made some minor adjustments, and my pulse motor runs so much better.
🔬 Experiment Overview
This video is a classic case of pulse motor optimization through small tweaks — and how much of a difference they make. After rearranging magnets and fine-tuning the reed switch and coil placement, Papa Bale transforms a stalling motor into one that spins smoothly at just 7 volts drawing 1 microamp.
Key lessons: magnet height matters, reed switches mounted on wood outperform those near steel, and sometimes the smallest adjustment (half a millimeter) is the difference between stalling and smooth, efficient operation. The ultimate goal: a motor strong enough to drive a double spiral magnetic sculpture spinning 1–1.5 lb discs.
🔧 What Was Adjusted
Adjusted solenoid magnet to ~0.5mm from array — the sweet spot for strong pull without magnets getting caught
Moved reed switch from near steel pole to wood stick — eliminates magnetic interference for reliable triggering
Swapped confusing blue-alligator-clip wiring for clearer connections — makes troubleshooting and adjustments faster
Dropped from 7.75V to 7V — smooth spin at microamp draw means cool running and longer component life
📝 Transcript
made some minor adjustments I got my magnets arranged the way I like them the first go-round I had them glued down with epoxy and the new denim magnets I got on each node and then I put them on the array but it was too much magnetism they'd always get caught up on a magnet on the solenoid magnet making it very hard to utilize those it's been running for a while on 0.67 so I don't know if it's going to stop or not it might very well stop but it hasn't stopped yet all it has to do is get a little bit there's that hump like we'll know when it comes right there right there it's like nope so we'll Jack it up to 7.75 basically 0.76 and give it another little nudge nope
this is what I usually have to do I usually have to back into it or spin it really really fast that might even work to 0.8 0.79 0.77 it fluctuates a little bit when that Reed gets going because I don't know why electricity is volatile that's all I can say about it because that's all I really know but anyway let's check it up just a little bit you don't want to put it up too high in magnets tend not to function very well when you put it up too high and it looks like it was going counterclockwise the whole time anyway stand far away oh no it's going clockwise I was spinning it counterclockwise is what I meant that's why I was stopping and put it up to like seven point five look at it just look at that whip it's going with those magnets on there and right there put those on here and that adds a little bit more weight I could spin it for like a very long time with just my finger but like I said those magnets get sucked off because I like to have my uh my solenoid magnet close see it's kind of close all right I don't like I don't like my amps going into this setup there's no need for amp so we're going to jack it down to seven because it was doing one micro amp look at that that is just just great
now when you understand why it's great when I explain to you what I'm doing with this I am going to create a double spiral sculpture going all the way up this pole so it's going to go all the way up the pole and I need a motor that'll spin basically the whole thing if not Center like it's spinning right now It's gotta It's gotta push you know discs that are going to be a pound pound and a half above you know what it's pushing right here I don't know if a pulse motor can do that so I got alternatives uh already thought of like gearbox motor 400 RPM with uh speed switch so it would be probably for five depending on the voltage is it would be oh well I might even be like way out of you know like 100 RPM with a speed switch it's probably already going faster than 100 right now yeah like uh I saw one of it went like 4 000 plus RPM I don't shit's gonna fall apart things are going to be flying everywhere I don't that would be really cool but I don't need that and you don't need to see that from me because that that would mean that like my TV is going to be devastated you know like my broom would get messed up I don't want to mess up my room more than it already is anyway I'm just glad that this is working again functioning I think the Reed switches are a little delicate because either it'll work but it'll work it like half the voltage so when I do my indicator light which is over here it'll be really dim up at like seven volts I'm like no that's not normal that's a busted switch not that it's not blinking it's that the amount of voltage getting through there is nothing and you know I don't know why that is maybe the voltage maybe it's not working and the voltage just it has to jump a little bit but I don't I would think you need a lot more voltage for it to jump you know that's awesome I mean just look at that ball Shake yeah all right well thank you for being here and have a good night guys thank you
⚡ Key Findings
Too much gap between solenoid and rotor magnets = weak pulses. Papa Bale found that a gap of about half a millimeter is the sweet spot — close enough for strong magnetic pull without causing magnets to jump and stick.
Mounting reed switches on wood sticks eliminates magnetic interference from steel poles. Steel near the switch causes false triggers or weak response — wood is neutral.
The optimized motor runs at 7V drawing just 1 microamp — extremely efficient. Papa Bale prefers keeping amp draw minimal to avoid overheating and extend reed switch life.
A motor that can spin 1–1.5 lb discs all the way up a central pole. If a pulse motor can't handle the weight, Papa Bale has a gearbox motor (400 RPM) as backup — but the pulse motor is the preference.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What adjustments improved the pulse motor's performance?
Key adjustments included raising the solenoid magnet to about half a millimeter from the array, swapping blue wires to eliminate confusion during wiring, and moving reed switches to wood sticks to avoid magnetic interference from steel poles.
Why did Papa Bale move the reed switch to a wood stick?
Steel poles create magnetic interference that affects reed switch reliability. Mounting the reed switch on a wood stick eliminates this interference entirely, allowing the switch to trigger more cleanly and consistently.
How much voltage and amperage does the optimized motor draw?
The motor runs smoothly at 7 volts with only 1 microamp of current draw — extremely efficient. At 7.75 volts it spins vigorously with a satisfying whip. Papa Bale prefers keeping amp draw minimal to prevent overheating and component stress.
What is Papa Bale's final goal for this motor?
A double spiral magnetic sculpture that runs all the way up a central pole — spinning discs that are a pound to a pound and a half each. This requires reliable, sustained torque from the motor. If the pulse motor can't handle the weight, a 400 RPM gearbox motor with speed switch is the backup plan.
Why does the motor sometimes need to be 'backed into' to start?
Reed switches are delicate and can operate at half voltage, causing dim indicator lights. Back-feeding or spinning the rotor fast in the right direction helps the reed switch find its timing and get the motor started reliably.
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