Solar Powered Magnetic Lego Motor

Started by Atomm · 12 posts · 1,732 views

  2. #2
    Damn, that big of a let down huh?

  3. #3
    Atomm wrote:Damn, that big of a let down huh?

    It's a cool toy. I don't know if it would have any more use than a radiometer. Maybe if you wrap it in wire you could generate some electricity, but would it be more than the solar panels themselves?

    I guess I'm just jaded. I see something like that, and I wonder what use it could be, instead of just enjoying it for what it is.
  4. #4
    It was interesting. But "This has to be one of the coolest things evar!!!!11!1!1!1 "

    Ummm NO! 🙂
  5. #5
    It is connected on one end. Take that connection and hook it to something that does generate electricity.

    I see possibilities......

  6. #6
    Atomm wrote:It is connected on one end. Take that connection and hook it to something that does generate electricity.

    I see possibilities......

    I don't think it's 'connected' so much as it's restrained as little as possible to keep it from floating off the magnet. I don't know how much torque this will produce without refusing to move - in the demo, they've even greatly reduced the effect of friction. Also, the energy is being collected and put into the spinning motor by the solar panels. Is it likely that moving the conversion of energy further from the source will increase the output, or decrease? In other words, will the energy output from the spinning motor exceed the energy output of the solar panels alone?

    I haven't done any reading on these 'Mendocino motors'. Bubba's the edumacated one, where's he at? 🙂

  7. #7
    Doc, Remember Newton's 2nd Law.

    Energy out can not exceed energy input. That's why we don't have a perpetual motion machine. 😛

  8. #8
    Atomm wrote:Doc, Remember Newton's 2nd Law.

    Energy out can not exceed energy input. That's why we don't have a perpetual motion machine. 😛

    Then using the above motor to generate electricity would be less efficient than just using the solar panels.
  9. #9
    It is simple. The motor won't be able to produce movement when connected to a generator as it is not powerful enough.
    If you cannot connect it to one then it cannot produce anything from its movement. It only moves now because it only has itself to move.
  10. #10
    That is why there are gears my friend. The the amount and size of gears needed to get any real input from this would make it too ineffecient.
  11. #11
    Bubbaspanky wrote:That is why there are gears my friend. The the amount and size of gears needed to get any real input from this would make it too ineffecient.



    I agree Bubba and yes I do know about gears 🙂
    I just do not think this would be able to have enough force to move many 🙂

    Who knows. Maybe someday they could scale something like this up. Time will tell 🙂
  12. #12
    Well dangit, I thought Solar Panels on Magnets connected to Lego's once up there in geekdom. I stand corrected. 😛