JGB37-520 High Torque DC Gear Motor - 12V, 3.5 RPM, 37mm Gearbox

Specifications

• Motor Model: JGB37-520

• Operating Voltage: 12V DC

• No-Load Speed: 3.5 RPM

• Rated Torque:  10 kg. cm

• Stall Torque: 25 kg. cm

• Rated Current:  0.19A

• Stall Current: 0.8A

• Gearbox Type: Full Metal Spur/Planetary Reduction

• Gearbox Diameter: 37mm

• Gearbox Length(L): 29mm

• Motor Body Diameter: 33mm

• Total Length (excluding shaft): ~55mm (Length 'L' varies slightly by exact gear ratio batch)

• Output Shaft Diameter: 6mm (with machined flat "D" profile)

• Output Shaft Length: 15mm

• Mounting Holes: 6x M3 Threaded Holes (Faceplate)

Key Applications and Projects

• Automated Chicken Coop Doors: Utilizing the extreme torque and slow speed to wind a cable that lifts a heavy wooden guillotine door every morning.

• Heavy Rover Drive Systems: Powering the tracks or large rubber wheels of an outdoor, all-terrain robotic platform meant to carry heavy batteries or camera equipment.

• Camera Sliders and Panning Heads: Providing incredibly smooth, slow, and stable rotational movement for a heavy DSLR camera mounted on a tripod.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Sun-Tracking Solar Array: Don't just bolt your solar panels to the roof! Evolve your energy harvesting! Mount a large solar panel on a heavy-duty steel lazy-susan bearing. Connect this JGB37-520 3.5RPM motor to the pivot using a chain or gear drive. Wire the motor to an Arduino equipped with four photoresistors (LDRs). The Arduino can read the sun's position and use an L298N motor driver to slowly, powerfully rotate the heavy panel throughout the day, keeping it perfectly aimed at the sun for maximum energy generation!

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x JGB37-520 DC12V 3.5RPM Gear Motor

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What does "3.5 RPM" mean? RPM stands for Rotations Per Minute. At full 12V power, the output shaft of this motor will complete exactly 3.5 full 360-degree circles in one minute. It is very slow, but incredibly strong.

2. What is the difference between the 520 motor and the JGB37 gearbox? The "520" refers to the specific size and power of the silver brushed DC motor on the back. "JGB37" refers to the 37mm diameter metal gearbox bolted to the front of it that slows the motor down.

3. Do I need an external motor driver to use this with an Arduino? Yes, absolutely. An Arduino's GPIO pins can only output 5V at about 40mA. This 12V motor requires significantly more voltage and current. You must use a dedicated Motor Driver (like an L298N or a Cytron driver) between the Arduino and the motor.

4. Can I run this motor on 5V or 9V? Yes. DC motors are analog devices. If you supply 5V or 9V, the motor will still spin, but it will spin slower than 3.5 RPM and have proportionally less torque.

5. Can I run this motor on 24V? It is not recommended. Supplying double the rated voltage will force the motor to spin twice as fast, but it will rapidly overheat, potentially melting the internal brushes and destroying the motor.

6. How do I make the motor spin in reverse? Simply reverse the polarity of the power. If connecting the Red wire to Positive and Black to Negative makes it spin clockwise, swapping them (Red to Negative, Black to Positive) will make it spin counter-clockwise.

7. Does this motor have an encoder attached? No, this specific model is a bare gear motor without a rear rotary encoder. You cannot accurately track its exact positional angle without adding external sensors.

8. Are the gears inside made of plastic or metal? The JGB37 series gearboxes are renowned for utilizing heavy-duty, all-metal cut gears, which are necessary to handle the immense torque generated at 3.5 RPM without stripping.

9. What does "D-Shaft" mean? The 6mm circular output shaft has a flat section machined into it, making it look like a capital letter "D" when viewed from the end. This flat spot allows set-screws on wheel hubs to lock tightly without slipping.

10. How do I attach a wheel to this motor? You need to purchase a "6mm Hex Brass Hub" or a "6mm Flange Coupling." This adapter slides onto the D-shaft, locks in place with a grub screw, and provides threaded holes to bolt your wheel onto.

11. How do I mount the motor to my robot chassis? Look at the flat front faceplate of the gearbox. There are six small threaded holes evenly spaced around the outer edge. These accept standard M3 metric machine screws for bolting the motor flush against a mounting bracket.

12. What is the stall current of this motor? While it varies slightly by exact factory batch, the stall current (the amps it pulls if you physically jam the shaft so it cannot spin) for a 12V 520-class motor is typically around 1 Amp to 1.5 Amps.

13. What is the stall torque of this motor? At 3.5 RPM, the mechanical reduction is massive. The stall torque can easily exceed 15 to 20 kg.cm (kilogram-centimeters). It is strong enough to bend weak brackets or break your fingers if pinched.

14. Are the electrical terminals pre-wired? No. The rear of the motor simply has two small brass tabs with holes in them. You will need to solder your own wires to these tabs.

15. Is this motor waterproof? No. The outer casing has seams, and the rear electrical tabs and motor brushes are completely exposed. If you use it outdoors, you must build a weatherproof enclosure around it.

16. Why is the motor making a loud grinding noise? A quiet whirring sound is normal from the metal gears. However, a loud, violent grinding noise usually means you have exceeded the motor's maximum torque limit, and the internal gears are skipping or stripping.

17. Can I manually turn the shaft with my hands when it is powered off? Because of the massive gear reduction, it is usually very difficult or impossible to back-drive (manually spin) the output shaft by hand. Forcing it with pliers can damage the gearbox.

18. Do I need to lubricate the gears? The internal gearbox is packed with heavy grease at the factory and is sealed. You do not need to perform maintenance or add lubrication under normal use.

19. What is the total length of the unit? The diameter of the gearbox is 37mm. The diameter of the motor body is 33mm. The shaft is 15mm long. The length of the main body (motor + gearbox) varies slightly based on the exact internal gear stack needed for 3.5RPM, but is typically around 55mm to 60mm.

20. Can I control the speed of this motor? Yes. You can use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) through a motor driver to pulse the 12V power rapidly, allowing you to slow the motor down from 3.5 RPM to even slower speeds.