pjl83

Thanks again for the replies guys. I've got the magnets and the wire now, I'll start building over the next couple of days and let you know how I get on.

Thanks for the comments. The wasted water comment is correct, I will think of some kind of container maybe using the rain water collector we have. At this point I don't want to get too wrapped up in the equations. I just want to keep it simple and make something happen so that I can show my nephew a working experiment. I'll build a small generator and measure the voltage and current that it produces. From there I'll decide what to connect it to. I'll keep you guys up to date on the results. Thanks Paul

Thanks for the replies. I'll read more into the science fair wind generators. There's some good stuff there. The simple generator looks good too. I am I correct in saying that I could use stronger magnets and thicker wire to producer a higher power output? Is there a way of calculating a set-up to give me 2 to 3 amps using the same type of generator only larger and maybe with a plastic casing and bearings for the shaft to give me more efficiency?

Hi All, My nephew has been learning about Hydro Electricity at school. He is very interested in the subject and has asked if I could help him make a Hydro-Electric generator at home as an experiment. I am more than happy with building the turbine bit. I was first thinking of using the tap outside to provide us with the power source (water-flow). The thing I'm not sure of is how to turn the spinning turbine into electricity and use it to do something effective for him to see. It can be something as simple as lighting a small bulb or sounding a buzzer. Then I got thinking about maybe plumbing something up to the drain pipe outside and somehow "storing" the electricity and using it later on to demonstrate the energy stored. For example: connecting a small bulb or a small radio with a switch and leaving it off for a while (a few rainy days) to generate a stored charge of electricity, then turning on the switch to show my nephew what Hydro Electricity can do. Any ideas on this would be very gratefully received as I'd love to make something impressive with him whilst he is interested in the subject. Sadly though, building generators and storing the electricity is a subject that I have never gotten into which is why I am asking for help from the more experienced. Thank you in advance, Paul

it will be wound approx. 3mm diametre with each coil around 4mm apart, this was what I was basing my length measurement on. Do you think this may cause problems with inductance? there will be and insulator through the middle of the coils and insulated on the utside too. What do you guys think? thanks

Thanks, It's ni-chrome resistance wire. If the equation is the same then I could calculate the wattage using the RMS value from a voltmetre at supply then maybe?

I've been working on a project that I posted on here a while ago. I was looking at using resistance wire to make a heated stirring attachment. I am now ready to build a tester to try out my theory. Using W=V2/R I worked out that using 230v I would need 6.3 ohm/metre to achieve my 100 watt target based on the total length of the wire needed. However, I found examples of this equation being used accurately with DC electrics. Would the resistance wire behave the same with AC ? If not, then how do I work out this equation using AC? Any thoughts would help on this...................... Thankyou in advance!

thanks externet. would the wires not short out where they cross at the bottom? I was assuming that the voltage would need to run through each wire without touching another on the way through. ???

yeah I need to look into tmeperature control. I'm no too sure how thermistors work. I was going to use a pot' for the voltage until I'd got it right and then move on from there.

i recon that my output would need to be around 70 degrees c, so hopefully i'll be ok. i'll post some results in the projects page once i start to play around with some examples. thanks again. Paul

maybe i could give it a try then. Thanks for your replies guys. I guess I'll have to have a play and see what I can come up with. Maybe something like this could work - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1kg-ceramic-polymer-coating-brushable_W0QQitemZ320411365943QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM?hash=item4a9a017237&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 Thanks again guys. I reply apreciate the replies Great Forum Paul

it needs to be a solid object as the liquid may at times be thick and the coil will need to be pushed through it. it has to stand alone as a customised piece. It's one piece of design that I am working on. I am calling it a coil but that may give the wrong idea. It's more like a fork/whisk type of of shape. Merged post follows: Consecutive posts mergedAnother member suggested ceramic but I think it may insulate too much heat.

I want to bend some resistor wire into a coil shape and then insulate it electrically. However, the coil will be used to stir and heat liquid so the material must not insulate the heat from the resistor wire. I would also like to experiment with this at home so can it be achievable in a DIY sense? The coil will be no bigger than a hand-held whisk (just for an example of size!) Any ideas welcome Thanks Paul

yeah good idea. at the risk of going off topic slightly (sorry mods. please advise me of the correct forum to place this if i am straying too much) is ceramic coating something that can be done at home?

very good.

thanks for the replies guys, so would I be able to stir liquid with a whisk wrapped in this type of wire? and am I right in thinking that the wire would need to be a comtinual length with no 2 parts touching along the length? basically I am looking at heating liquid via a "whisk" such as I have described by slowly turning it through the liquid. if anybody else has any other ideas then I would be more than happy to hear them. Thanks Paul

Hi All. Does anybody know anything about using resistor wire as a heater element? I will do my best to explain what I am thinking and then hopefully my question will make sense If I had an area of tubular metal (such as a hand held whisk, just an example for size/shape) and I wanted to make it "heated" I would wrap resistor wire around it (approx. 1 mtr in total) and then connect an electrical supply to it. what kind of voltage/wire size would I need to achieve around 60 degrees c? would this knid of wire work - http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=2196 if this question makes no sense then please say and I will try my best to explain another way Thanks Paul

thanks for the replies guys. The bi-metalic switch idea is a good one, but not right for what I require. The temperature doesn't have to be accurate, basically I need to keep the water as hot as possible without it boiling. There will be a seperate variable timer that will switch it off when required. Think of it like a microwave. (just for explanation purposes) you put your food into the microwave and set the timer. The heat is set by the power setting and it heats at that temperature for the length of time that you specified. Now, what I want to do is have a system that heats with hot water. So......... I put in my "food" in and set the timer. The water will then stay at 90 degrees for that set time and then switch off when the timer runs out. If I used a bi-metalic strip then I think once the switch has activated and cut the power, it may take too long to reset before allowing the power back on again and a lot of the temperature will be lost. It may be a little more complicated than I first thought. I need a good think about this one now. Keep the suggestions coming though. They are recieved with many thanks

Hi. I am wanting to keep the water at around 90 degrees. So switching on and off I think would be the answer. Could the resistance be varied to achieve the 90 degrees? Thnaks.

Hi All. I'm working on a project but I am struggling with temperature control. Basically, Using an element similar to that of a kettle, I need to keep the water temperature at around 90 degrees C. So what is it in a kettle that tells it to switch off at 100 degrees and how could I make/find one to switch at around 90 degrees. Or can you think of a better way of maintaining that water temperature? Thanks p.s. sorry for the poorly written question, I hope you can understand what I mean.

thanks, they look good. I'm just contacting the site now to find a charger to match.

Hi guys. I'm new here. I've had a good look through the forums and it seems that there are lots on here that really know their stuff. I am embarking on a small project myself. It's an idea that I've had and I would like to develop a prototype as soon as I find all of the neccesary components. I won't go into detail too much yet, but basically I need to find the tiniest rechargable battery/cell that I can. It must be capable of keeping an LED lit for several hours. What's your thoughts. Thanks, Pjl83