Electricity To A Rotating Shaft?

[Yorg]

Anyone know of a mechanism for delivering electricity through to a rotating shaft.
I want to mount heating elements as stirrers / paddles on a motorised mash mixer.
Getting electricity to them is the problem.
Clearly, as the motor turns, it would twist the wiring to the elements.
There must be something I can buy or build that can transfer the electricity through a bearing or bush of some sort.

???

Cheers.

 

[dent]

In industry they use slip rings for this job.

Bit hard to make yourself, safely.

Either that or keep the elements fixed and rotate the vessel around them.

 

[dent]

Or another idea - rig it so the spinning portion goes say 270 degrees one way, then changes direction and 270 back, over and over like a washing machine.

 

[Charst]

Anyone know of a mechanism for delivering electricity through to a rotating shaft.
I want to mount heating elements as stirrers / paddles on a motorised mash mixer.
Getting electricity to them is the problem.
Clearly, as the motor turns, it would twist the wiring to the elements.
There must be something I can buy or build that can transfer the electricity through a bearing or bush of some sort.

???

Cheers.

look up "BMX Gyro" and it may be help. There a mechanism on a BMX that allows you to spin the Handle Bar infinitely without twisting the cables,
No sure how it'll work with electricity I doubt id do it and don't ask me how to keep it sanitary.

 

[Feldon]

Anyone know of a mechanism for delivering electricity through to a rotating shaft.
I want to mount heating elements as stirrers / paddles on a motorised mash mixer.
Getting electricity to them is the problem.
Clearly, as the motor turns, it would twist the wiring to the elements.
There must be something I can buy or build that can transfer the electricity through a bearing or bush of some sort.

???

Cheers.

Be interested in hearing how you go with this project. Not just the heated stirrer but the design and speed of the stirrer too.

Please come back and update when you can.

 

[Maheel]

there are also inside vacuum cleaners with retractable cords inside the retract mech

that might be an option for a cheap one to play with.. look for a couple in hard rubbish for free ones
vac ones are not really made to be continuously rotating but i suppose...

i assume the idea is your bringing them in from the top ? otherwise it's gonna be tricky

here is one from my shed = i have to much junk h34r:

 

[Yorg]

Some great leads there.
Googling.

 

[seravitae]

+1 for static heating element next to the paddle. Have it high enough up the paddle so it doesn't get smacked when the paddle spins. You can get elements that are able to run partially submerged, I think some over-the-side drum immersion elements can handle this, but YMMV.

I applaud your thinking outside the box but I question the "is it worth it from a time, effort, cost and safety standpoint".

 

[DU99]

would a spiral cable suspended above help..

 

[Batz]

Anyone know of a mechanism for delivering electricity through to a rotating shaft.
I want to mount heating elements as stirrers / paddles on a motorised mash mixer.
Getting electricity to them is the problem.
Clearly, as the motor turns, it would twist the wiring to the elements.
There must be something I can buy or build that can transfer the electricity through a bearing or bush of some sort.

???

Cheers.

It's not new technology think of a rotating light, that's how they worked.

 

[Yorg]

What do you guys think of this:
http://www.mercotac.com/html/215-2K.html

What about the VAC/amp rating - what does that mean for a 240V 10-15 amp element hanging off it?

Also, alternator slip rings:
http://www.autospark.eu/slip-rings

Not sure how they would go with vac and 15amp.

And what about an old alternator, since there's no need to mount the 'slip ring' - it has bearing to run the current through??

 

[dent]

What do you guys think of this:
http://www.mercotac.com/html/215-2K.html

What about the VAC/amp rating - what does that mean for a 240V 10-15 amp element hanging off it?

Also, alternator slip rings:
http://www.autospark.eu/slip-rings

Not sure how they would go with vac and 15amp.

And what about an old alternator, since there's no need to mount the 'slip ring' - it has bearing to run the current through??

The mercotac ones look good along with the boot accessory, will perform as per your spec. Probably not cheap.

I wouldn't recommend the alternator ones - they're intended for extra low voltage only, so there is limited provision for good insulation, and sealing.

 

[mfeighan]

not sure i would want mercury near my mash tun

 

[Feldon]

Old thread, but came across these two slip rings which could be used for sending power to heaters on a rotating mash paddle - one cheap and one more expensive.

(Not sure how many amps would be needed to step up mash temp though. And be safer to use something less than 240V?)



http://www.adafruit.com/products/736




http://www.adafruit.com/products/776


Flexible silicone heaters would also seem to be a good option.

 

[Feldon]

Also this one on E-bay for $22 with free shipping - can handle 15 amps.

(many others on E-bay - just search for 'slip rings')



http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-Capsule-Sl...81271%26ps%3D54