Questions tagged [power-functions]
A category of powered LEGO products which offer direct and remote control of action bricks.
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What are the best options for building a LEGO RC car?
I would like to build a remote controlled car. And if someone already has a good solution for that I would be glad to try it.
It's been a while since I had the time and material to build some LEGO ...
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What are the electrical properties of electric LEGO systems?
Several electric LEGO systems exist:
LEGO Trains
LEGO Technic Power Functions (PF)
LEGO Mindstorms (in several versions)
...?
How do these systems differ in electrical properties and which systems ...
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How can I build a functional gearbox?
I'm looking for a fully functional (manual) transmission / gearbox for my Technics motorized vehicle. How can I build this?
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How can I motorize City-scale wheels?
I'd like to build city-scale (6 studs wide) vehicles motorized with either PF motor or clockwork. The primary problem right now is connecting wheel(s) to motor. Are there small enough LEGO wheels with ...
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How would you make a good pivot-arm suspension?
I once tried to make a 4 wheeled Lego robot using a pivot arm suspension system. The robot was motorized using 2 Mindstorm (2.0) motors (one one each side). I can't find and original picture but it ...
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Which is faster: M motor or XL motor?
I understand that the M motor has an adequate amount of speed, and the XL motor is best known for its torque. But is the XL motor really faster than the M motor? Or is it the other way around? I am ...
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Can I remotely control the points on PF train tracks?
I'm interested in investing in power functions based trains, but want to automate switching points. Is this possible? What is the cheapest / easiest way of achieving this?
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Is there a way to remotely operate the push-button light brick?
The push-button light brick seems to be popular with Lego at the moment, and included in quite a few sets.
I'd like to find a way of being able to operate it remotely, so that I can include the ...
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What advanced railroad features are possible with the Lego PF train sets?
I recently got my first train set, the Constitution Chase, and it has sparked my imagination for building train layouts. My 3-year-old son has a small collection of wooden trains and we enjoy building ...
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How to use Power Functions with Mindstorms EV3?
Having learned that Mindstorms EV3 doesn't work directly with Power Functions,
Q: Can you use Power Functions motors with the EV3 programmable brick?
A: No, the connector does not match.
I still ...
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Will playing with a PF train motor by hand damage it?
If one pushes a PF-motorized train by hand, will it cause damage to the motor, or any of the other parts (IR Receiver, Battery box)?
It is essentially working as a generator when turned by hand, so ...
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Is it possible to add the power functions to Western Train Chase?
I recently got the Red Cargo Train and it's a great Lego set but a Cars themed train going around my Christmas tree would be even better.
Has anyone gotten the power functions to work on the Western ...
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What's the best way to link two (or more) LEGO Power Functions (PF) train motors together?
Last Christmas I built an extended Emerald Night train to run around the tree. To get it to work I had to add a second Power Functions motor. I tuned both IR receivers to the same frequency and slowly ...
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Can I use a generic (non-Lego) transformer with a rechargable Power Functions battery?
I've recently ordered a LEGO® 8878 Rechargeable Battery Box:
I was wondering if I really need to get the (rather expensive) LEGO® Power Functions Transformer or if I can substitute a (cheaper) ...
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Steering mechanism for City-scale vehicle
I'd like to build city-scale (6 studs wide) motorized vehicles with PF remote control. There are already several suggestions on how to motorize wheels. The next challenge is steering
mechanism that ...
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How much current do the LEGO motors draw?
I'm building a project with Raspberry Pi and some other electronics driving the LEGO Power Functions M-Motor (8883) and I need to know how much current those motors draw under load.
Has anyone done ...
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What IR Codes are the Power Function remotes sending to the receiver?
The PF IR Speed Remote Control (the train one) is "7 speeds" but as I turn the dial to make it go faster it's hard to tell what speed it's at. I wonder if I could setup my programmable remote so that ...
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How can I motorize 42077 Technic Rally Car with LEGO Power Functions?
The new 42077 Technic Rally Car set looks really nice, and even has a built-in steering system which can be controlled by a gear on the top. There's also a fair bit of extra room inside, is there a ...
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How to run "Power Functions" devices from an electric wall plug?
In this video showing an example of Great Ball Contraption (GBC), we can see (at 1:35) that some train's powers are used to run Power Functions (PF) motors:
That must be more convenient than having ...
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Why are there 4 wires leading to the Power Functions LEGO train motor?
Does anyone know what the wires do?
If the Power Functions train motors are simple DC only 2 wires would be needed or is it more complex than that?
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Which LEGO Technic sets include instructions to add the Power Functions accessory box?
Some LEGO Technic sets apparently come with instructions to add a motor, using the pieces from the Power Function Accessory Box (set 8293).
Is there a list of the sets which do contain such ...
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What is the difference between train motors 88002 and 10153?
I want to motorize my Santa Fe Super Chief.
Its original instruction mentions 5300 but it's marked obsolete on BS.com and now re-released as 10153.
In the same time 88002 costs few times less, e.g. $...
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Are there any benefits to using PF motors instead of EV3 ones?
Can someone explain to me the key differences between PF motors and EV3 ones? I understand that EV3 motors are 'regulated', presumably meaning that you can control their rotational speed depending on ...
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What parts are really required to motorize 10219 Maersk Train?
The Official site detailed page states that:
Motorize your Maersk train by adding LEGO Power Functions #8878 Rechargeable Battery Box, #8887 Transformer 10V DC, #8884 IR Receiver, #8879 IR Speed ...
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Battery for Trains
For those who have tried, which one is a better option:
Rechargeable Battery Box and Transformer/Charger 10VDC ($50 + $25)
or
AAA Battery Box and a lot of AAA batteries ($13 + ?)
Obviously $75 is ...
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How to fix my XL motor?
I used the XL motor near water. Now it stopped working. Can someone tell me what I can do to fix it?
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Ideas to slow down RC PF train motor (Item: 88002)
I'm wondering if you already tried to slow down such a motor. I would like the train to run slower at all the supported 7 speeds. Anyway, at speed 7, the train just flies off the tracks.
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Does the Power Functions IR Remote Control 8885 make a good remote for a car?
I have the Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control 8879 and it's great for, well, the train it came with and maybe other applications where you don't need precise control. 8885 looks like it would ...
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Inverting voltage to PF motor
I often use separate PF motor for each driven wheel. Sometimes the most interesting design of mechanism requires opposite polarity of power supply to motors. Is there any simple non-destructive way to ...
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Custom Power Functions plug design
I'm considering the possibility of making my own Power Functions-compatible sockets for a project.
I'm designing a module board for a single-board-computer with motor drivers and would like to encase ...
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Running Power Functions Train Without IR Receiver/Remote
I recently bought 10254 Winter Holiday Train and wanted to get it running around the provided circle of track. I was wondering if there is any way to do this without incorporating the IR receiver and ...
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What are the largest LEGO® Power train sets available commercially [Oct 2014]
What set(s) are the largest by number of pieces? These sets could be retired or existing.
I am also curious what set(s) have the most rails pieces included.
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Power Functions battery box and receiver limits
What combination of motor/Receiver/battery boxes are possible/supported?
example: 2x XL motors, 1x M Motor, 1 light using 1 receiver and 1 battery box.
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Does a LEGO Technic Power Functions L Motor work with a v1 receiver?
Does a LEGO Technic Power Functions L Motor work with a v1 receiver? I really want to know it, because then I know what motor I should buy.
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Can 10153 9V train motor be powered by the Power Functions Battery pack?
I am currently making the switch to Power Functions with my Lego Train collection and am wondering if I can power the old 9v motors that I used with the metal rails, with a battery box from the power ...
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How to improve the range of an IR receiver?
I am creating a new Truck which contains two IR receivers in the front hood.
With my testing I get a range of about 6 feet (I have also noticed the small Technic motors on the IR receiver are slow ...
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What electrical contact material is used for PF Connectors?
I'm designing my own PF electrical connector and I want to have the same functional characteristics as the original Lego brick.
Could you please let me know which electrical contact material is used ...
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Motor problems in 60051
The motor in my High Speed Passenger Train set (60051) has stopped working properly. I just put brand new batteries in and it acts just like if they were worn. Moreover, the little brown capacitor ...
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My grandson wants a LEGO motor. What should I get?
My grandson wants a LEGO Power Motor to use with his gigantic box of Lego pieces. He is 11 years old and seems to know his way around the world of LEGO bricks. I, though, haven't a clue what he is ...
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Can I use two remote-controlled LEGO Tracked Racers 42065 simultaneously?
I want to buy two sets of the LEGO Tracked Racer 42065 so that my children can play together. I can't tell if they would be able to use the racers simultaneously.
Are the IR receivers multi-channel? ...
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Does the PF Servo motor return to center?
Does the PF Servo motor, which was introduced in the 9398: 4x4 Crawler model, have return to center feature?
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What is the quietest LEGO motor?
What is the quietest LEGO motor? I am trying to make a sort of LEGO dolly for filming videos, but the motors emit a lot of sound. I noticed the train motor is quieter than the other motors I have, but ...
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AA Battery Packs 54950c01 vs 59510c01
What is the difference between these two battery boxes, 54950c01:
and 59510c01:
except for the on/off button?
Which electrical connectors are compatible with each of those?
Is there a counterpart ...
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How can I improve my rackless steering design?
I am trying to build a vehicle with a sturdy steering mechanism powered by the servo motor. When I was a kid I did this all the time with a rack and pinion design, but now I don't have any of the rack ...
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What LEGO Power Functions parts do I need to make an RC car?
I'd like to make a remote control car with steering and forward/back functionality.
Looking at the LEGO Power Functions parts I'm assuming I need the following:
A battery box (8881 or 8878)
A motor ...
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How much torque can a lego axle handle?
from to this question, it seems that the gears are stronger than the axles, which begs the question of how strong are the axles? if you connect one of the stronger motors, such as say the buggy motor:
...
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9v and Power Functions Hybrid?
I am building a train layout and I am running some of my track through a tunnel. I would like to know if I could hook up a 9v train motor at the opposite end of my train. The front will use Power ...
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How do I build this robot car?
I want to start using more LEGO Technic, but I'm not sure what the best way is to buy the parts without breaking the bank.
I'd really like to make a robot like the ones shown in this video.
Making ...
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Fix Power Functions cable near connector (L motor)
We have a broken cable on the power functions L motor. I've fixed an M-motor before in the engine, but this time the cut is near the connector.
Unlike the M-motor, this connector doesn't have the ...
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Can anyone help me identify the motor/mechanism used in this?
I've been trying to recreate the Useless Machine found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdKtgfmfA7s&feature=c4-overview&playnext=1&list=TLp4R5S7LPESk
In the description, there's a ...
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