Solar Powered Levitating Mendocino Motor
May 20th, 2009 by admin
Plans bought from Tom Vale (see video end credits for ordering info.)
Built entirely from scratch.
I deviated on some things from the plans to stuff I had laying around.
I used 2mm polystyrene foam sheeting for the rotor block, 32AWG lacquered wiring for the coils.
The Solar cells were bought off E-BAY about 2 years ago; some left overs from Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ program; pretty powerful @ 500mA each; .5volt.
The magnets were bought online from MAG-CRAFT.
The shaft is 3/16″ aluminum tubing.
The wooden base and 3″ mirror finishes it out.
Thanks, Tom!
Duration : 0:2:16
I’ll give it a shot
I’ll give it a shot
I really enjoyed …
I really enjoyed building it; You can use about any solar cell; these I bought off of E-BAY. They are powerful and are glass laminate for added strength. Radio Shack has solar cells that work well, but they are FRAGILE.
True. I guess the …
True. I guess the way I’m looking at it is this. The device is a very efficient switch that utillizeses the expanding and collapsing electromagnetic field to rotate the shaft, changing sunlight to motion/momentum. It’s quite fascinating…. genius in design and concept.
as per description, …
as per description, each cell generates .5volt @ 500mA.
You could take the 4 solar cells and make a small brushed motor scream with alot more torque.
This one is too …
This one is too cool!!! It comes right out and SCREAMS SIMPLISTIC GENIUS.
MUDDMANN
Nice job, thanks …
Nice job, thanks for posting the vid. Can you tell us the voltage and amperage each PV cell you used is, and did you hook the two cells in series or parallel to supply power to one of the coils? In regards to electric789 question, how is it that you find that the Mendocino motor is MUCH less efficient? Thanks again, great demonstration.
lol excellent video …
lol excellent video and beautiful worksmanship either way. dig the funky Mario remix too
No,
It’s MUCH …
No,
It’s MUCH less efficient; but a heck of alot more novel !
is this more …
is this more efficient than just using the pv cells to gather the sun? only 1 panel showing at a time.
i feel that the inertia or momentum makes up for only one panel getting sun at a time. the turning motion adds some exponential power generation it seems. im no engineer though.
Awesome !!!
Awesome !!!
it is very …
it is very beautiful, I’d love to get a kit but I don’t think I can swallow the $80 price tag and I’m not good enough at machining, (not to mention I don’t have the tools) to make it from scratch.
SIMPLY CLEVER
SIMPLY CLEVER
jasontimmer,
Yea …
jasontimmer,
Yea, but I like the levitating and seemingly perpetualness of it; as long as there is some light. Cool toy for the office shelf or near a window where no-one can bother it.
The better the solar cells, the better it works. The radioshack ones are very good, but VERY fragile. I used some I got off e-bay awhile back; lots of leftovers there for sale.
JoshatSuzuki,
…
JoshatSuzuki,
Yea, get all 3 ! !
You’ll have to build this one, though; very rewarding, though. Need any help, just e-mail Tom Vales or Me if You like.
WingedMark,
get …
WingedMark,
get the plans; only $18.00 if I remember correctly and build one. I think He also sells the kit. Check out his webpage at the end credits. I didn’t like the RadioShack magnets; the ones from MAG-CRAFT (check end credits for address) are much stronger and cleaner looking and not much more expensive, if any.
It’s not really that hard; just requires patience, a little soldering skills.
Good Luck!
cool…
I am …
cool…
I am gonna get either a sterling engine, gyroscope, or this for my b-day… maybe all 3 o.0
Brilliant! I’m …
Brilliant! I’m definitely going to have to make one of my own.
this is an awesome …
this is an awesome motor, but there’s no such thing as free energy.
I really want to make one of these, nonetheless!
Thank You very much.
Thank You very much.
Nice one! It’s a …
Nice one! It’s a very sensitive motor and I like the antique styling of the woodwork.
Very nice and tiny …
Very nice and tiny device, Bravo !
You should now try to make another one with different concept in order to run an electric generator making free energy !!!
Good luck !
BlueManCa