Thread: Wiper Motor Help

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Ok, I have read the scary Terry web page in regards to wiper motors, but I still have a question. I got a motor from a Pontiac Sunfire at the right price-Free and the prongs do not match any of the pictures out there. It has two smaller diameter prongs on top followed by three larger diameter prongs underneath. Can anyone give me any idea as to how to power this as well as which is the connection for fast and slower speeds? I plan on utilizing an adapter to control this. Thanks for any help!!!

I would suggest at least a 12v 3amp power supply, but ultimately it depends on what you're going to use it for. Take the negative lead of your power supply and touch/tape it to the metal body of the motor. Touch the positive lead to each of the prongs on the motor and see what you get. It's low volt DC power, you aren't going to fry the motor. Even if you don't know which is positive/negative on your power supply, pick one. It'l just make the motor run backwards.

You're looking for the prong(s) that give the motor continuous operation, probably in two speeds; low and high.

I don't know which prongs you should use but keep this in mind....the only thing that will happen if you connect a positive to the negative and the negative to the positive is the motor will turn in reverse.

Other words, you wont hurt your motor by just testing the prong to see which prong to connect to. I would start with the two larger prongs by connecting a wire to each one. If the motor turns clockwise you have the positive to positive and negative to the negative.

Sometimes if I want a slower speed I use a negative to a positive connection on a wiper motor because they usually turn at a slower rpm when the motor turns counter clockwise.

So I don't confuse you any more....just test it you wont hurt anything

Originally Posted by madmax

I don't know which prongs you should use but keep this in mind....the only thing that will happen if you connect a positive to the negative and the negative to the positive is the motor will turn in reverse.

Other words, you wont hurt your motor by just testing the prong to see which prong to connect to. I would start with the two larger prongs by connecting a wire to each one. If the motor turns clockwise you have the positive to positive and negative to the negative.

Sometimes if I want a slower speed I use a negative to a positive connection on a wiper motor because they usually turn at a slower rpm when the motor turns counter clockwise.

So I don't confuse you any more....just test it you wont hurt anything

So, it won't hurt it to run it backwards permanently?

It never hurt the motors I used and when I build a prop I usually run it for 24 to 48 hours non stop to test it.

Good to know...I just got my goodie package from mguts today, I'll be digging wall warts out of my cable box in about 2 hours.