Thread: Monster in the Box - Wiper Motor - HELP

Hi everyone,

So basically i have been inspired to create my very own Monster in the Box prop using a basic wiper motor, however, I'm from the UK so I am finding it difficult to get help.

I think I may be able to get a wiper motor from a scrapped car my Grandad owns but I do not know how to hook it up. All I know is that it can run off of a computer power supply. My question is: HOW? Where does it plug into? How do you turn on the motor and turn it off?

I'm looking for a very simple explanation, I'm not doing anything technical (i.e. motions sensors, sequencing programmes etc.) bearing in mind I live in the UK and do not have all the equipment some of you may have.

My aim to just get the lid to open then close. Simple.

Thanks

-Trey

Hi Trey

isn't it hard doing halloween in the uk??

anyway i hope the following helps, please ask some questions if i miss anything.

you did not say whteher or not it is a front or rear wiper motor - they are different, the front goes round and round, the back moves just like the rear wiper does. once you have the motor, i would suggest a bit of trial and error to get the right connections - i use a 12v battery charger for this. usually, the red goes to positive and the negative is attached to the casing of the motor (if you look carefully you should be able to see the connections). you need to be sure the motor works and if it is a rear wiper, where the end points of the movement is.

have a look at this link - it is often referred to as a good starting point for using wiper motors (especially note the movement link - the flying pig one - which will help decide on the next step)

http://www.scary-terry.com/wipmtr/wipmtr.htm

that link also shows how to rig up a computer supply, although i have never done that. i have used a monitor supply and a 12v cctv supply bought off a well known auction site, but beware - you actually need at least 3amp a 1amp supply will run the motor, but you may burn out the power supply when testing on the night before halloween like i have done!! (better if more amps - but the motor does run quicker so your prop moves quicker).

if you are using a rear wiper motor then you will only need to connect a arm, similar to the wiper and then mount the motor on some wood so the arm moves up and down and will open the box, although this method will result in the box opening and closing quite quickly if just running constant.

if you are using a front wiper motor (i think better) then you will need to set up a little rotating crank arm and then connect that with two FREELY MOVING joints to a piece of say 32mm waste pipe which will then move up and down as the crank rotates. the bigger the crank, the bigger the opening of the box.

i will stop there, as i seem to rambling (its easy if you know how!!!), and suggest that you search this forum for WIPER MOTOR and you will see some very good (if not excellant) ways of how make what you want. i don't have any pictures, but i know there are plenty on this site, as that is how i learnt.

one final point - if you are going to all of this trouble, i would suggest that you really need some way of controlling when the box opens (e.g. motion control). a good basic idea is to use a pir security lamp (about £8 from screwfix)
and adapt it by removing the light and adding a plug socket. this is easily done by looking which wires go to the light and then replacing them with a plug socket. again many examples with pictures on here an example been

PIR Floodlight Sensor Help...

hope the above helps in some small way!!

Thanks dazgill, this information did help a bit but still has me confused. This is my very first project so bear with me.

So if I choose to use a front wiper motor, what will the finished effect of the box look like? Also if you could find any pictures that show this crank that'll be really helpful.

I looked up some motion sensor security lights on ScrewFix and found this:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/97473/...-PIR-Photocell

Do you reckon I'll be able to use that for my motion sensor? I still need to find a How-To on how to change the original plug into a power supply one...

I also found this 12v battery charger on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-12-VOLT-4-...item1e5b758436

Will this operate the motor? If yes, then how would I connect both the motor and charger together in order to get it working?

If you find out any more information that can help me out with this, please do share, it will help me very much!

Thanks for your help

Is this the effect you have in mind?

http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Coffin2010.mp4

I use a battery charger almost the same as that one to power my wiper motors. Works for me. Just be sure the terminals/clamps do not touch each other.

found this link. I like the cog system that makes the lid go up and down. http://www.cindybob.com/halloween/mib/

Hi trey

as pineglen as suggested, the battery charger and set-up as shown on the links could be what you are looking for (and has more details than i could put together) the cam system should be easy to set up with a front motor.

the pir from screwfix is exactly the one i use. if you buy one, then unscrew the little box at the back. you will see a set of wires connected via the little terminal boxes (with the screws on top).

from memory (if you can bare with me i will get mine out at the weekend at take a picture) look at the wires coming out of the light. one of these is connected to the black and one to the red. make a note of which is which and then wire a plug socket red to red and black to black in a similar way. (after typing this i know it sounds a little confusing - a picture will show it all clearly)

one thing i will add is that the pir will not control the motor like the one that otaku has linked to. the pir at its lowest setting will activate the motor for about 8 seconds before stopping it. however if there is continuous movement in front of the pir, the pir will keep the motor running until about 8 seconds after the last bit of movement has stopped (think about how security lights come on at back of buildings and then stay on if you keep moving about). this shouldn't be a problem with what i believe you are building as long there is not a lot of movement in front of the sensor (i.e. position the sensor carefully)

Wow! All this information has helped me alot! Thanks everyone

So now my Grandad can get me a front wiper motor, I believe I have a security light with a motion sensor lying around somewhere, and I might just purchase that 12v battery charger.

It's all slowly coming together now... dazgill, if you could at some point please take a picture or two of your motion sensor set-up, that would be great!

All I would need now is a box... any ideas where I could buy a suitable box from in the UK?

Again thank you all again for this helpful information.

-Trey

As far as a suitable box. Do you have any stained glass supply stores or merchants in your area? The glass gets shipped in wooden packing crates, or at least it does here.

my box was from a pallet of paving flags, so you could try somewhere like jewsons/keyline or other builders merchants if they have any old crates laying around.

you could always make one from some old pallets (try asking on a building site)
you could quickly nail pallets together and then fill in the gaps with the timber from a broken pallet or some old fencing - remember it doesn't have to look new - it is better to look old....

all you need to take apart some pallets is a crowbar and a hammer, although it is not as easy as it sounds, you may need to add some elbow grease.

i will take a picture of the pir for you, but don't let that stop you building. adding the pir would be the last step, so will have plenty to get on with........(i am just starting to get my halloween stuff out and i don't know exactly where they are)