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Undervolt a stepper motor

Is there any reason not too? I've got a load of 24v steppers I've
ripped out of dead printers. I'd like to use them in a battery
powered situation, but I really don't want to have a 20AA battery
pack. If I run the 24v stepper coils @ 12V, is it going to damage
anything? I realize that they will likely pull double the current
they were rated for @ 24v, but is that going to cause smoking motors
in the short term?

Thanks!
 
C

Chris

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there any reason not too? I've got a load of 24v steppers I've
ripped out of dead printers. I'd like to use them in a battery
powered situation, but I really don't want to have a 20AA battery
pack. If I run the 24v stepper coils @ 12V, is it going to damage
anything? I realize that they will likely pull double the current
they were rated for @ 24v, but is that going to cause smoking motors
in the short term?

Thanks!

Hi, Richard. No problem at all. Half the current, 1/4 the power, but
no ill effects to the motor. Go right ahead.

But if you need +24V for a portable application where you're driving
steppers, you're going to need a lot of current, and are going to be
burning through those AA batteries like kindling. How about two small
lead-acid rechargeables in series?

Cheers
Chris
 
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