PhysicsProf Steven E. Jones circuit shows 8x overunity ?

[Magluvin]

And here is a version of the wheel that will give 4 times the voltage out and both brushes can be on the axle instead of one on the outer edge of the disk. Note the 2 open connections near the center axis.

The red mags are N and blue S. These can be had in different divisions of pie pieces, some are made for windmill gens. The part of the conductor(orange) that is in front of the blue will have current flowing outward and on the red flowing inward( depending on rotation direction). 4 times the standard output voltage should be achieved. More pie pieces and/or conductors in series, the more the output voltage.

In the end, the advantage of these systems is no drag of conventional generators.  ;]

Mags

[Magluvin]

Considering the standard solid copper disk, the main reason I see that the voltage is so low is the very low resistance from any place to anywhere else on the disk.

So if we have say just 4 20ga wires outward from a center connection ring and an outer dia connection ring. All using the original mag configuration as Faraday used. I have to imagine the voltage would be higher this way than compared to the super low ohm of a solid copper disk.

Like in my pic above, the conductor can be many in series, increasing the voltage times the no. of conductors that zig and zag inward and outward across the appropriate mag pole. Something like that. ;]

Mags

[BobTEW]

Thanks for the input, TinselKoala, especially regarding the Indium-based eutecti
   I would be interested to hear if you / anyone thinks this is even POSSIBLE.  Thomas Valone experiments, etc., may suggest it is not possible.  I wonder what he thinks about this today...Meanwhile, yesterday evening I succeeded with my first homopolar GENERATOR.  Photos below will help a brief explanation.

First, I designed a simple motor using a 1" diam neo magnet with metal casing, held magnetically to a short/fat bolt.  (Extra mass helps keep it spinning during the generator phase.)  This in turn holds to a screw which I punched through a box to hold the system from above.  The screw-tip provides a good "bearing".

1.5 V is applied from a DC power supply shown, and the 1.77 A is typical for revving up the motor.  +1.5V to the screw, ground via contact wire to the rim of the magnet-disk.

Then, with the magnet+bolt spinning magnet spinning and power supply disconnected, it now has a potential due to {E = velocity X B effects} -- that is, it serves now as a generator.  Yes, even with the magnet co-spinning with the bolt. 

To measure the effect, I have connected one probe of an ammeter to the screw and the other via a separate contact wire, touching the rim of the spinning magnet.  One hand holds the contact wire, the other hand holds the camera -- and you see 0.9 mA measured on the meter produced by the simple homopolar ammeter, demonstrating output power from the homopolar generator.

This experiment was repeated several times.  About 1mA current was typical.  The voltage will be small (as TK correctly observed) especially with such a small diameter rotating magnet and has not been measured, but current generation has been demonstrated and measured.

I look at the magnet as one 'pole' attraction two "poles" repulsion -- current locked in motion. The true reason for Faraday's paradox. Perpetual motion internal to the magnet.

[neptune]

I have been doing some research. The very best article on the homopolar generator is as follows.
www.zamandayolculuk.com/Cetinbol/faradaydisc.htm
I can not create a link as such . There is apparently no back drag, and the article explains that OU is posible. To build a machine with a worthwhile output requires a lathe , lots of skill and a fat wallet.

[JouleSeeker]

Can I ask a fundamental question here? Generators of all types and sizes are commercially available. So what if any, are the advantages of a homopolar generator? Is it possible that this type of generator produces power without drag? In other words, is the "run down" time the same with or without the load?

Mine runs down faster with a load.

The homopolar motor/generator is:
1.  Easy to build
2.  Educational
3.  "Possible ou" -- see work for example by DePalma (but also Thomas Valone)

You also wrote --

It would appear that Edison found a way to mitigate the problems with rim contacts. His generator uses 2 discs and 3 magnets , arranged so that the discs are of opposite polarity. The rims are connected together, and power is drawn from the two seperate shafts.

This is very interesting!  Can possibly provide a link or more info regarding how the disks were arranged by Edison?  Are you sure it was Edison and not someone else?