Tick-Tock Energy: Lego Pendulum Generator Lights Up the Night!
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- čas přidán 27. 09. 2023
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Well it’s that time again to make yet another wildly impractical generator using Lego Technic. For this iteration, I was interested in building a mechanism to allow a slow release of electrical energy so that we can power a small LED light for an extended period of time.
The principle is simple: a wind-up motor stores some energy, which is then released via a clock-like escapement mechanism which drives a pendulum. And the pendulum weight consists of some large neodymium magnets which swing between a pair of copper coils, generating a small trickle of electricity over time.
This Lego generator doesn’t produce much power, but it’s enough to power a small ‘night light’ for a couple of minutes. And I personally enjoy the satisfying tick-tock noise it makes as it runs. Please let me know if you can think of any other applications that require a small amount of power over a period of several minutes!
#lego #generator #energy #power #gadgets - Věda a technologie
should use red LED, since it's easiest for eyes if you're trying not to wake up fully.
It's also why old timey submarine conning towers had red lights, so you could see while you're inside, but could just go outside during night without needing to adjust too much.
You're totally right, I originally wanted to use red LEDs for that reason! I went with green though as they're brighter at 2.7 volts, making it easier to record. Interesting fact about submarine conning towers!
I built a k'nex generator a while back. I found adding an iron core significantly increased the power output. Not sure it would work here as the magnet would be strongly attracted to the iron cores, making it hard to get the escapement working.
You're right, it definitely does - I've made many iron core generators too. But for those, you really need a series of cores that equally drag on the magnet to cancel out the attraction (or at least a lot of it). Well done on your generator though - K'nex can't have been an easy building material for that!
idea: fully functional lego clock
I've considered it, but there are already some absolutely incredible Lego clocks out there that I can't compete with 😅
I just found your channel. Glad the algorithm is starting to blow you up! 31.9k is far too little. Keep inventing.
Thanks a bunch, comments like yours mean a lot to me 😁🙏Looking forward to sharing more whacky experiments!
i realy for some reason just thought that you were gonna use the ticking as some type of echolocation
You could make a big magnetic generator, like the first one you've made but upgraded and cooler, continue, your creations a really amazing ❤
Thanks a lot! Yeah, you sure can make bigger ones. I've made several large ones. However unfortunately larger often doesn't mean bigger output. It all comes down to how much torque you can put on a Lego Axle. At a certain point it just breaks the axle. And you can do that with a small generator! However in the future I'll make a video on a larger 3 phase generator which has a much better output.
really cool, those magnets are really big!
They sure are ... and terrifying to use. There have been a few close calls 😬
kinda cool :) i think red leds will be the lowest power u can try that! also a thing that you might want to try is switch the pullback motor for an actual weight so its consistent
Both excellent suggestions, thanks! I initially used red LEDs but green were actually brighter at 2.8 volts, so I just went with them. I suspect you could make an argument that red LEDs would be less disruptive to your sleep though. And you're totally right about using weight for a more consistent torque - I've already got one working. Will certainly make a video on a belt driven generator at some point. Cheers 😁
@@JamiesBrickJams oh was just going off voltage that they take lol nice! maybe clock next?
i love your videos, they are so interesting!
Appreciate you, thanks! 🙏
Hey, I just want to tell you that a lego 8 tooth gear will not mesh with a chain very well, you can also see the chain slipping in the video. Keep up the excellent ideas though!
I have indeed learned that the hard way now - thanks for the heads up!
Found your channel cause of the speaker videos a few weeks ago and I am loving the content
Aw thanks a lot, really appreciate it! 😁
I made something similar to this way back in my student years but instead of a whind up i had a string elevator that i placed a heavy rock in to lead it with potential energy
That's awesome, I really love gravity generators - well done!
I'm curious where you got the giant magnets from? I've wanted some for a while now. Great video too by the way ;)
Thanks a lot! I got them on Amazon. They're a little pricey, but worth it - they're insanely strong
Just, Just Wow
Ha cheers 😄🙏
Happy puppy❣️😊
😂
u can use this as a timed switch if u connect it to a transistor
True, that's a cool idea! I guess it could also act as a mechanical switch
i think i might make this
Hope you do - it's pretty straightforward! Good luck 😁
i just need to get copper wire and some other things
@@JamiesBrickJams
Nice
Cheers 😊
crazy idea-#2
make a engine that times it speed by 5 and make a car out of it WITHOUT TESTING THE ENGINE
Oooh nice. Now make a windup mechanism attached to your bathroom door, so it automatically winds up as you open the door!
Ha cool idea, might think through something like that
That's not a bad idea for emergency lighting.
Could you use multiple wind up motors for a longer duration, or brighter LEDs? Maybe with enough, you can do both of these things?
I'm sure you could! This contraption is also pretty inefficient - you could make it run longer using different gearing and by extending the length of the pendulum. You may also get a better output with a longer pendulum as the magnet would travel past the coils faster
extremely epic
Thanks! 😁
have you though about making writen instructions ? i would love to know what parts you use and build it with my students
That's interesting to hear - I've considered it, but it takes quite a bit of time, so haven't pulled the trigger. But perhaps in the future that's something I'll work on
cool
Cheers!
Could you also use a bridge rectifier to make the led constant?
It's actually using a bridge rectifier (the small black chip in the breadboard). That however won't make the LED constant, it only converts AC to DC. So because the signal is still pulsing, the LED will still flash. Using a capacitor like the one in this video does smooth out the signal, allowing it to shine smoothly
Now hear me out if you can make one that lasts like 30 mins into a night light for you to sleep for people who need nightlightz
The clicking seems to be a bit loud. Can something be made to reduce that by any degree? I am very much annoyed by this kind of constant noise in my every day life from buzzing lights to chargers, to tick tock clocks, which is why there are clocks in my house.
Sure, there are plenty of other escapement mechanisms that can be much quieter! I personally love the sound, so I guess it's a preference thing
nahhh this is cool
Haha cheers 😁🙏
i made a sick ass trebuchet with a wind up motor when i was 12 12 years ago. ah good times.
That's awesome, well done! Gotta say, I absolutely love trebuchets. I've tried my own but not happy with it yet. Love your idea of using the wind up motor for it
wath type of lego technique kit are you using?
I already have spike but i dont know witch type of lego kit this is
No specific kit, just loads of pieces from various technic sets over the years! You can do a lot with your spike prime though
Might be possible to make it so it can wind itself up partially?
I suppose it's possible to add a motor, sensor, and power box to do that. But at that point, you're better off just using the power box directly to some LEDs
for night you should use red color
You're probably right - red light could theoretically disturb sleep patterns less. I picked green due to it requiring a lower voltage to get bright 😎
@@JamiesBrickJams i mean you can have every color that does not have any blue in it. blue makes you drive crazy at night, even when you dont see that you are crazy from it. it also makes you sleep not well and might break your mood for the next day.
W. But I do have a question. Can you make instructions for the thing you make? I rly want that air gun lol.
I've been considering making some instructions for some of these, but right now haven't had the time to plan it out. Maybe in the future though!
@@JamiesBrickJams ok perfect. Whatever you do is the right choice. Love ur vids
Thanks a lot!
Make a electrical generator out of a lego electro motor
Certainly could! ... A little bit too easy though 😜
clock?
'clock'
How does it work
The swinging magnet creates a small current as it passes between the two copper coils - acting just like a mini generator. The capacitor collects and stores some of that energy, which smooths the output to the LEDs. So they glow for a couple minutes or so as the pendulum continues to swing
Can you make a fullauto lego gun
Hmmm... semi-auto for sure ... full auto is another beast, but I like the idea! Perhaps some kind of escapement mechanism could be used to regulate the firing speed
only now realizing how nerdy i am
Welcome 🤓
Pls sel it
Are u danish?
I'm Irish / South African, but probably have some Danish in there going way back
Nice, it’s just that in your name it says “Copenhagen”
@@Rubiksmagnetic Ha yeah we assume there's likely some heritage from round there!
First /e pin