I am installing an exhibit of LEGO modles at my local museum in my hometown. One of my models is a carnival ride that I would like to have functioning during the exhibit. Ideally it woudl use a DC motor instead of the LEGO battery box to drive the motor so I can run it all day (on a timer) instead of running on batteries, which wouln;t be feasible. I search online, and found people attaching a DC motor to LEGO parts, but not using the LEGO motor itself with a DC power supply.

Thanks.

Even if it doesn't exist yet, I can't see it being too difficult to bodge one together.

I haven't seen one on the LEGO website though. I can't say it definitely doesn't exist, but I think maybe it is something you'd have to make yourself.

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=80194entry1534094

This post seems relevant.

Edited March 5, 201311 yr by Soluzar

I'm not quite sure if this is what you are looking for but there is speedregulator which could be connected to PF with http://www.bricklink...tem.asp?P=60656 and adaptor (not sure if this is the USA version ?)

See below \/

Edited March 5, 201311 yr by UrbanErwin

Well, there does exist a Lego DC adaptor, but you have to run it through this part:

Electric, Train Speed Regulator 9V

You will also need a Power Functions adaptor cable, and obviously the transformer to go with it. I've used this part befor, and it works great for bench testing. And yes, this is exactly what you are looking for, just set the controller to max speed, and plug it into a timer.

Thanks for the input folks. Looks like that is what I am after

Edited March 5, 201311 yr by dvsntt

Or you could use a power functions rechargable Li-Ion Battery pack with the charger plugged into it,

I have a million power adapters lying around from all kinds of old tech. If you have too, then take a look for some 12V ones with a relatively high amperage rating. Then you'd just cut off the end and put a PF cable on to it.

9V is the nominal voltage. Using an adaptor is probably the cheapest option, even if its not pure lego. A long PF cable is 5$ or so from lego, and splice that onto a 9V brick or lab power supply.

Edited March 5, 201311 yr by S.I

Or you could use a power functions rechargable Li-Ion Battery pack with the charger plugged into it.

That won't get you the full 9 volts though, the best that pack can do is 7.4 volts. Also I wonder what that would do to the battery pack, long term. It's not a cheap part.

I've considered hacking up a 9v power supply and splicing it to a PF cable (just as several of your suggested). I may just do this since it will be cheap and easy. Thanks again.

Well, there does exist a Lego DC adaptor, but you have to run it through this part:

Electric, Train Speed Regulator 9V

You will also need a Power Functions adaptor cable, and obviously the transformer to go with it. I've used this part befor, and it works great for bench testing. And yes, this is exactly what you are looking for, just set the controller to max speed, and plug it into a timer.

I always use the train regulator at conventions to run all my Technic creations. It works great. You could also use a Control Center if you have one.

If you have access to a Mindstorms NXT 2.0 brick with the rechargeable battery you can run these plugged in and use a Mindstorms motor or a PF motor with converter cable to run it. Then you can even program that as your timer.

Edited March 8, 201311 yr by TasV