Your Ad Here

Simple generator

Back


Build this ultra-simple AC electric generator from magnets, wire, and cardboard. (And a big nail!) Light a small lightbulb, or flash a red LED.

This demonstrates how generators work. Now if you want a more useful device, use a small DC motor as a generator, since it has much better magnetics design. All motors are generators. Figure out how to spin a motor's shaft, and you can make a small powerful generator. Or... figure out how to convert the cardboard generator into a motor!

Channel: Science & Technology
Uploaded: November 8, 2007 at 2:36 am
Author: wbeaty

Length: 00:07:43
Rating: 4.84
Views: 218778

Tags: generator physics magnet magnets amasci electricity science fair coil experiment experiments tutorial

Video Comments:
TJforster (January 6, 2009 at 10:43 am)
hey, where can i get all the materials? i got the box but i cant find magnetic copper wire or the magnes, PLEASE HELP!
wbeaty (January 6, 2009 at 1:46 pm)
The parts list and links is on the website.

The website URL is at the beginning and ending of the video. It's also on the Youtube caption above right. (and you don't even need to click "MORE INFO")
Eryegoien (January 4, 2009 at 11:39 pm)
thas amazing man!!!!!t y
nice vid *****
tanksponge (January 1, 2009 at 11:52 pm)
Hello, question.. Would using stronger magnets such as Neodymium magnets yield more voltage potential? Thanks
wbeaty (January 2, 2009 at 3:14 pm)
> Neodymium magnets yield more voltage

Yeah, if you keep the size the same, it's about 10X higher volts.

Even better is to use a thick 1-inch neo magnet, flipping inside a smaller cardboard or plastic structure. Then you'll only need 50 turns of wire to light the bulb. (But with just one magnet you'll have make the axle differently, like two nails with heads glued to magnet sides.)
wbeaty (January 1, 2009 at 2:08 pm)
> if it is possible to get this to spin on

Thousands of people for years have been chasing that dream. No success so far. A self-running machine (a new energy source) would be a billion dollar gold mine.

Is there any hidden source of energy inside a magnet at all? If so, then several generations of "OU" hobbyists have failed to find it.

And obviously the science community calls it "perpetual motion" and a waste of time.
thenumbersman (January 1, 2009 at 3:54 am)
Ok, thanks for clearing that up :-)
bilzoo2000 (January 1, 2009 at 2:52 am)
that is a very good idea, now only if they'll let me rig up my high school weight room...
bilzoo2000 (January 1, 2009 at 2:50 am)
there would be too much physical energy loss for that to work. not to be rude, but when i was 6 or 7 i thought i had figured out perpetual motion that exact same way, funny.
RCScubadiver (January 4, 2009 at 11:21 am)
it might be actually possible. you would (maby) have to get a motor with a lower voltage input than the genoraor's output, that could work...