TPAI Lab Report # 002: Salvaging and Reusing Parts from Microwave Ovens and Washing Machines

[@migalito1955]

Well, the Universal motor on the washing machine I see as very useful. I see it as a matter of creating a transmission that suits the aim and I like that they can be used with either DC or AC current. Some guys do a lot with salvaged motors from washing machines, treadmills etc. Jeremy Fielding does wonders with salvaged motors including washing machine motors. Matthias Wendel has built three band saws with salvaged motors with the largest being a 20 inch saw he often uses for milling logs to rough cut lumber. He is also very skilled at creating the required transmissions which are often made of high quality plywood laminated into gear assemblies or step pulleys. I just used a Universal motor from a food processor to power a small ball mill. Sure at 120 volts AC it was useless but after cutting away the diode rectifier and powering it with 12 volts Dc while connected to a shop built wooden based transmission it works perfectly at spinning the drum at 30 to 120 rpm depending on what part of the step pulley I attach the drive belt.

[@eideticex]

Hmmm. Think I may get onto writing an app to interface into a salvager database. Something like you as the salvager fill in the name of the device, a list of parts you found useful and any notes on using those parts like clearance considerations or links to data sheets. When I heard you mention that tidbit it got my gears turning that it's one of my greatest frustrations trying to salvage parts is just finding things like data sheets or decoding from the device itself how to actually use the part I want. Case in point a very confusing washing machine motor I salvaged which has a bizarre startup procedure that I'm still working out. My father used one just like it when I was a kid and it was a really nice one since speed control, direction control and even timing control are all built right into the motor. I don't remember his circuit to tie knobs to all that being at all complicated.

[@linmal2242]

Danke Gerit for an excellent display and description of the various parts and potential uses of all these WM and MW components.

[@ElectronicTonic156]

What I do with microwave light bulbs: Take two bulbs of equal wattage, wire them in series, and put them inside bathroom or hallway lighting fixture such that they are always turned on. With each bulb only getting half its rated voltage, they glow dimly, but brightly enough that you can use the bathroom at night without disturbing your night vision. Why do this instead of using an ordinary nightlight? An incandescent nightlight will burn out after a few months. An LED nightlight will grow dim after a few months. However, these microwave light bulbs will maintain constant brightness, and since they each dissipate much less than rated power, they will last for many years, if not a decade or two. And don't fret over the electric bill. Keeping these low-wattage lights turned on constantly will have no noticeable financial effect.

[@absurdengineering]

Probably some LED night lights are crap. But if you properly derate the LEDs, that is run them like the lightbulbs at a fraction of their rated power, they’ll last for decades too.

[@mrfxm55]

I've been watching every single episode having a Post Apocalyptic Inventor a-thon yay! Lol.

[@Teknopottu]

Re-watching everything in couple of years cycle. Stuff like re-using old appliances is really inspiring. TPAI is my favourite KZbinr with Robert Murray-Smith.

[@oreubens]

A friend of mine repurposed a washing machine motor to turn a small "merry go round" in his garden, the kids love it. (he spent quite a bit of time making it safe, weatherproof etc.)

[@JonathanFingold]

by reversing the leads to the microwave emitter, you can create a device which converts popcorn back into kernels of corn

[@linmal2242]

Ha !

[@lawrencebillson6224]

Thanks for the video. We'd call the 'swimmer switch' a 'float switch' in Australia. Great idea for reusing the door windows!

[@felixcat4346]

This is a terrific video. If you watch washing machine repair videos on you tube you will definitely not learn how to fix a washing machine yourself. Also its great to hear from someone who knows what he is talking about on the internet.

[@MrFlatox]

Hi TPAI ! Microwave oven transformers make good high voltage supply for tesla coils. Also, by removing the secondary and the magnetic shunts, by cutting the E and I parts of two transformers, and then soldering the two E together. You are left with a big transformer, with a large aera to wind your own secondary. The two primaries can be connected in series to greatly reduce the magnetizing current, thus making it much motre efficient, and capable of running coninuously (which a standard MOT cannot do without active cooling). MOTs are lovely devices :) I am loving your videos so far, very informative and well detailed. keep up the good work :) Best regards from France !

[@WooShell]

Salvaging washing machines is very rewarding.. I've used some of the pumps to realize my rainwater collection and storage/filtration system, built a winch from the drum wheel/belt assembly to haul beer crates up to my balcony so I don't have to carry them up the stairs, and many other projects. If you're looking for higher powered pumps, salvage a dishwasher.. they usually have rather strong pumps for generating the pressure for the spray valves, and they also have good throughput (commonly 2" hoses).

[@crocellian2972]

Thank you for another good one. I enjoy teardowns. I have piles of old parts. Videos like this help me find ideas for using them. I also greatly appreciate the cautious attitude regarding magnetrons. I am real tired for telling kids to stop fooling around with these dangerous devices. It was nice to have another voice advocating safety.

[@charrontheboatman]

TPAI you can reuse the washer motors to build just about any revolving tool in the work shop... you can upgrade wood lathes and small bench metal lathes and take them over to belt operation with the right bully wheels etc. or use them to replace the old style of mini mill top engagement system. tyvm for posting all of the wonderful information.

[@allluckyseven]

I do want to see more of these videos. I'm very interested in repurposing of old machine parts and electronics. Keep 'em coming!

[@edgeeffect]

Old microwaves are the commonest electronics items I see in other people's rubbish these days... so anything made from the parts are nice and easy to obtain. Washing machine motors are great... and I do often see them discarded... but the problem is the weight of all those iron and concrete parts.... and getting them home. I love these old electronics parts recovery videos.... tool restoration is OK I suppose, but electronics salvage is much "closer to my heart".

[@markroper9269]

Great job. Love the videos. The switch with styrofoam in it could replace a "float" switch on a bilge pump on a boat. The reduction wheel from the washing machine salvage could be used with a spit for roasting meat on a fire. Just throwing that out there. I love to grill! I am in IT with a construction background and a lot of physics, chemistry, and biology in college. Your passion is very evident and makes things interesting for me....even when I don't have a full grasp of what you are talking about. Thank you.

[@johnpossum556]

I was just reading your patreon page and noticed you mentioned lack of ventilation for welding in the basement. Throw those microwave fans in some plywood with holes cut in it and place it directed outward in the window. 4 to 6 of them should allow for adequate ventilation and with minimal noise.

[@makerofthingsunique]

I've seen people reuse washing machine drums and the motor/big wheel arrangement as a rock tumbler. The though of re using a magnetron scares me and I am glad u have warned people off using them. My neighbours sons friend was fixing one without switching it off at the wall and it killed him.

[@johng5295]

Thanks in a million. Great content. Awesome. Very well explained. I couldn't find this explanation--simply put anywhere else. Great teachers are hard to find. Grade: A++💥

[@hgbugalou]

This kind of video is awesome! Might be a cool monthly type video with a different device every month when possible. Some other things I can think of: CRT monitor, portable or window AC unit, cloths dryer, laser printer, car audio amp.

[@francistheodorecatte]

Pressure switches from washing machines are great for making dead-man switches, especially for high voltage experiments. :)

[@Altcapball]

I use the big magnets inside magnetrons to stick on the side of metal sufaces, then stick metal tools to them for convienience. You can also use a thin metal strip to stick many tools to them. I have endstops in my cnc mill that were originally inside a microwave and other devises.

[@kingofthepod5169]

About those washing machine motors, you should be able to turn them into generators. on my channel, I've turned two can motors (one from a printer the other a remote control car) and a stepper motor into electrical generators. you may even be able to use the microwave fan motors as smaller exhaust driven generators.You are right about quality. German machinery is industrial grade and high quality, which is why I have a Volkswagen and a German soldering iron. As a note, the trade off is they are usually harder to service and find parts for. that probably explains why my brother was able to disassemble three North American printers with a vest pocket screwdriver.

[@censusgary]

Float switch. Americans call that “swimmer switch” a float switch. There’s a similar device where a float directly opens and closes a valve, and that device is, of course, a float valve (toilet tanks typically have float valves).

[@hydrolisk1792]

I have used the 21V turntable motors to make crank chargers for usb devices before :)

[@thefekete]

Vielen Dank für ein weiteres toll Video! The metal drums with all the holes make great fire pits. And I agree, a speed control on the rotary assembly would make a cool welding table.. And a small drum (plastic or metal) could be mounted to the rotary assembly in a horizontal orientation to make a nice parts tumbler. Just add crushed walnut shells in with your metal items and you'll have nicely cleaned and polished parts in a couple hours! Not sure how electrically efficient it would be though..

[@ryansrandomshop]

Also I have used a microwave fan for forced air on a charcoal forge, or for exhaust vents to remove fumes

[@TheR0l3]

I once made a alarm clock out of one of these washing machine motors.Still works!

[@Teknopottu]

An alarm clock from a motor? What is the story behind this one?

[@laneboysrc]

Great stuff, love this new off-the-cuff format as much as your extremely well prepared stuff. Microwave oven idea: use the rotatary table for photography or displaying models :)

[@panaviaman]

I have done this,it works very well,it's orso good for spray painting small objects.

[@handyhippie6548]

i made a remote starter button for auto repair from a bicycle hand grip, a normally open, door micro switch with an attached metal extension arm from a microwave, some wire from the microwave and a couple of alligator clips. one clip goes on the positive batt terminal, and the other on the actuating terminal of the starter solenoid. i hot glued the switch in the grip with the lever arm sticking out of the hole in the closed end, with the last 1/4"(7mm) of the arm bent at 90 deg. pushing the arm energizes the solenoid to operate the starter. for what they are, the price to buy one is crazy.

[@TheRodionRaskolnikow]

Very nice video, I would gladly watch this kinds of videos. It's always nice to learn something from people with experience.

[@JehangirZamir]

This video is quite informative. Thank you. I have been a subscriber for a few months.

[@harrickvharrick3957]

This is an somewhat older video but one feat it still has in common with many more recent ones that see specific parts come by (like the one on all kinds of motors) is a little gripe of mine, or rather a wish I have..; you always DESCRIBE parts (like the choke in this vid, and obviously all those types of motors in that one I referred to) but you never EXPLAIN them in any manner that makes them understandable. Not in general, let alone as to specific parts, points of interest or things referring to their mechanisms of functioning that you might mention... To stick with that example of the one that stars all those types of motors, it would be so good if you would do one that ACTUALLY lays out precisely how all those separate types work!

[@williamwazere]

Some of those components would be great for making a HAWT power generating system. They work fairly well in the back garden/roof level wind velocities with enough wind swept area. The castings with the bearings and the belts bring you half way there for a proof of concept build. I mean you're not going to be making money selling power obviously but it could be fun to attempt. Maybe you could use the energy in your heating system or something of that nature.

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

zero_sum I have experimented with all kinds of self made wind turbines about a year ago. In this region there is a lot of wind, but my own lawn (of all places) is not well suited for a wind turbine. But thanks for the input. I didnt think about using this part for a HAWT, but now that you say it, I guess it'd be worth a try.

[@ryansrandomshop]

Microwave oven transformers also make great electromagnets when you remove the " I " side

[@superdupergrover9857]

I work at an auto parts shop, so I recognize many of these from their automotive use... strange feeling. Those ceramic cased power resistors are common in older cars, in US referred to as a (ignition coil) ballast resistor. I've also heard of them used as a "voltage dropper" but I don't understand what that is for beyond the obvious. One thing that is never used on cars is those Honeywell style microswitches! Sure, every car quite a few of them, but each one is different for each use and make and model!

[@ToddFun]

Yes! More videos like this would be great! Thanks.

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

Excellent as always. I've been thinking of possibly repurposing a washing machine motor as a bench grinder myself, some food for thought there - I may do the lazy thing and just buy one.

[@muh1h1]

Mir gefällt dieser Freie Redestil unglaublich viel besser als deine übliche rangehensweise mit script und nachvertonung. Ich finde das wirkt alles viel natürlicher so, und bei anderen videos bei dir hab ich manchmal das gefühl, du versuchst dich extra kompliziert auszudrücken um deine englischkenntnisse zu beweisen, was ab und zu etwas nach hinten los geht. (natürlich nur meine unbedeutende, subjektive wahrnehmung). Jedenfalls finde ich es 100 mal einfacher, videos wie diesem zu folgen, als videos wie du sie sonst machst, weiter so! :) Schwimmschalter wäre wohl ein "Float switch"

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

muh1h1 Wenn du meine regulären Videos mit diesen "Lab Reports" vergleichst, wirst du feststellen, dass diese quasi ohen Schnitte auskommen. Das ist der Grund wieso ich sie direkt vertonen kann. In den anderen Videos fasse ich aber die Arbeit von 30...40 Stunden in 20..30 minuten zusammen. Das kann man eben nur nachvertonen. Ich drücke mich in den Videos so aus, wie es der wisenschaftliche Anspruch des Themas erfordert. Dieses Video enthält keine komplexen Sachverhalte und enthält daher auch eine weniger komplexe Sprache. Die Beurteilung meiner Enghlischkenntnisse sollte man besser den Muttersprachlern überlassen.

[@muh1h1]

The Post Apocalyptic Inventor Sorry, ich wollte dich nicht angreifen mit meiner Aussage, sollte eigentlich eher ein Lob darstellen. Mir gefallen die anderen videos auch, aber dieses hier eben ein bisschen besser... Deine Englischkenntnisse sind sicherlich sehr gehoben, wesentlich besser als meine (Ich bin da eher der theoretiker (schriftlich gut), meine aussprache ist eher ausreichend bis mangelhaft. Ich finde, wenn du so frei redest, wie in diesem video, kommst du einem Muttersprachler recht nahe und es bleibt vielleicht noch ein kleiner, kaum vermeidbarer akzent, aber wenn du halt vom Script liest, wirkt es im vergleich ein bisschen gekünstelt, weil man einfach grundsätzlich anders spricht als man schreibt. Naja, sieh das bitte alles nicht als Persönlichen angríff, nur als unbedeutende, subjektive meinung, wie oben schon erwähnt :)

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

muh1h1 Hey ist schon ok. Ich bin nicht beleidigt. Ich höre nur zur Zeit so viele Kommentare über meine Sprache, dass es mich manchmal nervt. Vieler meiner ausländischen Zuschauer mögen den deutschen Akzent und genießen die klare Sturktur meiner Videos. (Auch wenn sie dadurch steif wirken). Die gute Sache ist, dass es in Zukunft immer beides geben wird: meine Videos im alten Stil und meine "Lab Reports" als zusätzliche Inhalte. So kann sich jeder das heraussuchen, was ihm am besten gefällt :)

[@muh1h1]

Kommentare über die Sprache bleiben wohl nicht aus, wenn man in einer Fremdsprache Videos veröffentlicht. Kennst du den Kanal GreatScott!? Bei dem fällt mir auch immer wieder auf, dass es krampfhaft versucht, wie ein Muttersprachler zu klingen, und es dabei meiner meinung nach ein bisschen übertreibt. Bei dir finde ich das aber lange icht so krass :) Am ende vom lied soll jeder sein Ding machen, und sprechen wie und was er will, ich finde die videos ja trotzdem super.

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

Ja ich kenne seinen Kanal und seine Art zu sprechen. Ich denk, dass er genau wie ich einfach versucht seine Videos an ein großes Publikum zu bringen. Wenn wir unsere Videos auf Deutsch machen würden, dann hätten wir halt keine Chance eine große Zuschauerschaft für uns zu gewinnen. Es ist als Deutscher gar nicht so einfach eine solche Entscheidung zu treffen, denn ganz egal, wie du es machst, du bekommst Kritik von irgendeiner Seite. Ich persönlich versuche nicht wie ein Muttersprachler zu klingen und versuche auch nicht mir meinen deutschen Akzent abzutrainieren. Ich bin stolz auf Deutschlands technische Errungenschaften und versuche meine Herkunft nicht zu verbergen. Gleichzeitig will man aber auch komplizierte Dinge im Englischen richtig ausdrücken und das ist nicht einfach, denn viele deutsche Fachbegriffe existieren im Englischen nicht. Man muss dann manchmal improvisieren und das macht man eben auch manchmal falsch :D

[@scrapsmith82]

For the washing machine motors you could possible make a drum-style composter or possibly some sort of wood mill. I'm sure there are other possibilities.

[@rickolson9011]

.Thanks for the great videos! I keep waiting for your promised video on using re-wired microwave transformer(s) for spot or stick welding. I hope you come back and visit this as you were advising that other videos on the web were making bad assumptions. Again thanks!

[@pierreretief]

I would love a video where you show the difference that microwave RFI filter makes. Everyone always says "it reduces noise and emiisions" Surely one can do a test using a scope or analyser. These things are like magic to me and I am sure to many other people as well.

[@electromechanicalpaul4448]

Hi mate another very good and informative video and yeah i have had my own share of washing machine repairs lol, I use to be a zanusi field engineer lol Keep up the good work and i envy your workshop, I have to use my living room lol Paul UK

[@egn83b]

I see no problem reusing those motors, you gotta do your leg work and get a few basic metal cutting tools and a cheap welder and steel tubing and bearings and build a reduction drive like a standard drill press uses to change speed of the drill bit or in your application its needs. Covering the motor isn't that big of a deal get some card board and cut square boxs and template some 18 awg steel plate into a box to cover it and add venting holes. When in doubt, draw or look to other appliances for help. Car parts are good too.

[@tonybrumell8385]

I have built several " Fractle Burners " using micro wave oven ballasts . Variable voltage using variac allows pattern burning of wood. You can google it. the resulting burn scars in the wood can be cleaned out with a brush and backfilled with colored epoxy.

[@flyingfox8072]

Great vedio. Life seems to be too short for reverse engineering while dealing with galloping technology. Good hobby. Keep it up. It is useful for your viewers and subscribers like me

[@smjones4238]

The three leg unit that bolts to the back of the drum or basket is called the 'trunnion', in slang 'spider', in the US. Michael in Colorado.

[@micro4329]

Hi I know this is a older video but I revisited this to see if there was some parts that I may have forgotten about salvaging but I came across some new ones to add to your list n a question is how to make a soft start out of the control panel on a microwave.

[@seandoofer5720]

Microwave turntable motors are diffrent to their fan motors in respect that the direction they start up in is random, if you start one 10 times sometimes it will go clockwise, and others anticlock.One thing you can do is put 2 mechanical end stops on the motor shaft, if you do this the motor will drive up against one, reverse and drive up against the other then reverse again, and oscillate between the 2, handy for certain projects.

[@jeffreygilliland8998]

So I found a washing machine with a three phase motor and I did not use my head when it came to figure out a way to make it work. I listened to you when you said it’s too complicated to get it to work. How do I had the time to actually look at the circuit I could’ve used washing machines VFD to power the motor itself it just had five in put wires and all I had to do was put an o-scope on them and see what was the input signal that made it go. Then reproduce those signals.

[@grandamdan99]

You can salvage some relatively large ring magnets from the magnetrons.

[@thagrit]

the "swimmer switch" is called a float switch in the US.

[@randallkelnhofer6696]

Thanks for this excellent video. Saved me a lot of trial and error.

[@Nodularguy1]

Here is the list: 1. tons of stuff, just go get stuff and take it apart. You will learn in the process what is good. 2. see #1

[@ryansrandomshop]

Jeff Barr not always true, when I was younger I trashed many parts because of not understanding what it is, and wish I had the parts now knowing the usefulness

[@georgelewisray]

Rather Wonder Concept: "Repurposing for the MAKER community"....... A personal interest of mine that might have wide appeal is the :::: Exercise Treadmill and it's Variable Speed DC motor. I have two of these gathering dust because of the effort/time required to come to an understanding of them sufficient to start a repurposing project. .... THANKS Again!

[@ThumpertTheFascistCottontail]

There's another guy on youtube that made a knife making linisher from an old treadmill. Seemed to work nicely.George Ray

[@chrissteene]

I use the washing machine motor for my air compressor It works good the compressor runs slower but that's ok because the motor has plenty of torque to run the compressor it runs a little bit slower so recovery of the air pressure takes a bit longer but for home use its fine

[@amielrumbaua8387]

I know its been five years but, what was the wattage of the washing machine motor you repurposed?

[@chrissteene]

@@amielrumbaua8387 I forgot its bin a while and the tag is missing

[@lordozzer9172]

old tvs would be interesting to see.

[@Elfnetdesigns]

***** Not very impressive unless they are OLD tvs like hybrid tube / transistor types..

[@eddyapple4202]

its that white part on the magnatron at 14:46 that is made of beryllium on most the ones i have ever seen its pink which is kind of interesting i wonder why that is...

[@sirtblairjr]

Hey there, yes. Great job. I'm all about reusing repurposing of old engine new things thank you for your videos they're very inspirational information on and educational thank you very much. Maybe do more on newer cars too? I can watch everyday and learn something new, thanks. Are you an engineer technology// mechanical? Just wondering? But, thanks and keep more videos coming out great content.

[@PlasmaHH]

The washing machine parts look like they make a good start for some lathe.

[@H2Dwoat]

Hi, thank you for a very informative video. I viewed it because I am considering using a washing machine motor to run a dirt/stone sifting trommel in my garden. I knew I would have to use a reducing setup to get to an rpm of the 30 on a 25-30 inch diameter trommel but I am unsure now if I should perhaps look elsewhere. This would be my first foray into using a motor in one of my builds, do you perhaps have a suggestion for a more appropriate motor? I would like to try and repurpose the motor from an appliance but am open to any suggestions you may have.

[@xAbsim]

You could use the complete washing machine motor setup to build a ball mill. But you have to reduce the motors rpm's very much to make it work. I dont know if this is possible via PWM.

[@JustinVance77]

Your attention to detail and precision is remarkable. The only thing left to describe is how you incorporate the microwave's magnetron to heat your own washer's water! 😉 or maybe the washer's drum could be a hamster wheel which provides initial power to jumpstart the universal motor who's unregulated property makes such motion potentially viable. With your knowledge and mechanical knowhow I would love to see you reverse engineer John Keeley's hydro-sympathetic vibrational physics machines which deal with The Scaler Forces of modern physics, from him circa 1872. Maybe even bravely take a poke at renewing. Keeley's Dynashere who ch is less about mechanical torque and more about balancing our own more or less gradiently "dis-eased" status of health and aging. Please accept my positive accolades to your stalwart sharing of highly instructional videos on electronic mechanics.

[@SeaCowsBeatLobsters]

Nice weller soldering iron, i have the same one!

[@JekaMazurovskiy]

Wooow. Just in time! Disassembled both few weeks ago. For some reason they failed coherently in two week period.

[@meyawabdulaziz3863]

a microwave transformer can be used to build a spot welder... if the motors are suitable for fan then i would try to make an evaporator unit out of them to blow air through the cooling element maybe

[@kayaker2k]

Hi, nettes Video wie immer. Fährst du zufällig auf CCcamp? Fals du was mit den Waschmaschinenmotoren machen willst. Ich habe genau aus den von dir genannten Gründen (Preis und Qualität) mich weiter damit beschäftigt. Dazu habe ich dann irgendwann ein Board zur Steuerung erstellt. China hat mir die geätzt und jetzt hab ich noch 6 hier rumliegen. Diese sind natürlich unbestückt. Das ganze basiert auf einem alten IC zur Waschmaschinensteuerung TDA1085C. Das ganze ist recht krude aber funktioniert super. Die Motoren können anders als du sagtest mit einer ordentlichen Steuerung, welche die Soll- Drehzahl per Encoder aufnimmt und Nachregelt recht große Drehmomente liefern. Wenn du Lust hast kannst du 1-2 von den Boards haben.

[@phoenixrestorations315]

I bet you could build a wood turning lathe from one of those washer motors.

[@aserta]

Those fan motors get dirty, yes, they might even get stuck, but, you can clean them up and put them back to work. Tough to break one. I have the same motor powering a small suction fan, it gets stuck every few years, i keep cleaning it, keeps running.

[@greywolfblooddoom664]

could u do more salvaging videos

[@superdau]

I want to build a simple wood turner's lathe with a washing machine motor, with the option to make it a disk sander with the right attachment. Controlling the speed is the hardest part of using these motors, especially if you want low RPM because the built in tacho winding doesn't give a ver useful signal. But I have started a circuit that will run the motor from rectified mains via a PWM controlled IGBT including motor reversal, a current sensor and RPM measuring at the motor and at the spindle with two hall sensors. But unfortunately it's a project that went into the "waiting projects" box two month ago.

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

superdau You can salvage a small neodymium magnet from an old CD / DCD drive. If you then glue that magnet on the rotor shaft and place a hall effect sensor near it you can use that to measure the frequency of revolution more precisely. If you want an even better signal, you can use a comparator to reshape the output signal from the hall sensor.

[@Michalmas64]

***** It appears to be DC motor controller, rather than VFD.

[@superdau]

***** It's 325V DC, so, no ;) It's "just" a PWM-dimmer with feedback. In the end it should have some more logic like recognizing slip on the belt and keeping the spindle speed (not the motor shaft) constant (all controlled with an atmega32). I currently can't find the circuit I drew up, but if I do I'll post a picture here.

[@thestalkinghead]

you may be able to use the motor and wheel from the washing machine as a hand crank/foot pedal power generator, maybe like a part 2 of your exercise bike generator

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

***** The problem is, that you would need a voltage source to generate an exciter field. These motors have no permanent magnets and that's why they are not well suited for small scale power generation.

[@thestalkinghead]

ohh, good to know, not very useful for that purpose then

[@deltaxcd]

One remark about microwave capacitors: those capacitors are trash, because they will have very high ESR and low cirrent handling abilities it is far worse than some bleeder resistor. Essentially you cant use those capacitors anywhere where they have top pass any significant current if you try to use them anyway they will either overheat or disconnect.

[@yourdemond]

the swimmer switch you were talking about is called a float switch hope you don't mined me correcting you ps you have been teaching me great stuff on electronics thank you

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

yourdemond Hey I said in the video that I didn't know how it's called. So of course your correction is welcome.

[@FRRRRAAANNK]

Thanks so much. You've answered alot of questions that I had. Great video!

[@michaelhodge9902]

Do a teardown video about the ridgid cordless hyperdrive brushless nailgun

[@SweetManCannabizz]

I rly liked your vid, this made me think of "free" energi, you think you could produce more output then input on a washing machine motor ? Whats the output on a washing motor? I was thinking about using the whole frame, maybe make it lighter then the original iron casting mount and replacing the barrel with a magnetic coil to produce more output then input ?

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

+TheGreatDane DanneBro No that is not possible. "Free Energy" is a hoax. Do not waste your time on making a motor-generator for proving the existence of it. The greatest minds in human history have spent all their life to understand the workings of electromagnetism. Thousands of engineers have put all their brainpower into inventing new, and improving well known electrical motors and generators for more than a century. There is no way of finding any new physical effects in that field by playing around with "washing machine motors", nor is there any way to increase the efficiency of the known motor types, by any simple means. Universities are spending millions on computer simulations to squeeze out fractions of percents in the efficiency of electrical motors. And the improvement is basically done by perfecting the control and driver electronics ( as well as software) of the motors. If you want to generate energy for cheap, try to build a wind turbine. Once you enter that field you will be overwhelmed by even making a proven concept work.

[@kwinters5550]

@@ThePostApocalypticInventor On the fan wired to the motor, were you pointing to the middle terminal? I just want to know exactly which terminal acts as the primary for the 21 volt motor.

[@funkyironman69]

Great video, I totally agree magnetron aren't toys! :)

[@EmancipatedSquirrel]

Washing machine motors would make a great giant drone if power is not a problem. :D

[@XxmatixX6videosdiariosdenadav]

Idk man the motor in my washing machine is literally bigger than my head I don't think that could be a drone

[@vel5724]

For the styrofoam switch the English term would be float switch I believe.

[@paulkerr2298]

i thought it was all good,,,,, keep up the good work and thank you very much

[@zx8401ztv]

I have never seen a washing machine with such a heavy duty drum/bearing mount as you just showed at the end of your bench, that machine must have been very expensive. Most modern machines are just junk, that is a shame :-( Yes i can see that a reduction gearbox would make those motors usefull again, perhaps a gearbox off an old electric drill or perhaps a double planetary type from a cordless drill could be usefull. Planetary gears are so clever, so neat in design :-D I think you needed a drink while doing that marathon discription.

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

zx8401ztv Hey! Yes these older Miele washing machines are buid like tanks. It's very hard to transport them from one place to another :D Fitting a gearbox on these motors would be quiet hard though. If there was an easy way, I guess I would have found it by now. But I still hope that I will find a useful purpose for these parts in the future.

[@zx8401ztv]

The Post Apocalyptic Inventor A nice meaty triac and phase firing circuit could slow a motor down, but thats also a loss in torque :-( Is it possible to rotate the brushbox and play with the timing for a bit more torque? perhaps :-)

[@JohnRaschedian]

Great video. Thank you!

[@Elfnetdesigns]

You should NEVER "play" with a magnetron period. They are to be treated with a special respect if you want to experiment though. A typical magnetron operates on 2.4GHz @ 1Kw of very "dirty" wideband RF. The power requirements are typically 2Kv to get it fired up and like all RF the bulk of the emitted radiation is lost very quickly IF you do not have a reflection chamber or parabolic on it. Shooting one as-is straight out will do nothing to you @ 10 feet from the nozzle because the RF acts like a flashlight beam and spreads out and looses most of its potential. If you have it on a waveguide or tuned parabolic the "flash light beam" turns more into a laser type beam as it's more compressed and focused. This is what makes microwave radio systems work. The MOT is basically crap, I mean you can rewrap the secondary with heavy gauge wire and make a spot welder or arc furnace but that's about all you can do. Even then there is no promise you wont fry the primary. IMO the best parts of a Microwave Oven is the digital electronic timer with VFD's or LCDs. The mechanical ones are again not very exciting and are usually a geared timer motor driven or have a tension wrapped spring.. Either way they are more or less pre set, where the digital ones have everything on board and you can set them more accurately and have a real time clock as a bonus. Plus they typically use smaller relays on board too. The VFD / LCD types can also be driven with an Arduino if you dont want to use the onboard system, you just need to get the schematic and isolate the display circuits a bit. The airflow handlers are ok IF you can find a place for them in a project. otherwise they are good for scrap metal, kinda the same for the MOT and casing of the unit.

[@jamesdangerharvey]

my tattoo shop is right next to an industrial microwave and appliance repair shop. its a mountain of stainless steel and components for the taking.. (recycling) and i have permission..

[@samrodian919]

The cavity magnetron, invented by Doctors Randall and Bootem at Birmingham University England during the Second World War and enabled airborn microwave radar to be used as a navigation aid in the Avro Lancaster bomber (H2S radar set)

[@philgray5412]

Hello mine friend "" I need to apply may be 12 volt with boost converter with micro oven transformer to make a force field , also a hand held plasma disrupter, very high voltage, I no it is a very strange thing to ask "" !

[@Fu86]

Super wie immer! Eine Sache die mich in diesem Video etwas gestört hat war dass sich die Kamera ständig bewegt. Das macht es irgend wie so hektisch, obwohl es das eigentlich garnicht sein sollte, oder?Ansonsten weiter so, freue mich immer wenn ein neues Video von dir auftaucht!

[@briano7053]

could you talk about the 3 phase brushless induction motors found in modern washing machines. can they be used for something like a bench disc grinder. how one could rewire to use for such a use.

[@willwest9274]

brian o I am going to make a belt sander out of a large 3 phase motor, from my research you need a contactor motor starter $10 and a 3 phase breaker. I am going to run it full speed just for hogging material.

[@absurdengineering]

A brushless motor needs a brushless motor servo or inverter to be driven. Most of the ones in modern washing machines are sensorless, ie. their windings are used to sense the rotation of the rotor and to commutate (switch) the currents in the windings. Often the motor inverter/driver is a separate circuit board and you can reverse engineer how the controller board communicates with it to “tell it” what speed and direction to run at.

[@MattsAwesomeStuff]

"Swimmer switch" in English is probably a "float switch". Though that's also what the mechanical valve in a toilet is called.

[@wilerichards9827]

The front loading washing machines are better to salvage motors from. Unless that is you want a vertical mount only motor

[@randolphtorres4172]

THANKSGIVING

[@ozasl]

I believe, the induction motors can be re-purposed to repair old record players!

[@davidbroadfoot4214]

thank you ,, good article

[@robotube7361]

damn i wann work for this guy

[@Dunstonuk]

if you have a water source nearby turn the motor into a generator using a water wheel

[@eliezernegron333]

Hello I have a question? Have u watch a youtuber with the name of Jeremy fielding hes a thinker just like u .... segestion?) I like ur information to keep me on my toes !!!!!

[@Teknopottu]

I wish Jeremy Fielding and TPAI would still make videos about re-using common appliances for parts.

[@scrapsmith82]

Since these motors have high RPM's, the composter idea wouldn't work, but the wood mill could still work.

[@evghenim1955]

When you mention a video, can you please add it's link to descriptoin?

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

Евгений Жук Thanks for reminding me I simply forgot that. The links are now all in the video description.

[@parkerd2154]

great content! but i miss the old intro.

[@ThePostApocalypticInventor]

+Parker Davis The ''old" intro is still the intro for all "regular" videos, that are longer than a few minutes. But I use another intro for the "Lab Reports" so that people can see the difference right away.