Rotisserie motor question

I searched e-bay for months and found a gear motor with 4 RPM....   The RPM can be reduced with a gear box.... or chain and sprockets...  it can be done fairly inexpensively...  You probably will need a motor with capacitor start and run to make it work well....  Dave

I recently saw a show or video (can't remember which) where they used a windshield wiper motor to run their rotisserie. You could use bicycle sprockets to get the rpm right.

SmoknGun said:

I recently saw a show or video (can't remember which) where they used a windshield wiper motor to run their rotisserie. You could use bicycle sprockets to get the rpm right.

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That would be a good choice, roughly less than $15.00:

1. it is a 12 Volts DC motor, you can use an old charged up car battery to run it for a long time. Or run it with a car battery charger.

2. Get a DC PWM motor speed controller (ebay, less than $15.00) to vary the RPM speed. No need to have additional gearing. 

dcarch

After my previous post about windshield motor, it occurred to me:

I have never disassembled one before, but from the looks of it, basically it is a worm gear driven mechanism. It is possible that the gears may be made of plastic to reduce operating noise.

If that's the case, some degree of heat protection may be a good idea.

dcarch

dcarch said:

After my previous post about windshield motor, it occurred to me:

I have never disassembled one before, but from the looks of it, basically it is a worm gear driven mechanism. It is possible that the gears may be made of plastic to reduce operating noise.

If that's the case, some degree of heat protection may be a good idea.

dcarch

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Probably a good idea to check for nylon gears in a WW motor.  You will have to make a stiff power supply to run a DC motor.  It has to run continuous for hours on end.  (it will get HOT/ fail if not big enough)

I really have no idea of how big, horsepower, torque rating for this use. 

dcarch also mentioned a PWM controller, this would be the way to go if using a DC motor.  Pulse width modulation controller would give you good speed control with little loss on motor torque.   DC motors are easily reversible. 

I would try to go with something 110v, like an old Hobart food mixer / meat grinder.  Maybe an old 1/2" Milwaukee motor drill.  It is a bit less complex to do it with gearing, rather than a heavy battery , charger etc..  If you start with something like a third or half HP and then gear it down it should have adequate torque for pork.  Electronic speed control can be had for $5 to about $20

There are lots of "electronic surplus" places out there.  Google search that term,  Fair Radio is in Lima Ohio. 

RG

"----I really have no idea of how big, horsepower, torque rating for this use. -----"

If the load (whole pig?) is well balanced, it will require not much power to turn. Otherwise, a lot of torque will be needed.

dcarch