Selfcharging cap circuit from Larskro fake or real ?

[TinselKoala]

Here's my take on the schematic. I think this may be the same as Groundloop's, except I'm not sure what the mystery object is. I'm pretty sure whatever it is it has its terminals one on each flat face.


ETA: I'm wondering if a little reed relay (containing its own reed switch and actuating coil) would be a suitable substitute for the motor/magnet/reedswitch arrangement. Since I have some reed relays but I don't have the little motor or any good separate reed switches... anyone have any thoughts on that?

[Hoppy]

I'm pretty sure whatever it is it has its terminals one on each flat face.

Yes, see my edited post above.

[TinselKoala]

That little motor is just a coil, right? I mean it's not commutated internally or anything, is it? Just a coil and an armature containing a magnet or something, designed to work as an AC generator in the waterpowered application?

[Hoppy]

That little motor is just a coil, right? I mean it's not commutated internally or anything, is it? Just a coil and an armature containing a magnet or something, designed to work as an AC generator in the waterpowered application?

No, I think you have the circuit correct, just a simple pulse motor. The Loop = no loop and no loop = loop trick.  I think I'm going loopy-loo looking at this contraption.

[Pirate88179]

In those two pix you can see the feature that makes me think it's a battery instead of a capacitor. Every capacitor of that type I've seen is a fat short cylinder. But this thing has that "accordion bellows" type of structure where it could be two disc batteries stacked together. It's not a cylinder, it has that circumferential valley.  I've never seen a capacitor like that but I have seen batteries that looked like that. The terminals would be on opposite faces.
I can't tell where the soldering is, but it does look like some wires come together at the side away from the camera.

I think you might be right.  Notice the same style of concave radial edge on the batteries on the right side of this photo.  Even though they have yellow wrapping on them, that same "bellows" or concave edge can be seen clearly.  I did not notice that...good catch.

Bill