I'm working on a project to build a door lock controlled by Arduino, which can be unlocked and locked with a button from a distance. However, I'm facing a challenge finding suitable 3V motors that I can connect to a digital pin. Does anyone have suggestions for a 3V piston or motor that would work for locking or blocking a door? I'm not into soldering just yet, so I'm looking for things that require minimal assembly.
4 Answers
Have you thought about using a 3V relay with a commercial solenoid-driven door latch? Just keep in mind that many of those latches can run on 12V DC. It could streamline your project and avoid needing custom motors altogether!
You'll definitely need a 3V DC gearmotor, along with a DC motor driver board, to control it from your Arduino, since the Arduino isn't designed to handle high current outputs. Check out Pololu; they offer both the motors and driver boards you might need. Just a heads up, you might find that 4.5 or 6V motors work much better for your application.
Look into 3V or 5V mini solenoid locks or micro linear actuators. They can easily connect to Arduino using jumper wires, along with a relay or transistor module for control! No soldering is needed; just power the motor separately and let the Arduino do the switching. It's a straightforward solution!
You might struggle with electric door strikers since they usually need more power than a 3V supply can handle. Smaller servos could work with looser deadbolt mechanisms, though. For a DIY route, consider using a toy motor with a 3D-printed mechanism that can pull and push a deadbolt. Some consumer keypad deadbolts run on just 3 AA batteries, so there's definitely potential to make it happen! I even modified a Schlage Key Door Bolt with an ESP32 for remote access, so it's a feasible project!