Author Topic: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!  (Read 12600 times)

Offline Mel Larsen

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 12
My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« on: August 16, 2012, 01:40:38 AM »
Here is a little engine I built a few years ago.  I used a DC motor from a old HP printer for the generator.  Sorry about the poor quality of the video, but is all I have.  I built this engine from plans posted by Chuck Fellows. 
Mel

« Last Edit: August 16, 2012, 05:37:46 AM by Mel Larsen »
Hi from Wet, Wild, and Windy Waldport,OR.

Offline zeeprogrammer

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6811
  • West Chester, PA, USA
Re: Mine little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2012, 02:20:50 AM »
I always enjoy seeing engines running something.
Just seems to complete the thought.
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
"To work. To work."
Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

Offline steamer

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12697
  • Central Massachusetts, USA
Re: Mine little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2012, 02:28:00 AM »
I like it   Nicely done!
 :ThumbsUp:
Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline swilliams

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 896
  • Canberra Australia
Re: Mine little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2012, 02:35:07 AM »
Yep, nice ensemble

Steve

Bogstandard

  • Guest
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2012, 08:30:08 AM »
Small items like that really bring a new dimension to making little engines.

Very nicely done :NotWorthy:


John

Offline b.lindsey

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13860
  • Dallas, NC, USA
    • Workbench-Miniatures
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2012, 11:42:50 AM »
Nicely done Mel...I agree with the others, its does add to the interest when the engines are actually doing something.  What are you using for a belt?  I have tried large o-rings on numerous occasions, but the seem to age rapidly and crack.

Bill

Offline vcutajar

  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2555
  • Marsascala, MALTA
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2012, 12:02:24 PM »
Mel

Very well done. :ThumbsUp:

Vince

Offline Mel Larsen

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 12
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2012, 05:09:30 PM »
Thanks guys.  Bill, the belt is some thing I dug out of my "rubber things" box.  I don't know what or where it came from.  I think is some kind of seal.  It is square, 2" in diameter and probably neoprene.  I don't leave it stretched over the pulley while not running.  I have used it for a couple of years now.
Mel   
Hi from Wet, Wild, and Windy Waldport,OR.

Offline arnoldb

  • Administrator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1341
  • Windhoek, Namibia
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2012, 05:41:51 PM »
Very nicely done Mel  :ThumbsUp:

Kind regards, Arnold

Building an engine takes Patience, Planning, Preparation and Machining.
Procrastination is nearly the same, but it precludes machining.
Thus, an engine will only be built once the procrastination stops and the machining begins!

Bogstandard

  • Guest
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2012, 06:20:36 PM »
Bill,

I don't know about anywhere else in the world, but here in the UK, we find these are ideal for making up belt drives.

The tapered end just screws into the normal sized end, so they can be joined together to form long ones, or shortened to make, yes, you guessed it, short ones.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAMOD-UNJOINED-12-DRIVING-BANDS-PACK-OF-2-DRIVE-BELTS-/140654464537?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item20bfa8ce19

They really do seem to last forever if treated correctly. They are about 1/8" diameter.

John

Offline b.lindsey

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13860
  • Dallas, NC, USA
    • Workbench-Miniatures
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2012, 06:39:00 PM »
Thanks John. I will look into those and see if i can find a supplier on this side of the pond.

Bill

Offline Dan Rowe

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1170
  • Dripping Springs TX USA
Re: My little engine drives a generator and lights up a light!
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2012, 07:46:29 PM »
Bill,
Some of the oil lip seals I changed had a small endless spring in them. They were not tapered on the ends like the Mamod spring they had a smaller diameter spring to join the ends. Just another possible source if you know someone who works large industrial maintenance.

Dan
ShaylocoDan

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal