basically I'm trying to fit a small rotating panel in my car. i am guessing i need to fit a switch to a motor of some sort that is attatched to this panel so when i flick the switch its rotating the panel but i havnt really got a clue where to start, what is the component called that i need that rotates, i also need it to rotate backwards too. thanks for any input :)

Like James Bond's numberplate...?

Like James Bond's numberplate...?

well yeah but not for a numberplate for a satnav in my dash lol any ideas?

It'll probably be a small high torque motor a step down transformer and a programmable chip or a 555 timer, to do it simply or you could gear a normal speed motor but you'll obviously need more space..

Or use limit switches instead of a timer

i understood none of that lol could i not just wire a switch to a motor to a battery lol

Yeah but the motor would be too fast unless you can drastically lower the voltage. You'd have to be facking quick on the switch to stop it perfectly though

i see what you mean, so you cant just buy a motor that rotates slowly?

and do you know what these motors are called because I'm having a right job finding them

Most of my knowledge is in 3phase AC electrical its a trade off between torque and speed. This would obviously be DC though.. could try launching this on a physics forum with slightly different wording

DC motor speed controller

ok thanks do you not know what the motor is called that i would need to use though so i can go try see if i can find one that rotates slowly :) thanks

got it thanks, ignore the last one :) any one elses input still welcome

could you not use a type of wiper circuit, cause that has limited movement etc

Could use some kind of pic micro controller to control it using relays and such. That way you could have it open or closed and programmed perfectly.

You could create something to control the motor correctly using two simple relays, a window winder switch (so it wouldn't look out of place) and two small push to break switches. It would be fiddly though - mechanically rather than electrically. There would also be a way using some sort of pcboard but thats out of my territory - I'm electrical rather than electronic.

That bi-directional motor controller could be useful. How you planning on making the motor stop? Just by taking your finger off the switch? Coz as I said before if you used a pic chip you could program it (not that hard dont worry) so you could push the switch and it would stop in the correct place (creating less strain on your motor and your handy work). they're pretty inexpensive too.

Tho i have tried something similar to this before and I have found that its not the electronics that is the hard part its getting the mechanics to work properly, as its just so damn fiddly.