Powell's Power Pendulum

[oscar]

Hi 1quasar1,
I am insecure, so please forgive the question:
do your tests show, that the amplitude of the pendulum decreases less, when it has to power an electrical load?.
Or same question put the other way round: does the pendulum's amplitude decrease faster when there is no electrical load (motor or LEDs) attached?

Thx.

[1quasar1]

Hey Oscar. Nothing to forgive.( I should mark my own words )  I'm happy to answer your questions where I'm able. I think if you watch the first video closely, you will see that in the unloaded test, there are fewer cycles than when loaded. I'm pretty sure that some energy is lost in the lever arc. The greater the degree, the more loss. However I think the loss could be reduced with less friction at the pendulum axle. Once friction and any excess lash are reduced, I think that optimal lever travel could be determined based on the load. Do you have any electronics experience? I had an idea for pulsing the pendulum based on its travel speed to make up for any variables in the load.

Dave 

[1quasar1]

Hello Jim. Is there any way you could send a drawing of you idea. I think I  follow, but would like to be sure. As the device stands now, I have 4 ea. flashlight generators, 2 on each side. They are linked in series and their output is rectified by one of the original flashlight circuits. I have come to understand that 3 ph permanent magnet alternators are much more efficient, but I'm not near versed in this field as I would like. I know just enough to be dangerous. Thanks for your assistance.

Dave

[oscar]

Hi 1quasar1

....you will see that in the unloaded test, there are fewer cycles than when loaded...

So that means that you would want to strengthen this feedback effect so that the loading adds power to the swing - and that this feedback or backlash 'kicks in' or 'hits back' at the right moment of each cycle.
I think the similarity to the mentioned patent is, that in the patent the load is purely mechanical but he also tries to establish and exploit such a feedback process.
I wish I could grasp it better myself.

Do you have any electronics experience?

No, but there is a good chance that somebody reads your posts and might step in to help, when you pose your question.
I hope.

[1quasar1]

Hello Oscar. Thanks for your posts. You just reminded me that I should show how much mechanical resistance there presently is. ( well, minus bearings) I think the next demo I will show the amount of torque required to actuate the lever with all the generators removed. This will leave only the centering springs to overcome and give us some idea of how much friction could possibly be reduced. I'm leaning towards trying to power just one very large motor/generator with a bow type setup as the one you see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uKoAwFFwPY. Thanks again Oscar.

Dave