Super basic question

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

I have several brushed DC motors I am interested in testing in an application. I mostly want to run these motors at their rated voltage and am OK with the resulting RPM and torque.

The max operating current drawn is in 5 Amp range with some motors having a starting current surge in the 40 Amp range. The motors are 12V and 24V.

I am not concerned with being able to change direction, or stop the motors quickly (at least at this stage). I’d like to be able to adjust RPM for the motors.

Could I power these motors with a simple DC power supply (see link below) or do I need to buy a control board to run these motors? I should be able to adjust RPM by adjusting the output voltage on the power supply, right?

ebay.com/itm/High-Current-Variable-Switching-Mode-Power-Supply-0-30V-10-Amp-Unit-/290814473421#vi-content

Thanks

2

Yes, you can run DC and DC gear motors directly from a DC power supply, provided it can provide enough current. Reducing the voltage will reduce the RPM, but this should only be done within the motor’s operating voltage range (for example a DC motor might work well between 9 and 14V, and run most efficiently at 12V. It will still work at 4V, but won’t be efficient, and will wear out faster. To control speed and retain efficiency, you need a DC motor controller rated at or above the motor’s “loaded” continuous current. This article should help.