltage. Make sure to use the correct voltage as stated in the manufacturer’s requirements.
References
- “Getting Started in Electronics”; Forrest Mims III; 2000
- “Practical Electronics For Inventors”; Paul Scherz; 2000
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
