Tick-Tock Energy: Lego Pendulum Generator Lights Up the Night!

Рет қаралды 33,202

8 ай бұрын

Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=122597865
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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

Пікірлер: 88

@Scobragon 8 ай бұрын

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.

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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!

@JiffyJames85 8 ай бұрын

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.

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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!

@Louiswindowsxp 8 ай бұрын

idea: fully functional lego clock

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

I've considered it, but there are already some absolutely incredible Lego clocks out there that I can't compete with 😅

@Concrete1998 4 ай бұрын

I just found your channel. Glad the algorithm is starting to blow you up! 31.9k is far too little. Keep inventing.

@JamiesBrickJams 4 ай бұрын

Thanks a bunch, comments like yours mean a lot to me 😁🙏Looking forward to sharing more whacky experiments!

@rover2.0 7 ай бұрын

You could make a big magnetic generator, like the first one you've made but upgraded and cooler, continue, your creations a really amazing ❤

@JamiesBrickJams 7 ай бұрын

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.

@Lego-Electronics-more 8 ай бұрын

really cool, those magnets are really big!

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

They sure are ... and terrifying to use. There have been a few close calls 😬

@glowytheglowbug 8 ай бұрын

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

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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 😁

@glowytheglowbug 8 ай бұрын

@@JamiesBrickJams oh was just going off voltage that they take lol nice! maybe clock next?

@thijmenmolenaar5140 6 ай бұрын

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!

@JamiesBrickJams 6 ай бұрын

I have indeed learned that the hard way now - thanks for the heads up!

@kraavok 8 ай бұрын

I'm curious where you got the giant magnets from? I've wanted some for a while now. Great video too by the way ;)

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot! I got them on Amazon. They're a little pricey, but worth it - they're insanely strong

@toni20k 8 ай бұрын

i love your videos, they are so interesting!

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Appreciate you, thanks! 🙏

@dillpickle7633 8 ай бұрын

Found your channel cause of the speaker videos a few weeks ago and I am loving the content

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Aw thanks a lot, really appreciate it! 😁

@jannebengtsson7338 2 ай бұрын

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

@JamiesBrickJams 2 ай бұрын

That's awesome, I really love gravity generators - well done!

@suezq74 15 күн бұрын

0:15 the same thing happened to me when I got up from bed to urinate only to have my eyes assaulted with bright light

@JamiesBrickJams 15 күн бұрын

That's the worst 😬

@jeremiaszchworos5690 8 ай бұрын

i realy for some reason just thought that you were gonna use the ticking as some type of echolocation

@legotechnic27 8 ай бұрын

Oooh nice. Now make a windup mechanism attached to your bathroom door, so it automatically winds up as you open the door!

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Ha cool idea, might think through something like that

@LutraLovegood 4 ай бұрын

That's not a bad idea for emergency lighting.

@Adryanpie 8 ай бұрын

crazy idea-#2 make a engine that times it speed by 5 and make a car out of it WITHOUT TESTING THE ENGINE

@pia7482 8 ай бұрын

Just, Just Wow

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Ha cheers 😄🙏

@irkedoff 8 ай бұрын

Happy puppy❣️😊

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

😂

@mecadragoon 8 ай бұрын

u can use this as a timed switch if u connect it to a transistor

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

True, that's a cool idea! I guess it could also act as a mechanical switch

@kikithepug7352 8 ай бұрын

Nice

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Cheers 😊

@Boositothealien 8 ай бұрын

i think i might make this

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Hope you do - it's pretty straightforward! Good luck 😁

@Boositothealien 8 ай бұрын

i just need to get copper wire and some other things @@JamiesBrickJams

@BakedBeanEnjoyer 8 ай бұрын

extremely epic

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Thanks! 😁

@propopopa6869 7 ай бұрын

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

@alessioram6631 8 ай бұрын

Could you use multiple wind up motors for a longer duration, or brighter LEDs? Maybe with enough, you can do both of these things?

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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

@ayazemir4489 8 ай бұрын

nahhh this is cool

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Haha cheers 😁🙏

@user-lp3xs9lo6u 8 ай бұрын

cool

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Cheers!

@trueactionchannel 8 ай бұрын

i made a sick ass trebuchet with a wind up motor when i was 12 12 years ago. ah good times.

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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

@boredomproject5214 8 ай бұрын

have you though about making writen instructions ? i would love to know what parts you use and build it with my students

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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

@danieltoader5382 7 ай бұрын

Make a electrical generator out of a lego electro motor

@JamiesBrickJams 7 ай бұрын

Certainly could! ... A little bit too easy though 😜

@SheepUndefined 8 ай бұрын

Could you also use a bridge rectifier to make the led constant?

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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

@mihaipuscasu7357 8 ай бұрын

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.

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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

@toni20k 8 ай бұрын

for night you should use red color

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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 😎

@toni20k 8 ай бұрын

@@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.

@mistahhbeangaming8127 4 ай бұрын

Might be possible to make it so it can wind itself up partially?

@JamiesBrickJams 4 ай бұрын

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

@nfinitelooper 8 ай бұрын

W. But I do have a question. Can you make instructions for the thing you make? I rly want that air gun lol.

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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!

@nfinitelooper 8 ай бұрын

@@JamiesBrickJams ok perfect. Whatever you do is the right choice. Love ur vids

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot!

@SpyTf2na 5 ай бұрын

wath type of lego technique kit are you using?

@SpyTf2na 5 ай бұрын

I already have spike but i dont know witch type of lego kit this is

@JamiesBrickJams 5 ай бұрын

No specific kit, just loads of pieces from various technic sets over the years! You can do a lot with your spike prime though

@maxfilm1441 8 ай бұрын

clock?

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

'clock'

@MrCAT_MAN 8 ай бұрын

Can you make a fullauto lego gun

@JamiesBrickJams 8 ай бұрын

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

@chaseholland3714 29 күн бұрын

How does it work

@JamiesBrickJams 29 күн бұрын

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