MotionRebuild shelfHand tools, works as-is

Vibration motor

Also called ERM, coin motor, rumble motor, LRA.

A tiny brushed motor with an offset mass, or a linear resonant actuator in newer phones. The most reliable small motor in a phone, because the phone was not thrown out for a dead vibrator.

If you are new to this category

These parts spin, push, or pump. A motor is a machine that turns electricity into turning. Some start turning as soon as you connect a battery. Others look identical and will not move until a small circuit tells them which coil to power next. The label, or the number of wires, is how you tell them apart.

Count the thick wires before you apply power. Two wires usually mean a brushed motor that can run from a battery. Three thick wires usually mean a brushless motor. Keep the board that came with a brushless motor.

A brushed motor

Two wires mean you can try a low, current-limited voltage and it should spin. The case often hides a label. If the only label you can find is on the machine, that voltage is the one to believe, not a hobby guess.

Lithium-ion cells. A punctured, crushed, overcharged, or reverse-charged cell vents and burns hot enough to ignite the bench. Swollen pouches are already failed.

Specification. The right-hand column is what is typical. The label on the part in your hand wins if they disagree.
What to look for	Usual figure
Coin ERM	About 3 V, low tens of mA, starts around 2 V
Gamepad rumble	Small cylinder, 3–5 V, more current
LRA	Needs an AC drive at its resonant frequency, often via a dedicated chip. Not a DC motor.

Volts are electrical pressure, amps are how much current is flowing, and ohms are how hard the part resists that flow. A higher voltage than the part was built for is how salvage parts die on the bench. If a cell in the table says “read the stamp”, that stamp is the whole specification.

What people actually use it for

Haptics
Tiny robot
Alarm that is allowed to buzz rather than beep

Leave this one when

It is an LRA and you only have a DC pin. Identify it: an LRA clicks once and does not spin.

Buying a new one is the better idea when

They are cheap new. Salvage is for when the phone is already open.

How to tell if this one still works

1.5–3 V through a series resistor first. An ERM spins. An LRA only ticks.

Tools you will want: Meter, AA cell.

Words on this page

Short meanings, so the rest of the entry is readable if you are not already doing this every weekend.

series: Connected in a chain. Cells in series add their voltages. LEDs in series all go dark if one of them opens.

Where people actually find it

2 notes, most useful first. “Leave it” means the part is in that machine and you should not take it: it is dangerous, worn out, or only useful if you already know that exact repair.

Harvest at a glance
From	Call	How many	How often	Where it sits
Mobile phone	Prize	1	always	A corner.
Game controller	Prize	2	always	Each handle.

Prize — take this firstMobile phone1 · always
In this particular machine
Coin ERM or an LRA. ERMs spin on DC. LRAs need their driver.
Where to look
A corner.
How to get it out
Two wires or a spring contact.
The condition to expect
Almost always good.
Prize — take this firstGame controller2 · always
In this particular machine
Small cylindrical ERMs, 3–5 V.
Where to look
Each handle.
How to get it out
Two wires each.
The condition to expect
Good.