Hi Adrian, I love this project! I found it on Instructables. I had 11th and 12th grade students make perfect replicas as your directions and your templates were spot on!!! The only issue we faced is that we could not get our LEDs to light. Even though we used the exact turbine generator toy motors you had linked on Instructables, (ordered on Amazon) we tested with a multimeter, tried several different LEDs and even swapped the motors for different motors we had from other kits, but still, only results were disappointed students. Any suggestions? I read that in order to generate enough power for the LED from just spinning a shaft of a toy motor we would need a DC motor that could rotate at 6,000 rpms or was constructed for 12 volts. Could this be the case here? We saw your video and it didn't seem like that was the case. Please advise if you can! Cheers!
Hi Donna! Of course you will have my help! I suggest you analyze the following: Are the motor and LED working properly? If you connect (2) 1.5V batteries in series with the motor it should rotate its shaft. In the case of the LED, it should also light with one or two batteries (1.5V-3V). Choose lower voltage LEDs if possible. The connection polarity of the LED matches the polarity that appears on the generator (motor). If it is the opposite, it will not turn on. I suggest you use a blower or hair dryer to make the rotor RPM higher The motor with which I made this project has an Electrical Resistance of 9.5 Ohms. If this resistance value were higher, the better since it would imply that it has coils with a greater number of turns. Reading some comments on the Amazon page that I shared, I realized that there are concerns from some buyers that they do not always send them the same type of electric motor, although their external appearance is identical. Using a smaller wheel on the motor shaft could increase the RPM a bit, keep that in mind too I hope I've helped. Keep me informated. Greetings
Thank you Adrian. I see this project as a very appropriate project for school students.
Thanks, students love this kind of stuff.
Eso es una obra de arte..
Hi Adrian, I love this project! I found it on Instructables. I had 11th and 12th grade students make perfect replicas as your directions and your templates were spot on!!! The only issue we faced is that we could not get our LEDs to light. Even though we used the exact turbine generator toy motors you had linked on Instructables, (ordered on Amazon) we tested with a multimeter, tried several different LEDs and even swapped the motors for different motors we had from other kits, but still, only results were disappointed students. Any suggestions? I read that in order to generate enough power for the LED from just spinning a shaft of a toy motor we would need a DC motor that could rotate at 6,000 rpms or was constructed for 12 volts. Could this be the case here? We saw your video and it didn't seem like that was the case. Please advise if you can! Cheers!
Hi Donna! Of course you will have my help!
I suggest you analyze the following:
Are the motor and LED working properly? If you connect (2) 1.5V batteries in series with the motor it should rotate its shaft. In the case of the LED, it should also light with one or two batteries (1.5V-3V).
Choose lower voltage LEDs if possible.
The connection polarity of the LED matches the polarity that appears on the generator (motor). If it is the opposite, it will not turn on.
I suggest you use a blower or hair dryer to make the rotor RPM higher
The motor with which I made this project has an Electrical Resistance of 9.5 Ohms. If this resistance value were higher, the better since it would imply that it has coils with a greater number of turns. Reading some comments on the Amazon page that I shared, I realized that there are concerns from some buyers that they do not always send them the same type of electric motor, although their external appearance is identical.
Using a smaller wheel on the motor shaft could increase the RPM a bit, keep that in mind too
I hope I've helped. Keep me informated. Greetings