building a generator

[freeenergy6]

i have a couple of questions. I'm planning on making a generator for a small waterwheel i made and I'm trying do do it as cheaply as possible.

For magnets I've got an old lawnmower flywheel (12hp Briggs) with magnets on the inside there are 12 1"x3/4"x1/4" ceramic magnets on it, know i know there not good for a lot of power but i was hoping 200-300watts.
I have the laminates from an old box fan that fit nicely between the magnets, it has spaces for 6 coils

so i was how i would need to wind the coils so i could get 12v at around 300rpm

[wooferhound]

See if this link helps you any . . .
http://fieldlines.com/board/index.php/topic,143908.0.html

[freeenergy6]

so it looks like i need to just guess at how many turns each coil should have and make a test coil and see what it does, then figure it out from there.

after reading some of that it seems that my air gap may be too big

still sort of wondering if my ceramic magnets can make that kind of current

[ghurd]

Buy neo magnets.  They are cheap now.

Saving money by using salvaged ceramic magnets is going to cost more for copper.  And ceramics will not work as well.

Working backwards from a few statements Zubbly (RIP) made,
I think you will be hard pressed or very lucky to get 40W out of all 12 those magnets in a semi-decent alternator.

If the air gap is too large, need different magnets anyway.

It's a lot easier and has a much better chance of working if you start with good parts.
And it is always more fun when it works.
G-