I Made a Generator Using Lego
Ғылым және технология
Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=122597865
See my latest experiments and behind-the-scenes footage!
In this video, we'll explore some of the basics you need to know to build a small lego generator. Using some lego, copper wire, and some magnets, this generator produces enough power to light up some simple LED bulbs. But how many, and how powerful?
These generators are quite easy to build, and even though these smaller ones don't output much, they are easy to scale up. Some of the larger ones can produce quite a significant amount of power. I'll explore these in later videos.
If you have any questions, comments, or advice, please feel free to drop a comment, and I'll get back to you.
#lego #power #energy #technic #experiment
Пікірлер: 92
Thank you algorithm! I'm fairly certain in the past year or so they've adjusted it to favor discoverability of new channels. You're one of the absolute gems I've found recently! Keep it up!
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Aw that's a hell of a compliment, thanks - much appreciated!! And you're right, I'm also discovering some incredible new creators
15:20 ElectroBoom: “THE FULL BRIDGE RECTIFIER”
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
His voice plays in my head every time I bring one of those out 😅
@danek_hren
5 ай бұрын
15:26*
You deserve way more attention, great video man
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Appreciate it, thanks!
nice video! For even higher power output you should angle the coil 90° so the field lines connecting between the magnets run perpendicular to the conductors. Or maybe im missing something?
I am glad I found this channel. I only had one that I would watch and would do similar crafty things so to now have two is quite nice. I look forward to seeing more videos (^-^)
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Glad to join the crew! I'll keep them coming 😁
To anyone playing around with LEDs, you should use resistors matching the specs of the LEDs so you don't fry them.
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Good advice if you value your LEDs! Personally, I don't 😅
Stumbled across your video, immediately subscribed. Bloody Brilliant thanks.
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Aw thanks for joining! 😁
Such an amazing project. I'll definetly try build one by myself someday!
@JamiesBrickJams
10 ай бұрын
I hope you do - it's a really fun experiment that keeps on giving as you build better and better ones! Good luck 😁
this is a really cool video, i might try doing something like this myself!
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Glad to hear it! It's absurdly easy to make a simple generator. But it's also pretty difficult to make a good efficient one 😅
I love his channel, subscribed with the first video!
@JamiesBrickJams
9 ай бұрын
Aw thanks a lot, and cheers for joining 😁🙏
Love these tests!
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Cheers 😄 Got some more interesting tests coming soon
Awesome Video! Also discovered you through the beloved algorithm :) I would love to try something like this myself, an idea I had was to add a freewheel, basically helping you to maintain more stable speeds. Especially for other uses like charging a phone, you need very stable and accurate voltages. Maybe a big freewheel with a one-way clutch would help with that if you know what I mean?
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Hey, glad to hear it - you totally should give it a try! You could certainly try to control the output and it's 'smoothness' mechanically.. though by far the easiest way is to just filter the output through a capacitor bank. That way you've got a nice stable output, and if you really need a stable voltage, you can just use a simple voltage regulator - you can buy packs of them on Amazon for super cheap. You're right though, a nice flywheel with magnets on it does generally make for a nice smooth output
I've made a few lego generators before. It's super fun.
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
That's awesome, well done! You power anything with them?
@ariels9460
7 ай бұрын
Można zrobić coś takiego a by ten generator zasilał silnik który zasila silnik zamiast tej kropki czy musi być tam już bateria?
Just found this channel thanks to the algorithm and have enjoyed watching some of the tests you’ve done and have a question. Would having the wire coil in a spherical magnet whilst the magnet is spinning around the coil produce a stronger emf or would it be weaker?
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! You mean a spherical magnet travelling around the wire coil? I guess it would depend on the orientation of the poles of the magnet, how fast it's spinning, how big the magnet, etc. Lots of variables to consider! In general though I don't think spherical magnets would work well unless the coils were very specifically designed for that shape. Otherwise the density of the magnetic flux lines of a spherical magnet just wouldn't be close to the wires. Having a flat magnet allows you to align the field to flat surfaces of a coil is much easier.
I want to see one of these that can power the speaker.
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
That's what my latest video shows 😄
Y'know...if I feel like I need to use Lego to generate power...I'll just use Lego motors 😂 This is definitely impressive though.
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Haha very true, that's almost certainly a more efficient way 😉
South Africans: *Slamming card on desk*
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
😂
Multimeters can measure AC but this is bropably way higher frequency than 50 or 60 Hz
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
My old one couldn't but yes, my new one can! Video out very soon 😀
@danek_hren
5 ай бұрын
But they can measure up to at least 100 Hz these days.
You should add a flywheel to help with the fluctuation of the LEDs brightness
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Could do, but capacitors do a great job for that - will demo more v soon!
This is multi-million views/subs content, i love it. Keep on going👌
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Wow thanks for your comment - really appreciate it 😁Will keep working on upgrading quality
@arjanv.berkel878
Жыл бұрын
@@JamiesBrickJams then i will keep watching! Have a good sunday night!
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
You too! (I guess Monday now)
You teached me more than what my school teaches me in a week.
@JamiesBrickJams
10 ай бұрын
Woah thanks a lot, that means a lot to me 😁
of you replace the crank with a piston loop dove by the magments do you think it could run on its own till it wears down?
@JamiesBrickJams
4 күн бұрын
It'll still need an input of energy from somewhere. Unfortunately we never get energy for free from anywhere. The energy created by a generator will never be enough to drive itself as this requires an efficiency greater than 100%
Hey Jamie! This is great! if I wanted to replicate your experiment, what wire gauge do you recommend?
@JamiesBrickJams
29 күн бұрын
Thanks! 😁 To be honest, that depends entirely on what voltages you want, what magnets you're using, and how much force you can exert on the mechanism. If you want something that can actually produce some reasonable power, I'd recommend some beefy n42 to n52 magnets (maybe 25x40x10mm), and then some wire that is not too thin - probably around 24 to 28 gauge. Ideally you want the thickest gauge wire you can get for your desired voltage - so if you only need 5 volts, try the thickest wire you can get 5 volts from. Yours will likely need a bit of tinkering to find the right balance, so good luck!
@willherediaslegoworkshop4625
29 күн бұрын
@@JamiesBrickJams Wow! That was quick! Thank you!
If memory serves correct a single diode TYPICALLY causes something like a 0.6V drop...? Either way it's an awesome demonstration of the concept and very well built! I knew you were gonna do great 😅 (apparently I never finished this video)
@JamiesBrickJams
10 ай бұрын
Thanks a lot! Yeah it's a very simple design, but super easy for anyone to replicate themselves with a bit of Lego, some wire, and some magnets. Would love to see some other folks taking the idea to the next level
Do you have instructions for building the generator?
do you have a parts list so i can remake this on my own ? this i amazing
@JamiesBrickJams
6 ай бұрын
I'm afraid this is an old contraption thrown together with some random spare Lego, so I don't have a list. But it's also a terrible generator - you can make your own much better than this I'm sure! I've a video on a more simple generator with a much greater output which shows you exactly how to make it, so you could always try that one 😀
@kennettosborn8579
5 ай бұрын
@@JamiesBrickJams thank you for youre reply i have seen a couple of your videos now and i just need a little help in how to assemble the turning handle with all the gears inside im just learning about the gears and gear ratio
Nice a hand to phone adapter 😂
@JamiesBrickJams
Ай бұрын
🤣
We need a tutorial for this
Are there instructions for building the generator
Use lego motors as generator it works
@JamiesBrickJams
6 ай бұрын
Yup, it sure does! Probably more efficient too. But this way we get to learn about how generators actually work
Cool! Have you considered attaching it to an "Air Engine" like the ones created on the "Brick Technology" channel? It'd be interesting to see what would be effectively a lego power plant
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
I don't want to say too much, but totally - this is something I'm experimenting with right now 😉
What’s the part number of the green board connecting it all together?
@JamiesBrickJams
4 ай бұрын
I believe it's 39369. Incredibly useful piece!
@TheEnamkhan
4 ай бұрын
@@JamiesBrickJams thank you!
Led diode 💀💀
@JamiesBrickJams
9 ай бұрын
Just like ATM machine 😅
I was here before this channel blows up
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Haha I appreciate the projection 😄
Do you think you could use it to charge a battery?
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
With this one ... I wouldn't. But I'll demo some much more powerful ones that you could 😉
@bonksrys9341
Жыл бұрын
@@JamiesBrickJams thank you your a legend
you know if you attached an air engine it would be easier to record i spinning
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
You're totally right .. and that's totally on my list for a video - got it working already 😉
you use energy for create energy
Ehh kinda not a Lego generator but more like a hand crank flashlight
now power it by an air engine
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Fantastic idea 😉
can i use 2 magnets?
@JamiesBrickJams
5 ай бұрын
Sure can - you can use as many magnets as you like!
try to power it with a vacuum
why did you say LED diode? LED stands for light emiting diode basicly you said light emiting diode diode but thats not that bad for such a small channel
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
True, might have been a slip of the tongue I didn't catch 😅
There's a way to make a generator 100% out of lego, you can just use a lego motor as a generator. But the video would be pretty borring.
@JamiesBrickJams
11 ай бұрын
Yeah I've tried that many times - it works great. And probably more efficient than these! But agree, it's not as interesting
Wait...are you south African?
@JamiesBrickJams
Жыл бұрын
Yup, sure am! Lost most of the accent though
Eskommmn