Adam, This is relatively simple to work out using the specification of the motor. The motor draws about 1A, so our 7/0.2mm equipment wire will be fine. If there is long runs involve, consider heavier wire such as the 16/0.2mm equipment wire. The motor quotes 6-15V operating voltage but you did not say what voltage you want to run at. Assuming 12V and again assuming ordinary non-rechargeable batteries then you need 12/1.5 = 8 cells, battery box 1063-037. Best to use Alkaline batteries for motors. The on/off switch depends on the type you need but simply choose one rated at 1A or higher and it needs only a single pole single throw (SPST). As for a switch

Hello again, thank you for the help and quick response. I have one last question, could i solder the PPC connector cables to the switch pins, then directly from the switch pins to the motor? Many thanks

Adam, Sorry but what is a PPC connector? Do you have our part number so I can look it up?

Sorry I meant a PP3 connector (1063-100), the switch i was talking about (1610-180). Thanks again

Adam, That makes sense now and I cannot see any reason why you couldn't solder the wires in the way you describe. Just avoid exceeding the motor rating and certainly avoid stalling the motor. If there is a risk of this then include a small fuse of say 1A.

David, A motor will not respond to noise as such as the frequency is too high although it can sometimes be heard in the motor if the noise is within the audible range. A quality linear power supply will not be generating noise but there may be a ripple on the supply which again the motor will not respond to. A capacitor is a storage device and these should already be present in your power supply. Varying the voltage to the motor will simply charge / discharge the capacitor with a slugged response. I can see no reason why you would want smoothing other than to average the current demand on the power supply during periods of sudden speed changes or on start up. For smoothing, you should be looking at 1uf / mA minimum, better still 5uF / mA based on 100Hz ripple.

Ok, can you point me in the direction of an item that will do the job (the 5uf one) so that I can order everything together. I would prefer the disk type, if possible.

David, You should not need one but it is your decision and without details of the power supply, I cannot advise further. I mentioned a rule of thumb for smoothing capacitors, it is 1uF/mA minimum, 5uF/mA preferred, this assumes no smoothing already in your power supply. So if your motor draws 500mA, you need 500 to 2500uF electrolytic across the power supply. You really do not need it if you have a 'proper' power supply.

Ok, thanks again, if you don't feel comfortable in suggesting an item that would do the job for me, can you point me in the direction of a couple of ceramic disk caps that meetthe criteria that you have talked about - the numbers you quoted really mean very little to me, but if you say 'this item and this item perform the functionof a 500 / 2500 cap' then I will decide from there. Thanks again

Hi, I'm sorry about all the questions... But I've just noticed that the image of this motor on your site, when supplied with the bracket shows the rear of the unit and clearly shows a capacitor in place? when you said that these motors already had a capacitor is that what you were talking about? if so, and the motors are supplied with the caps in situ then I dont need to worry about it and I can go ahead and order. Apologies again, Its just that I dont want to order the wrong thing as I have done in the past, and having now seen the back of the MFA 360 motor, if the cap is as shown then I know that this unit will do the job. In answer to your query re: power supply, the motors are going into a production Item that will be powered by the purchasers power supply units so the quality of their units is immeasurable, therefore I want to make sure that I do everything that I can do in production of my product to ensure that it opperates as best as possible

David, As per my earlier post, it would have to be an electrolytic, not a ceramic. This means it will be polarised hence across the power supply rather than the motor in case you need to reverse the motor. The motors are quite tolerant as regards the power supply quality, I would suggest that you specify to your customers the mimimum power suppy requirements. This could include, voltage, current and ripple values.

thanks again... and regarding the capacitor as shown fitted to the motor, in the image showing the motor fitted to the bracket? is that the cap you mentioned that comes with the motor?

David, The small ceramic capacitor is supplied fitted to the motor, its purpose is to suppress high frequency noise due to the brushes arcing that could interfere with other electronic equipment, especially radio type apparatus. It will not compensate for a poorly smoothed power supply.

Hi again, can you tell me which capacitor is fitted to these motors please? I recently ordered 10 motors and I have managed to damage the caps on a few of them and need to replace them like for like Thanks

Hi, I ordered 10 of these motors and have managed to damage a few of the attached capacitors - do you supply them seperately or can you point me in the direction of ones that will serve the same purpose please? Thanks

David, You need only make one post, we do try and respond as soon as we are able. I have checked out stock and see that the motors are fitted with a 220nF disc ceramic capacitor. I feel this is larger than it needs to be especially if using a high frequency PWM motor speed controller. Personally I would use a 10nF disc ceramic but a 47nF or 100nF will be okay. We do stock these values but not the 220nF in disc ceramic form.

David, That is a Technobots photo which means it was taken of our actual stock at the time. We cannot guarantee that MFA will not have changed the colour of the end plate, why is this important to you?

Hi, it's not the colour that is important it is that the end isn't steel or recessed as per some motors - for my application I need a motor that has a plastic end as I will be attaching connection/contact points directly to the end cap Thanks again

Hi, I'm no. Sure if you got my reply... I need to connect terminals directly to the end can/cap so it needs to be plastic, and not recessed - it needs to be exactly as per the image but doesn't need to be yellow Thanks

David, I am not aware of any design changes to the motor so it should be as per the photo.

Final question... Can you advise the best noise suppression capacitor for use with this motor powered by a variable 0-12v 2amp power supply please?

David, That is not an easy question to answer. The motors are already fitted with a capacitor to suppress motor electrical noise that can cause electrical interference. You mention a power supply which in itself can cause noise, especially switch mode types. So, you really need to advise what the source of noise is that you need suppressing.

David, Sorry but that information is not available to us but is likely to be 1-2V.