Help needed with Hyde Generator

[leo48]

@Steve

The new diodes I mentioned in my previous post didn't help

If you I used the AC power
regards
leo48

[Steven Dufresne]

@SteveIf you I used the AC power

I measured the AC current and voltage. I don't remember what the exact values were but the current x voltage, the power, was very small.

A working Hyde generator is supposed to produce unusually high voltage spikes. I wasn't getting any of that. I think that when I get rid of the ionization leakage then instead of AC I will be seeing pulsed DC. That's what you should see in a variable capacitor as the capacitance varies. It's very hard to do with a high voltage variable capacitor. Then at around 6000 RPM, the pulses are supposed to turn into much, much higher spikes.
-Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org

[FatBird]

Please tell us where you bought your circular Plastic Discs.

Thank you.

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[Steven Dufresne]

Please tell us where you bought your circular Plastic Discs.

They're homemade. I go to Home Depot and spent some time looking at all their pieces of Lexan Polycarbonate XL10 sheets (.093" thick, 11"x14") looking for the flattest one I can find. To do that I first stop by the tool section and borrowed one of their large squares so I can use that as a reference. The material and dimensions are arbitrary although I do want to use at something that is already close to the size of the final disk so I can be reasonably sure in the store that it would be flat when finished.

Then I go home and drill the necessary holes in what would be the middle of the disk and mount the whole rectangular piece on the Hyde generator motor shaft.

Next I measure out from the center of the shaft to the radius I want the disk to be and made a mark with one of those markers used for writing on CDs and DVDs (i.e. one good for writing on plastic.)

[EDIT: Then I put masking tape over where I think the circle that the marker is going to make will be, roughly. This isn't for the marker's sake. It just seems to help with the later step of cutting with the scroll saw. Depending on the plastic material and if the speed of the scroll saw is set too high, during cutting the plastic may melt back together behind the blade just after a cut has been made. The tape seems to help prevent this.]

I then fix the marker in place such that the tip is pressing firmly on my radius mark. Sometimes I use a portable vice to hold the marker, sometimes I do other tricks. But with the marker in place I then slowly rotate the disk. As I do so, the marker marks out the circumference of the disk.

I then remove the still rectangular piece of plastic from the motor shaft. By marking it this way I'm reasonably sure the disk has the same radius all the way around relative to the shaft. I screw it onto the shaft with three screws:
http://rimstar.org/sdenergy/hyde_generator/hyde02/hyde02_hubs.JPG
and since my work is far from perfect, I number the screw holes on both the aluminium boss (see picture) and the disk, that way I'll always match up the same holes each time I mount it.

To cut the disk I use a 16" table scroll saw, this one:
http://www.ryobitools.com/catalog/power_tools/scroll_saws/SC164VS
on my kitchen table (I'm not married so I can do that  .) I cut it close to the mark but not touching, about 1/8" away from it. So that gives me a very rough disk.

Next I bring out my tabletop disc sander, this one:
http://www.ryobitools.com/catalog/power_tools/sanders/BD4600
(again, not married  ) and with the Lexan disk sitting on the table on the side (see link), I use the disc sander on the side of the machine to sand off the remaining plastic up to the radius mark.

Note that these power tools are reasonably cheap, lightweight to move around and store when not in use. Highly recommended and very enabling. And I live in an apartment but I don't use them often, use them during times of day when it won't bother people and open windows and run the stove fan for ventilation. If I can do it, anyone can.

Done! Enjoy.
-Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org

[FatBird]

Thank you for the SUPER, SUPER Clear & Easy to follow instructions.

I sure wish everyone on this forem made their instructions as good as you do.

Thanks again Steve.

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