Electrical help: project for my son Help needed

[ToyotaNSaturn]

My 8 year old wants to build, so I'm of course willing to help. He tore apart a small fan. What's left of it is the motor and the small plastic fan blades. He took the motor, nailed it to a board and expected it to work with a battery, he decided to use the sole lantern battery we have.

So, I'm out looking for a power inverter--something to take the 12V AC current to make it work with 6V DC. Been to several places, no one has such as thing. Perhaps I'm looking for the wrong thing? I'm not well versed in electrical stuff at all.

Any suggestions on what to look for, I'd appreciate it. errr....he would appreciate it.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

The project in it's current state:

 

[Brian Barnhart]

It would help to know a little more about the motor. What was the previous use of the fan?

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

In a fan much like this but smaller size, I think it was a 6" fan.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9219112

 

[XS650]

How about giving him an explanation of the problems starting out working with 120VAC (assuming you made a typo, or was it really 12VAC?) and giving him an old 12VDC computer fan to start working with. They should run slowly on 6VDC. I run them on 7VDC all the time to quiet them down.

 

[pushrod]

You are going to need a 12 volt battery(2 6volts in series or maybe a lawn tractor battery) and an automotive inverter to get the needed 120V AC. Inverter could be purchased at an automotive
parts store or some electronics stores online. I happen to like
MCM electronics online. This is going to cost the "grownup"!

 

[Chris142]

I think you are better off to start with a 12V dc motor.

 

[The_Jeff]

^ agreed, then you don't have to worry about electric shock from the 120.

 

[Rick in PA]

What you have is a shaded pole motor (I'm pretty sure, I think that's the name). It's a fairly low cost motor that just has the field windings. They only operate on AC. A motor like that would typically work on say 60 to 120 volts AC.

Radio Shack use to offer small DC motors.

Good luck with the project.

 

[Pablo]

Find the schematics for the inverter and step up circuitry on the web/library. Explain to him how the little battery won't last very long driving the mosfets and such.

Then show him how simple the schematic is for a battery, switch and 6v motor. Then go buy the stuff with his allowance.

 

[mechtech2]

Rick has the right idea.
An AC motor won't work with DC current.

 

[simple_gifts]

Have him build a motor. Takes some tin cans, nails, insulated copper wire, dowel and Al foil.

Or try this plan.

http://www.boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/2909/build-an-electric-motor/

 

[MolaKule]

Or try http://www.scientificsonline.com

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Thanks for all the suggestions! He subscribes to Boys Life! He'll dig the opportunity to build his own!