Captain Hans Coler (Kohler) Magnetstromapparat (Magnet Power Apparatus)

[Michelinho]

Hi neptune,

This is getting interesting.I am planning to replicate this myself.One problem is knowing what iron or steel to use for the magnets. Ordinary mild steel is probably unsuitable, as it it has low retentivity. I wonder if the physical hardness of steel has any relationship to its retentivity? In the old days, magnets were made of alloys like Alnico, etc. Without having a foundry, we are restricted to modifying off the shelf components. Would high tensile steel bolts work? A voice from my subconscious keeps shouting Silver Steel as used in model engineering, but I don't Know. Coler may have used alnico or similar. What are you using Michelinho? Any suggestions welcome. I am also wracking my brain for a simple mechanism to adjust all the magnets at the same time.

My first magnets were made with 1/2" X 1/2" X 4" iron, they had very low magnetic retention. I had to use ceramic or neodynium at one end or both ends depending on tests but the higher output was without booster magnets. Strange...

I tried to magnetize grade 8 bolts and the magnetic retention was better than my first iron magnets. The new magnets use carbon steel and after they were magnetized their field was at 78 Gauss on the south pole and 58 Gauss on the North pole. Not strong but about 10 times better than the old ones and the field strength did not drop after a few hours. One magnet is strong enough to lift another high carbon steel magnet.

So next week I'll wind the coils and restart the tests.

Take care,

Michel

[neptune]

@Michelinho. Please do not destroy your present device, remember it is the first recorded working device for about 55 years. Since we have no idea how it works, it is difficult to try to understand the circuit. People, including me, keep on about this frequency of around 180KHz. If this is relevant, we would be looking for a tuned LC circuit. I would be interested as to what value of capacitors you used, If this tuned circuit exists, and we could identify which of the components form it, we could test its resonant frequency by using a dip meter aka grid dip oscillator. From experience as a Radio Amateur, looking at the coils in the circuit, I would guess at a frequency of say 10 to 30 MHz. Anyone who ever built a long wave crystal set will agree there are nowhere near enough turns of wire here for 180KHz. Maybe the magnets change everything? Who can say, as we don't know how it works. What we need are more opinions and input. If I am wrong Tell me.

[Michelinho]

Hi neptune,

@Michelinho. Please do not destroy your present device, remember it is the first recorded working device for about 55 years.

I am not destroying the old setup, I will make new magnet holders and simply replace them with the new ones. I keep the old ones intact for further testing.

About the Tuning Coils:

Outer tube: 3 1/2" X 8"
Inner Tube: 3 1/4" X 10"
Magnet wire used: AWG 18
Number of turns on the Outer Coil: 150 turns ~0.9 ohm
Number of turns on the Inner Coil: 170 turns ~0.9 ohm


My son-in-law came yesterday with his Gauss meter and we tested many options. One strange effect we saw that has nothing to do with the magnetstromapparatus and may be applicable or not to a new setup for generating electricity:
Take a "U" magnet and place a neodymium magnet on one pole (serial polarity). Place the keeper on the neodymium magnet like the illustration and turn the keeper... See what happens. (You can wind a coil on the keeper or on the free "U" magnet leg for fun ).

Take care,

Michel

[sushimoto]

I have just re-read the original report. It says that Coler agreed to build a small model of the aparatus. The highest voltage obtained was 0.45 volts. Twelve volts is also mentioned, but this may have been on a larger version he had built years earlier. We must not underestimate the time nesessary to adjust it, we are talkind days here. The ultimate answer would be a machine to uatomatically make the adjustments and record the output. His larger device with the 6kw output would obviously be more worthwhile, but the details we have are vague at best. Even if no further advance is made, I have to say congratulations on a brilliant replication

Hi,

sorry for just poppin' in, but may I ask if the distance of the coils is a
major part of the time cosuming adjustments?
In the original setup, i do see the 6-legged "spider" with the long holes and screws in it.
There is a mechanical solution to move all of them in and out synchronously.
Is that something, what could help here?

best,
sushi

[Michelinho]

Hi,

sorry for just poppin' in, but may I ask if the distance of the coils is a
major part of the time cosuming adjustments?
In the original setup, i do see the 6-legged "spider" with the long holes and screws in it.
There is a mechanical solution to move all of them in and out synchronously.
Is that something, what could help here?

best,
sushi

Hi sushi moto,

Yes the whole process is time consuming as it is the only thing that will show peak output. It could be done with step motors or linear motors and gears or strap with a programmable chip that would pause and compare various settings position vs electrical output. The tuning has to be done with magnet positioning first and then different tuning coil settings for each magnet movement.

But that would take part of the fun out. 

Take care,

Michel