UK Repairing Christmas light projector

[Avo Mk8]

Well that's the problem.
One spring 'brush' contact on the Christmas light motor seems to have got bent, with one of the leaves pulled away in the wrong direction from the others (outlined red below). If that bent back piece was touching the same commutator segment as the other brush, it would explain why the motor didn't run, but had resistance.
Maybe the black is the remains of what were small carbon brush contacts, or it's some sort of grease?

I don't think there is much point in trying to restore it or fabricate a replacement given the motors are so cheap.
If there's enough of the springs left, you might get the motor to run by cleaning them up and bending them together, but I don't think it will last for more than a few minutes, or perhaps hours if you're lucky!

 

[TheJay]

Thanks for your reply, just as well I ordered some new ones base on what you said! Is there a way to determine the RPM and other identifying information on one of these from the internals when it's broken?

Different RPMs are going to change the speed of the projector lights, or in the case of a Furby, perhaps stop it functioning properly.

 

[Avo Mk8]

Different RPMs are going to change the speed of the projector lights, or in the case of a Furby, perhaps stop it functioning properly.

I believe the speed will largely depend on the voltage you run it at, and the load provided by the friction of what it's driving.
There is no specific rpm as such (eg servo control). Instructions might give a max speed, but you just need to supply a voltage that gives the correct speed of operation.

 

[TheJay]

Thanks for clarifying, that's good to know. It was educational opening them up.

 

[TheJay]

It's all going well, the motor works and the parts fit. I tried cleaning the round disc containing images of santa, snowman, holly and bells but now two of the images have been destroyed. Does anyone now how they are made/where to get supplies from?

It says "H46-005" and something in Chinese? "Just"?

 

[SJD]

No idea about the original wheel, but just wonder if you'd find a gobo wheel for a moving (stage) light of the right size?

 

[TheJay]

The images are 5mm each, I think the gobo wheels are a lot bigger.

Disc size is 46mm, central hole is 7mm and the mounting holes are 3mm. The distance from the edge of the internal hole to the centre of the images is 11mm.

I have ordered some printable acetate sheets for my laser printer, I can try and recreate them or perhaps add my own designs. I'd prefer a ready made option though, perhaps someone else has experience with this?

 

[TheJay]

These are the same images:

Can't be shipped to the UK from AliExpress :-(

Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

 

[TheJay]

Here is my first design, I realised I can print onto clear acetate, so black areas will allow less light to come through and the lined areas will be transparent to allow the fullest effect.