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Hair today, gone tomorrow?

PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:00 pm
by AncientBrit
Our local Argos store is selling cheap hairdryers for under 4 quid.
They are described as having dc motors but are rated for use on AC 115v or 230v.
Made in China I suspect they are widely available.

In the interests of NBTV I bought 2 and took them apart.

The motive power is a small dc motor labelled 18v and fed from 4 diodes connected as a bridge.

Fed from a 12v supply the motor runs at around 7200 rpm.

To extract the motor the fan blades have to be cut off together with the cowling.
Pity really.

Other components recoverable are a 2 way speed switch with 1N4007, a heating element of zig zag resistance wire wound as a spiral around a heat proof former and a 115/230 input volts selector switch.
The heater might be useful as a power dropper resistance.

Regards,

Graham

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:03 am
by Brigham
Useful motor. Is there a 12v. power supply, or does it just run in series with the heater?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:27 am
by DrZarkov
It looks like a common Mabuchi-motor, which you can buy in almost any toy or electronics-shop: http://www.mabuchi-motor.co.jp/cgi-bin/ ... D=rs_545sh

The motor costs withouth the hairdryer about 2 Euro.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 6:31 pm
by AncientBrit
@Brigham.
There's no separate 12v power supply or dropper resistor.
I didn't bother to trace the circuit but I assume some of the resistance wire must be used as a dropper.
So the switch settings perhaps should read 'Off', 'Cool' and 'Hot'.

@Dr.Z. Looks to be the same motor, thanks for researching.
My purchase of the hair driers wasn't much of a bargain was it :(
Oh well

Seasons greetings to all.

Cheers,

Graham