Building a simple, low-power power plant can be a pretty fun science project or just an experimental workshop for someone who wants to be an engineer. The equipment is simple, inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Step
Step 1. Decide what size project you want to build
There are design and engineering considerations that can be used, but to keep things simple, this article will provide instructions for building a simple, low-output generator.
Step 2. Get the materials you need
The size and specifications can be adjusted to increase your generating capacity, but this is a basic overview of the project.
- Enameled copper wire 22-28 ga. About 150 meters of wire will produce a moderate voltage. More "coils", combined with a stronger magnet will increase the output power.
- 7, 6 or 10.2 cm long bar magnet (should match the length of the cardboard tube at the bottom, leaving some space).
- Iron or aluminum rods 0.6 cm in diameter, 30.5 cm long.
- Wood measuring 1X4 along 61 cm.
- 1 – large paper or cardboard tube, 10, 16 cm in diameter.
- 2 – ring measuring 0.6 cm.
Step 3. Create a "U" sized frame to support your "propeller", which is a permanent magnet rod mounted on an iron shaft
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- Cut the 1X4 wood into several pieces, 2 15.2 cm long, one 30.5 cm long.
- Nail or bolt both 15.2cm planks to the 30.5cm plank at an angle perpendicular to the 30.5cm plank, which is the base of the propeller frame.
Step 4. Drill two 0.6 cm holes in the two upright frames, aligning them so that the 0.6 cm rod (propeller shaft) passes through them unbound
Step 5. Drill a 0.6 cm hole through the center of your magnetic bar, in the flat, widest part
Take care to measure the center for both length and width, and drill perpendicularly so that when the shaft is inserted, the magnet will "fit" into the shaft.
Step 6. Slide the iron shaft through one side to support the frame, slide the magnet onto the shaft
Step 7. Cut a piece of paper or cardboard tube with a size of 10, 2 cm
If you don't have a tube, you can make one by rolling a piece of construction paper into a cylinder and gluing it together to keep it this way. The ideal diameter for this tube is at least enough for the magnetic bar to rotate freely in the tube, keeping the magnetic field as close to the copper coil as possible.
Step 8. Wind the copper wire around a cardboard or paper tube, keeping the wire loose about 40.6 to 45.7 cm on each side, to connect to your test kit, an electric light bulb or other device that you will stream power
The more "turns" or coils you make around the tube, the more power your generator will generate.
Step 9. Slide the tube over the shaft and magnet, then slide the shaft through the other support frame
You will need a few inches of the shaft to protrude from the frame on each side.
Step 10. Attach the magnet to its axis at the center of the two supports, using a high-strength, hot melt glue or epoxy
You might choose to drill through the magnet with a "set of screws" if you have the tools to do so, but the real idea is for the magnet to be statically connected to its axis.
Step 11. Support the paper cylinder with the cable reel in the center of the shaft, with the magnetic bar located in the center of the cable reel
You may simply cut out a cardboard leg that can be glued to a cylinder or make a wire frame out of a hanger or similar stiff wire to make one.
Step 12. Twist the axis with your fingers to see if the ends of the magnet hit the inside of the tube
The magnet should be able to rotate freely, but as close to the tube as possible. Again, placing the ends of the magnet as close as possible to the coil of copper wire will increase the "pulling" action of the magnetic field generated by the magnet.
Step 13. Glue a washer to each end of the shaft on the outside of the wooden supports
Step 14. Attach the two loose wires at the ends of the coil to a flashlight or low-voltage light bulb or connect them to the needles of a voltmeter or multimeter
Step 15. Turn the shaft as fast as possible
You may want to wind a thread around the end of the shaft the way you would "twist" a toy, then pull quickly or twist it with your fingers. You should be producing a low voltage, enough to light a 1.5 volt light bulb by manually turning the axis.
