I built a Structural Linear Actuator for $20 using a Wiper Motor | Solar Electric Campervan Build

I go into some detail on how I built these actuators which I am using to make a variable height table and bed in my campervan.
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[@darrelljacobjr2120]

At 4:00 when you are complaining about the slow speed, you have a cordless drill laying on the bench. Try using an old one for your motor. Much faster and still powerful as frak.

[@wrayxphoto]

Did you notice that the first one tested at 3.00 the blue and white wires when used went in opposite directions. I guess that would be good for up and down. Awesome idea can't wait to try myself...

[@edwardowen8668]

Using actuators for an escape room prop and they are EXPENSIVE! This is a great build and just what we needed.

[@kapulu6259]

That sounds cool. My sister owned an escape room location in Clarksville Tn. I made a box for her that required a magnet to unlock it. It was sweet.

[@ronb1071]

I've used windshield wiper motors for a gold hound spiral gold separate which separates the gold dust from the wet concentrates, and runs the water pump recycled water also.

[@mckenzieb1001]

GRAHHH, I needed this a few weeks ago when building my elevator bed! I went for a much less graceful winch and pulley system. I'm just mad I didn't think of this myself :P

[@RouteDelSol]

Do it again, but better this time :)

[@internettoughguy]

Yeah, just be careful if your system needs to hold up a significant amount of weight. The way this DIY is set up all the load is supported axially by the wiper motor shaft...and those were never designed to take axial loads. There's no thrust bearing in those things. It's just a matter of time before it will destroy itself if there's any significant load on it. Just something to think about...ypu know for safety reasons. Your pulley system is probably safer.

[@jamesarchuleta4854]

Just a little suggestion , you could have achieved the same assembly by cross drilling the two pieces together as the finished set - up would be , and them adding a roll pin

[@crispy63]

Good work Joel. I enjoyed the actuator build. Look forward to seeing the finished table go up and down. Hope you are staying safe and that the van repairs are progressing. 👍🏻🇦🇺🇲🇽✌🏻💨

[@RouteDelSol]

Thanks Crispy! Appreciate you!

[@nobrizzle]

The grub screws are also called set screws.

[@RouteDelSol]

So many names 🤪 🙌

[@DesertSessions93]

Set screws have a head

[@chrislynde3969]

Glad I came across this gonna build a 12v mini excavator for my son

[@toronado455]

This is your best video yet! ✅🆗🏆

[@RouteDelSol]

Thanks it's a little more informative

[@stevesnyder8638]

I saw the Oregon license plate in the background. Thats where I'm from. Stop by and say Hello on your journey.

[@joeabad5908]

This is what I have been looking for.. Thanks for sharing

[@RouteDelSol]

Glad I could help

[@RichardFortin77]

Thank you for this video . . . I was thinking of building one and you saved me a lot of work !

[@edgardcortes3778]

Impresionante 😲 yesss y divertido útil y una gran terapia eres excelente amigo 👍

[@WillieStubbs]

When I visited Palabra de Vida Church in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico Don Krow showed me how he designed a way to open sliding windows near the roof of his sanctuary to keep the church cool. He had a rod that connected like 20 sliding windows together and used a hand crank to open or close all the windows at once on one side of the sanctuary and then he'd do the same to the other side. I'm building a home that with have sliding windows on the north side and want to use a linear actuator to open or close them all at once. Didn't think I could do it for $20 though.

[@carolinandreau]

Hello! Joel good Sunday! 😃☀️ I missed the live chat 💬 but I did stop by and watched the video. Interesting 🤔 that one little tornillo make so much sense on the project. I’m can see how this table is going kudos to you.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼 I’m being silly now. Just don’t lose a tornillo it can drive you crazy 🤪 hehe! Jk take care! ✌🏼💛

[@RouteDelSol]

Hahhaa I'm gonna try keep my tornillos in order 🤪🙌 thank you

[@paddyblack-exe]

Very cool! Will be building a loft bed with actuators soon, and publishing the build on YT. Wish I'd seen this before I pulled the trigger on mine, but then I'd need a workshop for metal tools too!

[@julioh.camara1373]

muy bien joel te felicito por tu idea y el como resuelves los retos de modificacion de tu furgo!!!!

[@RouteDelSol]

Gracias! :)

[@brianleach]

Hi there love the video. Iam planning to build a raise bed in my campervan. Thanks for posting the video Brian.

[@markgordon8014]

Mate u absolutel legend that's exactly wat I need

[@anthonyb5625]

Top job! You could even possibly have a horizontal mount with a scissor lift for other applications but fair dinkum this was excellent. Muy bien. Trabajar excelente

[@zoham6855]

Awesome I’ll be building something similar for my elevation bed in my box truck build

[@muntee33]

Why not use an old jockey wheel (or jackstand) off a trailer. You know, the thing you wind down 5o support the hitch?

[@rolystanley6855]

Nice conception & execution. Thinking of making a scissor brake mechanism to stop auto rotation of feathering Prop. Cheers!

[@gordbrown410]

Cool!! I'm using a 24v motor with a 90degree gear reducer on it from a chair lift. I've made a cage with a 36"lawn roller in it to be towed. Just in front of the roller is an aerator that I can move up and down on a lead screw attached to the motor! I looked into buying an actuator, more fun and cheaper to build one!

[@benjaminbooth3566]

Grease the threaded rod 👍 cool build.

[@_tronicum]

awesome hack

[@ggate01]

Looks good buddy. Subscribed

[@RouteDelSol]

Thanks for the sub!

[@jamesskewes8573]

Nice work!!

[@RouteDelSol]

Why thank you Jamesby

[@chipmeister111]

Great Successa. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@toronado455]

Nice Borat! 9:04

[@RouteDelSol]

Very nice 🤪

[@chancetolbert4852]

I'm looking to dothis exactly same thing for a hidden baby gate I made. But I want there to be pressure limit switches and automatic stops on each end

[@PropellerSteve]

Thanks for sharing.

[@deebee5236]

I’m hoping to do something similar to raise the roof of my pop top camper. Need it to travel over 1m. This method may just work 😁

[@claretotton8733]

We’re you able to do this? I’m looking at doing it to mine.

[@brunoangel4556]

Great job man

[@dandaimler]

Great job

[@yaelRIOX-yy6qk]

Quiero uno

[@MarkThomas123]

Were you able to get it worked out? 4 motors running close to the same? Was there enough power?

[@kapulu6259]

Maybe a TV stand or speakers that come down from the ceiling.

[@paulsomeone9673]

G'day mate from Perth W.A.

[@RouteDelSol]

G'day mate!

[@juanluismaciasatilano4069]

Good work. buen trabajo, I was looking from different options for my hervicide machine I use on my tractor I looking for something cheaper instead of use hidraulic lifts on the spreader arms its manual so i m getting into some with linear actuator

[@felixb.59]

nice job 👌

[@RouteDelSol]

Thanks 😁

[@alyenendrovtsorokean7406]

Amazing

[@Nosaesoh]

Being a broke bloke can make you the mother of cheap invetion! Will you be doing somthing similar for the Solar Array swing arms?

[@RouteDelSol]

We will be doing something a little more robust for the array but yes a similar concept 😁

[@palanik1960]

Excellent 👍

[@rbcauz]

Very cool

[@abubakarwanngah6769]

Good job i like see teknikal projeck n strok power long 2ft n power up 50kg saport power n down..

[@randallsemrau6911]

I'm really struggling here in the big city to keep this project down to the $$$ level you did. The cheapest I could find a wiper motor for is $20, which already puts me over budget. This is so discouraging.

[@jonathanmelhuish4530]

Much more interesting with the narration, I could understand what you were doing this time! Still struggling to understand why you're doing it and can't just lift your table up and down with your hands like the rest of us though ;) Sometimes low-tech is the best, as things inevitably break at the worst possible moment!

[@RouteDelSol]

Thanks for the feedback man! I had two different manual systems in there before and I thought that they were just not good enough. Very hard to operate, also this design allows for repair at any moment using the spare motors that I have and also if I am anywhere near a junkyard I can find some spare part very cheap and very easily. It will also actuate not very often so there's that on my side too!

[@jonathanmelhuish4530]

@@RouteDelSol My van just has a small table that you lift off the hook and move down to make the bed... little bit unwieldy but very simple and low-tech. Yours is definitely more fancy! I hope it works well for you :)

[@RouteDelSol]

@@jonathanmelhuish4530 I hope so too hahah! I could be setting myself in for disaster. I will have two tables in my van one will be manual and the other is this one so we will see which one works better.

[@johnmichaels4330]

Um.... because this is Hella cool..... is that really hard to understand?

[@rojo3248]

1:46 LOL I know that exact junkyard, it is located in Ensenada, Mexico! hahaha

[@scallywagin]

Awesome mate, you must miss Bunnings....

[@BuenasRutasBuenaVida]

Nice job Joel!!!...now show the array...jejeje

[@RouteDelSol]

Jajaja sooooon you are all gonna love it when I finally reveal it!

[@ashokvannarath5155]

how did you reverse the motor direction without loss in torque. Please advice

[@hulkgqnissanpatrol6121]

Reverse positive and negative.

[@JasonCarmichael]

I need a very long actuator, so I can tilt my 10-panel PV array from 76° to 28°

[@RouteDelSol]

I'm sure you could work something like that out using a method like this

[@GalvestonGuy]

Very cool...

[@MikeUberquoi]

Hey Mate, thakn's a lot for your video. I was wondering how could you make it as the motor stop itself at a point (down and up). Do you have any idea? Thank's

[@marcelorocha6467]

Genio.

[@vijayakrishnannair]

👍 nice

[@syror5000]

thanks jesus :P

[@KrazeeKraftZ]

Awesome, I'm thinking my Halloween props could be activated in this manner, hmm too many thoughts!! Thanks for the inspiration. Aussies rule, no matter where they are living 😂

[@deankay4434]

A 12-14.6 Vdc linear actuator can be be used on any vehicle for almost any reason. Prices seem awful cheap for even 2021 prices. But, tailgate on a pickup, hard bed cover on a pickup, power seats, brake & clutch pedal, gas pedal movement closer for a shorter person or further away for tall. A common place is "Exhaust" cut-outs to by pass the entire exhaust system. Yes, louder but dynamometer videos reports show and increase in Horse Ponies. If used on a travel trailer or camper, the uses are endless. Slide-out sections that open to make a larger room require two or more. Obviously, micro-switches can be used to limit the stop / end travel and upon retraction, a place to stop all being repeatable. Now, micro-switched can't handle the amperage to run the motor, but control relays. Using the same schematic found for the common power window (20-30 amp circuit breakers in series for wire/thermal protection is required) but ground is kept constant while only power B+ is changed for polarity used for reversing. ACME thread comes to mind for many projects but you may not be familiar with the most manufactured thread, ball nut! Yes, the lowly ball-nut is reduction friction to very low levels but faster or slower threads are cut and polished. Ball-nut threads are used in manufacturing, inside the machines. A simple 3 axis metal cutting plasma table, welding, drilling, shaping, etc. The screw is cut and recirculating balls are chosen for the driven shaft, driving a ball lead screw and one end, has position encoder that can be a simple as a circle, 360 tiny rectangular slots cut in them, a light emitting diode allows a "Count" of binary on-off signals to be able to count, turning those signals into position location, repeatability and computer control, say an Arduino! I am not a computer guy, control, programs and things like "Stop -Start" programs are used by thousands every day. I fixed cars. I began on my own, apprenticed in a two man shop, hired by a dealer and work at several over decades, stopped to help a buddy earn money in his shop while he had eye surgery on each eye for a detached retina from a high-speed boat accident a few decades ago after building the engines then onto other things, like teaching and holding tech seminars in 7 Midwest states. Now, retired, and can't get rid of my youngest sons 80's go fast / look pretty cars. Because they run, he takes them apart, no digital photos, no drawings of electrical, just 550HP and blown up differentials and somehow it is my job to fix them while I put my life on hold, not working on mine! Damnit! DK, ASE master tech since 78.

[@David_Mash]

Do you think I could use four, at each corner of my RV to lift 1-2k lbs ? Thinking 10ft threaded rod. 1/2 inch strong enough for 500lbs?

[@kevinj9059]

Did you grind a flat on the lead screw? You might get some slippage or strip off the grub screws otherwise.

[@RouteDelSol]

I cut a slot in both the shaft and the lead screw to prevent slipping but thanks for checking I appreciate all the suggestions. ☺️

[@makantahi3731]

very well but i need to have travel by azimuth over 180deg

[@rickpaull518]

Hey mate , great video. I'm building a 3DOF motion sim cockpit. tried moving it with wiper motors but needs more juice, so was looking at actuators, This is a cracking idea. Cheers

[@samuel12345678922]

I subscribe 😀👍

[@RouteDelSol]

Thanks :)

[@mikem9953]

I’m looking to build an electric house door opener. My girlfriend is in a wheelchair and as you can imagine it’s very difficult for her to wheel up a ramp, open the screen door towards herself, roll forward a bit and open the house door to then finally enter, all while the screen door is trying to close on her. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated Thank you, Mike

[@dougscott4008]

solar tracking for N/S tilt

[@user-ug7km1tw2w]

why use screws to hold it together just weld the shaft direct to the motor

[@kmarusina]

Would it be possible to get the build schematics? I couldn't quite grasp the construction from the video

[@josemanuelquispemamani9672]

Gracias x los subtítulos en español :'v

[@RouteDelSol]

De nada!

[@toronado455]

Just curious if a power window motor would work for this, or is that not as powerful as a wiper motor?

[@RouteDelSol]

I think it would... The strength comes more from the mechanics than the motor itself but I couldn't for sure tell you you might just have to try it for yourself

[@xeedsenterprise505]

You used the word ' mcgyver'...cool

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@Route Del Sol I am trying to cook up a cheap actuator for a sewing machine foot pedal (for a double amputee) and I'm running in circles. Any ideas what type of actuator I need? Offhand I am thinking about adapting a cruise control actuator for this purpose. I think I'm going to have to MacGyver the shit out of it to get around the brain box.

[@RouteDelSol]

I think any small light duty linear-actuator should do the trick, using second hand or creating your own DIY would be the best. Have you thought instead, of using a potentiometer to replace the foot pedal all together. And just having a hand dial do all the work on top of the table?

[@diyguy446]

Do you know how much force you get off of this

[@julioh.camara1373]

por cierto a un precio bastante bajo y lleno de ingenio excelente!!!

[@RouteDelSol]

Siiiiiii :)

[@Videogame9559]

Hi would like to make computer desk with adjustable hight as I wi,l have midi keyboard on it so I sand or sit at electric midi piano keyboard

[@TheRealRamiroIbarra]

great idea this is what if was looking for my moto truck coffee roof do you think It can lift 200 Pounds weight? by the way thanks

[@craiglangley1478]

Could one connect all 4 wiper motors together to operate on same battery to operate in unison? I would imagine you would use 4 wiper motors that all operate at same speed.

[@mattjames8350]

time is money

[@sahadevanviswakarma6579]

Can we use it for standing desk lift u p n& dn ?

[@Smashachu]

Bro you learned to weld on a tig? That's like giving a kid their very first car and it's actually a manuel 18 wheeler 17 gears.

[@mariastanford5701]

how much load it can handle?

[@johnmichaels4330]

Why didn't you use and automatic window linear actuator? I'm sure there's a good reason, just wondering.

[@RouteDelSol]

I don't have a good reason, I suppose the availability of something like that here in Mexico might be limited, most cars with automatic windows here use a 12v motor a bit smaller than the ones used in this video.

[@johnmichaels4330]

@@RouteDelSol make sense to me. It's a really cool project.

[@rifleman7313]

Nice work, I was just wondering if the motors that you decided to use would be strong enough to lift 260lbs? For the project that I have in mind I would only need 6 or so inches of stroke to enable a workbench to lift/elevate 5 to 7 inches consistently from a lower powered 12V battery. Something like this could be used for an electronic dropper post for a bicycle if you could somehow make it smaller as most dropper posts are 100mm to 170mm of adjustment. Just a thought.

[@Bluuri-Aeros]

"...I only need 6 inches of stroke..." That's what SHE said.

[@ransomesmgmagic373]

How do you synchronise the actuator operation or is that not an issue?

[@RouteDelSol]

I am currently using a potentiometer to adjust the speed of the actuator, but generally it is a non issue because of the freedom of movement with the way that the actuators are mounted to the table frame...

[@ransomesmgmagic373]

@@RouteDelSol Thank you.

[@aventurix]

Cuestan 30 euros y con mando inalambrico y relet.... En aliex....res

[@amasalam]

Is it too noisy, (like the one I did)

[@temirikov]

Great work! How much it can lift (in kg) and what torgue has this motor?

[@RouteDelSol]

I am not sure of the answer of this. I have seen similar designs bend and warp thin steel tubes so that is a good indicator of lifting strength. And the torque well I haven't been able to stop the motor in its tracks yet so I think the nut would strip before the motor gave out. Pretty torquey hahah

[@temirikov]

@@RouteDelSol anyway thanks!

[@forme1981]

I thought this is for the panels

[@RouteDelSol]

No for the interior but the panels will be soon!

[@beastscientist]

Hey can you confirm that which size of thread rod u are using

[@nattapon9503]

Nice work!! How much Maximum load for this motor?

Hello Joel: Great Content! I was wondering if you can help me. I need to find a new motor for my chair recliner/lift. It broke after a few uses because it was being launched against a wall. It wasn't under warranty and the seller just can't help me. I know this is very simple but, I can't seem to find which motor I need to buy. The motor is from China and they sell in bulk. I can send pics if needed. Please help - the chair is for my 80 yr old Dad and I'dd hate to waste his money and a new chair ($500). Also, I live in Puerto Rico and can't seem to find nobody to help. Thank you in advance.

[@SuckItYouTube19]

So Route Del Sol means Going around in circles??🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@raym265]

Swing gate motor

[@toyotaprius79]

21 seconds per inch? For sure that's not gonna be popular in some markets 😂

[@kschleic9053]

That was the speed with a traditional threaded rod... The acme screw he switched to is much faster, since the screw pitch is better designed for this kind of thing.

[@RouteDelSol]

Yeah much faster with the ACME pitch as @ken_the_bigfoot said. But also sometimes slow and strong will work in a specific circumstance as opposed to quick. The good thing is that you can always exchange the motor for a faster unit and voila problem solved eg a drill motor or something cheap and readily available.

[@robertshirley2288]

Crush cans🤑🤑🤑

[@jonathandaniel816]

The idea is great but the way of shooting and clarifying was bad and thank you

[@friendofwise4295]

Good job guys. But frankly we typically spent more time and effort which when convert to $$$ is sometimes more expensive than standard products in the market which are mass produced with consistency in quality. Good demonstration though :)

[@inakigallego902]

Bro in the more important parts of the video you put that forward speed and can't see anything of what you are doing. Even pausing it hundred times🧐

[@officialWWM]

Er, I bought a great one on eBay for 50 bucks!