Author Topic: Levitating Hand Built Solar Motor (Read 9935 times)

gotwind2 · « **on:** October 25, 2006, 12:39:31 PM »

Levitating Hand Built Solar Motor - Nonsense or plausible?

Nice idea, but still only a toy for $182.99

More info here

http://www.gyroscope.com/d.asp?product=SOLARMOTOR

jimjjnn · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2006, 07:28:12 AM »

Plusibl, but practical only in magnetic bearings so far. Magnetic bearings were used(I believe) in the Failed Nuclear reactor that was near Platteville ?, Colorado. Mot sure of exavt location.

jimjjnn · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2006, 08:43:02 AM »

Now that I'm awake, my spelling and memory are better. The Fort St. Vrain nuclear plant at Platteville was the plant that used failing Magnetic bearings among many other types of failures. Has been converted to a natural gas steam turbine now.

finnsawyer · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2006, 08:46:52 AM »

How do you get power out of it? Doesn't the term "electric motor" imply that it can drive something?

Titantornado · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2006, 10:22:01 AM »

Pretty neat as a curio, but no practible use. A lot like those low temperature Stirlings you see on Ebay. It would be a nice conversation piece to sit on a window shelf. Too pricey for me, though, it looks easy to copy.

Bruce S · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2006, 10:57:57 AM »

Would be a nice conversation piece.

I like the fact that at the bottom the website does say it has the "look" of not finished.

Does look easy enough to copy, but I believe that the hardest part would be to balance it.

All 4 sides would need to be exact to start with once it gets going in full sun it would be kinda neat to put a little rubber band on it so see if it would turn a toy car motor or something.

And at $182.+ ? nice but pricey.

Cheers

Bruce S

ghurd · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2006, 11:27:01 AM »

Totally useless.

I want one.

Looks like 5 microwaves and 4 solar yard lights would do it?

Anyone have an idea of the magnet polarities? Simple I suppose, but I don't see it.

G-

jimjjnn · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2006, 12:19:53 PM »

It does look like all Junk (?) err recylable parts used. Ghurd, I believe can do this out of his in-house hardware store.

Nil · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2006, 12:26:55 PM »

It looks like one end of is is resting on that mirror, without that it looks like it would be pushed to the right. It desnt seem too hard to copy.

ghurd · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2006, 12:51:35 PM »

Grrr... I resemble that remark!

I'm probably the only guy who last Christmas debated about buying microwaves on sale $30...

Just for the magnets, transformer and other goodies.

But no, I didn't buy any. Not even 1 or 2.

G-

ghurd · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2006, 12:52:43 PM »

Good call on the mirror. Now I see it.

G-

Ungrounded Lightning Rod · « **Reply #11 on:** October 25, 2006, 03:03:33 PM »

Supposedly there's a proof that you can't make a permanent magnet bearing that's stable in all six degrees of freedom (up/down, right/left, front/back, roll, pitch, yaw) for a non-moving object. (You can levitate objects while they're spinning but they have to touch down or you need an active system.)

Has to do with the divergence of the mag field being zero, i.e. no monopoles. (Wonder if that means you COULD make a stable levitator if you had monopoles, and/or that you could levitate a charged object?)

dinges · « **Reply #12 on:** October 25, 2006, 04:10:31 PM »

Actually, it's pretty easy to levitate things (well, magnets).

There was supposed to be evidence that it couldn't be done. Needed active feedback systems, etc. Apparently, by using Neo magnets and Bismuth (because of its dia-magnetic properties) it can be done:

http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/magnets/suspension.html

Not sure whether one could make a practical bearing with this principle though.

thirteen · « **Reply #13 on:** October 25, 2006, 06:21:20 PM »

there is a monitor and a scope that could let you see the fields crated but it might give you other ideas as to making the output usable for something. maybe you could try and use some metal grindings on a piece of glass showing the fields. Just a thought

Titantornado · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2006, 08:04:26 PM »

What would happen if the base magnets were spaced and oriented like in this drawing?

Would it give it stability in the axial plane, and do away with the mirror requirement?

pyrocasto · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2006, 09:21:46 PM »

Very true, but I dont believe using diamagnetics counts. Same way the mag-lev trains work I believe. In my head I think magnetic levitation is easy, but like everything else I guess isnt quite possible yet. The stuff that works in my head usually doesnt work in real life sadley.

nothing to lose · « **Reply #16 on:** October 25, 2006, 09:22:09 PM »

I got you beat.

Well I'm probably the only guy who last Auto Auction was looking at $200 cars wondering if those 4 bolt holes were 4" center hubs, and other parts too like is that an ACDELCO alternator in it, etc....

Wire, relays, breakers, DC motors, how much aluminum by weight ........

dinges · « **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2006, 09:37:36 PM »

Magnetic levitation is 'easy' indeed. All you need is a strong magnet.

Anything that contains water (including humans) can be levitated. Water is diamagnetic too, but much less than e.g. Bismuth. There's a laboratory in the Netherlands that has a strong electromagnet. Big too. Uses lots of power. They can levitate strawberries. And frogs. Any volunteers to be levitated?

http://www.hfml.ru.nl/levitation-movies.html

http://www.hfml.ru.nl/pics/Movies/strawberry.mpg

Whether it would make a practical bearing is another thing...

PS: the links are from the RU, Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht; but I think the magnet (occupying a small hall) was in either the TU Delft or Eindhoven. Not sure.

dinges · « **Reply #18 on:** October 25, 2006, 09:48:21 PM »

I especially like The Flying Dutchfrog.

http://www.hfml.ru.nl/pics/Movies/frog.mpg

stop4stuff · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2006, 01:11:07 AM »

Diamagnetic levitation is fairly easy to acheive, here's my Lego diamagnetic levitation jig http://www.stop4stuff.com/lego/technic/levitation-rig/

Non-active & non diamagnetic magnetic levitation is impossible due to magnets' exponential attraction or repulsion.

The solar motor (as already mentioned) is always being pushed towards the right (in the piccy at the top) hence the mirror which is used as part of a bearing.

The solar motor is very plausable, but is more of a curio than a practicle device.

paul

Bruce S · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2006, 03:32:15 PM »

Frog didn't look too happy.

I think I'll wait 'til they perfect the transport beem.

And befroe you laugh. The boys on Denmark (I think) was successful in transporting an atom just this past week.

Scotty?? you still up there:__>>

cyplesma · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2006, 12:21:20 PM »

I have a toy that levitates at one end by magnets and the other end rests on a back plate similiar to how the mirror is used.

it's one of those silly star wars toys from a cereal box.

it doesn't rotate, but I would have to suspect that if it could you still have friction at one end.

what is the ring on the oppisite side from the mirror for?

News:

Author Topic: Levitating Hand Built Solar Motor (Read 9935 times)