Use for Old DVD motors?

[Hoskald]

I am in the process of learning about wind power generation and am currently working on a set of 2.4 m blades for a larger unit. Until then, however, I want to make sure that I have the basics now. I have an old dvd changer that I thought might yield a motor to make a small genny say 1 m blades.  Now the question is, has anybody used a dvd motor and what was the outcome?  Do you all think it's reasonable to do?

I will start dissecting the APEX changer this week and will post pics as I uncover the  parts.

Thanks in Advance,

Hos

[ghurd]

Not sure what you have there, but 1M blades are not the best idea.

Maybe something here will help...

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/11/25/204242/17

G-

[DBGenerator]

I've used motors from printers, RC toys, old hard drives, and a bunch of other stuff just for fun.  The most you can get is enough to light some LEDs.  Definately entertaining enough.  You can try the LEDs that change color when the voltage goes up, or make a voltage divider with multiple LEDs so that the more voltage you get out of it, the more LEDs that light up.  The biggest challenge I have had with things like that is getting a propeller to stay on those 1/8" shafts from the motor.

[Hoskald]

Heh! That is the article that got the old mental juices flowing about what I had laying around the house that might be fun to repurpose!

I might just try the ruler blades....could be fun. 1 m was just an "off-the-hip" max size to work with.

Looking forward to breaking out the soldering iron!

Cheers,

Hos

[Nando]

Forget the DVD changer, the motor is not good for a wind mill

Nando

[Hoskald]

Nando,

Not that I doubt your comment, but what is it about the dvd motors that make them unsuitable for wind chargers?  Some details would help me out here in understanding what works and what doesn't.

Thanks,

Learning as I go,

Hos

[TomW]

hos;

Not to speak for Nando, but I think he means "real windmill". Lots of folks mess around with small stuff just to learn if it doesn't work for you then you learned that rather than just accept it from anothers comment.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

I built several small failures before i got a [almost good] one from a TDM that could actually charge batteries.

[ghurd]

Me neither.

The resistance is far too high to get much more power than for LEDs or charging AA nicds.

The magnets are too small and weak to get much voltage at reasonable speeds.

The DVD parts I have are much smaller than the VCR parts.

I have some of these monsters too.  3.25" square x 1" thick, and weigh a pound.

They get to 3~4VDC open at high speeds.  Maybe 1A at 1.4V.  Barely good for 1 nicd cell.

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/3666/Tape_drive_motor.jpg

Fun and reasonably scientific, but hardly any power.

G-