Anyone done a 12V Sewing Machine?

[LobeliaBlue]

Why do I always fix up old junk instead of buying a SailRite machine?
Because I can't justify the cost, honestly. Other priorities.

SO:
I've had a couple dozen machines over the years, some great, some meh.
Old Singers just seem to hang in there, rarely break, and push thru layers.
They're cheap, and easy to gift to people too

Most have that little 0.5 Amp motor running a belt to the Wheel.
I think the math works out for light usage on a (5) deep cyc. bank.

Has anyone come up with a similar size/rated motor in a 12V supply?
It'd be nice to run it on House at Anchor and not have the Inverter involved.
Candidates - Singer hand crank 99K, Singer 223, or Nelco.

Let me know, wizards of the electromagnetic fields.

[Franziska]

There are old Singers & Pfaff which have a so called "Rucksack" (=Backpack) motor attached.

Ours has one and is from 1950.

That motor can be replaced by a 12v windscreen wiper motor.
Alternatively run the original motor from an inverter..

https://youtu.be/JwaG6YvNSsA

[Paul L]

Why not just get a cheap, small, efficient inverter. Doesn't need to be bigger than a couple hundred watts and a cigarette lighter plug.

[goboatingnow]

My issue is finding something with a walking foot

[LobeliaBlue]

Franziska, the windshield wiper motor idea is a bit of genius.
Looking into it today!

[senormechanico]

Certified Bernina Sewing Machine Tech here.
If you are looking for a machine with a built in walking foot and also efficient use of your power, get a small inverter and a Pfaff 1471 or similar.
The reason for the inverter and that (or newer) machine is it does not use a resistive foot pedal, has needle up/down stop etc.
The small loss of efficiency from the inverter will be made up by the better efficiency of the machine's electronic foot pedal.


Actually, any newer machine with electronic control of the speed will have better efficiency than an older machine which just uses a big variable resistor in the foot pedal which is in series with the motor.

[LobeliaBlue]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

The small loss of efficiency from the inverter will be made up by the better efficiency of the machine's electronic foot pedal.

Actually, any newer machine with electronic control of the speed will have better efficiency than an older machine which just uses a big variable resistor in the foot pedal which is in series with the motor.

Thanks... I'm running a Xantrex 25 inverter on 5 deepcycle batteries,
and been told I'm losing over 25% of efficiency with using 110V appliances.
(I'm from UK but on North American Standard with this Tub)

I understand the old resistor style pedal is inefficient, but does a digital
pedal really gain back that much? Maybe it's time to cave and get a
machine from this century.

[taxwizz]

I have a 12 v electric sewing machine for sale. (if I can find it)
Purchased many years ago, but only used once.
I don't even know what it is worth.

Interested?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by LobeliaBlue

Thanks... I'm running a Xantrex 25 inverter on 5 deepcycle batteries,
and been told I'm losing over 25% of efficiency with using 110V appliances.
(I'm from UK but on North American Standard with this Tub)

I understand the old resistor style pedal is inefficient, but does a digital
pedal really gain back that much? Maybe it's time to cave and get a
machine from this century.

That's a 2500 watt inverter. It will not be efficient on the small load the motor will put on it. That is why I suggested above that you add a small inverter, say 200 watt, if efficiency is important.
In practice, I doubt this is all worth the effort. The duty cycle on a sewing machine while you do normal sewing jobs is pretty low - ie you just don't use a lot of power.

[Ramona]

12v electric motors that are used in autopilots are another source.

[captlloyd]

There are tons of 12 volt motors on eBay and Amazon.

[RaymondR]

I converted one years ago using a 12V motor from a 5 diaphragm pressure water pump. I chose this pump because it had good torque characteristics. I used a 10 amp motor speed controller but found it was slow so converted it back to AC.

I later found that the motor speed controller was not capable of sufficient output to run the motor at full speed because the output was PWM and did not reach a 100% power on time and decided had I used a series regulated it would have been a successful conversion but by then had installed an inverter so did not bother to try it again.

[WoodenKetch]

I have a sailrite machine, run it off a $50 true sine wave inverter from Amazon that has a cigarette lighter plug. So cheap, so easy, why try something different? I think the inverter is 300w and also charges laptops. It will run a hot knife too.

[LobeliaBlue]

Originally Posted by WoodenKetch

I have a sailrite machine, run it off a $50 true sine wave inverter from Amazon that has a cigarette lighter plug. So cheap, so easy, why try something different? I think the inverter is 300w and also charges laptops. It will run a hot knife too.

Yea. *Sighs* Yea.

I've mulled it over and decided that time repairing old junk is time I could be having fun instead.
I'm going to spend a grand on a sewing machine, and live with the voices of my immigrant parents scolding me in my head.

[WoodenKetch]

I don't mean to imply that the sewing machine is cheap, but the little inverter is, compared to faffing about with motor retrofits. I am also very tight, but have gotten excellent value from the machine after doing all cushions, sail covers, a dodger and more. It pays for itself in one project over hiring a pro.