the swirler-stein

[mmbuna]

Mine has been running 24/7 for at least a couple weeks without issues. Although I don't think durability will be an issue, the motor is cheap enough that even if you do end up having to replcae it after 6 months to a year or so, it's no biggie.

Thanx D, a couple of weeks is sure good enough evidence!
It's not an issue of cost, but rather I would be too lazy :rollface: to replace the motors on a regular basis -even if that is twice a year!

I just ordered mine as well (ordered 6 when I need only 3 at a time, so I am not THAT lazy!)

 

[nebraskareef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7257324#post7257324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mmbuna
nebraskareef thanks for that usefull information, however I would like to hear how those motors are doing under the stress that our application is putting on them.

Anyone?

Maybe I'm not reading this correctly, but I really don't see how moving our little pumps is more intense than moving the entire display, which I would be willing to wager weighs more than the pump. Is there some other factor at work here that I'm just not seeing? That said though, even if we were "overclocking" the motor, Just as D said, They are so cheap, It's not really an issue.

I think I'm going to buy 20 of these today, just incase this mod really takes off- and SC can't get anymore!

Hope all your mods be runnin' strong!
Daniel

 

[jcarrara]

Here's my first effort. I'm pushing about 110 - 115 degrees of occilation.

Sorry about the image quality. Its been running about 5-6 hours with no issues. I'll keep you all posted.

Peace Out

John

 

[hmott]

Nice job.. I like that box a lot.

 

[mmbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7288702#post7288702 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nebraskareef
Maybe I'm not reading this correctly, but I really don't see how moving our little pumps is more intense than moving the entire display, which I would be willing to wager weighs more than the pump. Is there some other factor at work here that I'm just not seeing? That said though, even if we were "overclocking" the motor, Just as D said, They are so cheap, It's not really an issue.

I think I'm going to buy 20 of these today, just incase this mod really takes off- and SC can't get anymore!

Hope all your mods be runnin' strong!
Daniel

Well its an issue of oscilating a pump that carries a lot of torque when rotated, versus turning a display with constant speed, that once is accelerated, really needs minimum power to remain turning.

Although MJs are small PowerHeads, they still generate a high enough rotating speed, and our mod is turning that rotation verticaly on its axis.
Cannot really explain what I am thinking and at the risk of sounding absolutely bananas, as an example, try this:

Hold a bicycle wheel by its axle and try to rotate it around a verticall plane. Pretty easy, nothing to it actually.
Now try spinning the wheel first, and then rotate the axle, you feel all the torque generated by the wheel (that is what our motors are facing when oscilating the MJs). As a matter of fact, the faster the wheel is turning, the more difficulty you will have rotating it vertically.

I probably confused myself as well, but... does anyone have an idea of what I am reaching for here? (and it's not my Revolver :bum: )

 

[dhnguyen]

But the MJ pump itself should not be spinning/turning. The only thing in the pump that should be spinning is the impeller magnet so I think any extra torque from that should be ok. IMO I don't think this will be an issue at all.

 

[nebraskareef]

mmbuna, I understand the logic that you are trying to imply here, but as D has already mentioned, the pump itself isn't spinning, but I can understand the thought process behind it. The prop itself has so little mass I don't think it would be detrimental to the lifespan of the motor. As for the bike tire thing, I remember doing similar experiments in grade school science class.

Thanks for clarifying your concern.

Daniel

 

[chalowolf]

A good idea is hard to keep secret.. Good work guys. I had the same idea.
Does anyone know if sea swirls can be made to rotate 180degs???

 

[TroyPierce]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7299447#post7299447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chalowolf
A good idea is hard to keep secret.. Good work guys. I had the same idea.
Does anyone know if sea swirls can be made to rotate 180degs???

With this type of linkage, you can't get TO 180 but you can get close. At 180 degrees the linkage would bind.

Another problem is the geometry of the linkage. As the down tube rotates, there will be a point at which the link hits the tube. You can, to some degree, bend the linkage arm to get a wider range of motion. For this project, you can also do like jcarrara did and have the link connected to the top of the down tube so it doesn't have to worry about hitting the side of the tube.

 

[Isayso]

darrn you guys are good!

I'M GLAD THAT
this thread helped most of you guys and driving nuts the other ones.....LOL

I'm just joking...
good work

 

[jcarrara]

Now that I have my two "swirler-Steins" built, I'm curious how you guys are using them. My plan is to put one on either side of the tank with the "maxi-stream mounted about 1/3 to 1/2 way down the side of the tank. Would you recomend putting them on a timer......ie one on.....one off....one on......etc?....or just run both 24-7. What are the pros? cons?

Still about a month away from adding water.

Thanks in advance

Peace out

John

 

[dhnguyen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7305505#post7305505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcarrara
Now that I have my two "swirler-Steins" built, I'm curious how you guys are using them. My plan is to put one on either side of the tank with the "maxi-stream mounted about 1/3 to 1/2 way down the side of the tank. Would you recomend putting them on a timer......ie one on.....one off....one on......etc?....or just run both 24-7. What are the pros? cons?

Still about a month away from adding water.

Thanks in advance

Peace out

John

I run mine 24/7
The oscillating action gives the tank enough randomness in the flow that I don't see any need for a timer.


D.

 

[Aquaduck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7305517#post7305517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
I run mine 24/7
The oscillating action gives the tank enough randomness in the flow that I don't see any need for a timer.


D.

Agreed. This creates the largest and most variable flow and you also don't have the chatter or start up problems to deal with on the powerhead.

 

[mmbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7305505#post7305505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcarrara
Now that I have my two "swirler-Steins" built, I'm curious how you guys are using them. My plan is to put one on either side of the tank with the "maxi-stream mounted about 1/3 to 1/2 way down the side of the tank. Would you recomend putting them on a timer......ie one on.....one off....one on......etc?....or just run both 24-7. What are the pros? cons?

Still about a month away from adding water.

Thanks in advance

Peace out

John

jcarrara, I am testing in a friend's tank 2 of these. Here's what I did to make it as random as possible.
By design it was next to impossible for me to have the exact same links from the motor to the swril's axle, hence, one is on ~110 degrees, and the other ~130. That way, the flows never meet in the same place all the time, creating a great effect.
To make things even more interesting, I kept the maxijets as close as possible to the water's surface (avoiding vortex from surface) but mounted them on a slight angle downwards (ie: not on a 90 degree with the swirl's axle, but rather at 110, facing a bit down).

Play around with the two you have like so, no need for timers or anything else!

 

[jcarrara]

Cool.....works for me.....I have no problem passing on the cauvette timer purchase. My only concern with angling them down or even more.....when they hit the side of the tank is going to be the sandstorm they might create. I'm thinking keeping them high in the tank, like you suggest, will minimize the problem I'll have to play around with them once I get the tank going to see what works best.

Peace Out

john

 

[hahnmeister]

so for those of you who have em set up and running...how annoying do you find the moving powerheads in the tank visually? Any tips to cover them up/hide them? I was thinking about making aragacrete balls to hide the powerheads in....like a Tunze rock for Streams, but suspended from the oscillating pipe...and then grafting on xenia or something that would cover up the motion with its own motion...

 

[brians_224]

hahnmeister - welcome back!!!

 

[shookbrad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7191608#post7191608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquaduck
I'm sure he would be glad to sell you some. Paul's a super guy to deal with.

Anyone tried heatsinking one of these motors to a large aluminum plate or heatsink? Might need some holes in the box for convection cooling though.

Try mounting a small Peltier. This would solve the heat issue.

 

[shookbrad]

Here is what I am thinking about trying. i don't like any kind of power head in my tank. Sooooo I am going to try to build one of these except attach the return nozzle from my sump to the osculating pipe and have it move that back and forth. It should be a lot less strain on the motor also since their is not a big heavy power head on the other end.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7305517#post7305517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
I run mine 24/7
The oscillating action gives the tank enough randomness in the flow that I don't see any need for a timer.


D.

If you have 2 of them and want seriously random action, get two different rpm motors, so that they arent on the same cycle.