Mendocino Motor - solar powered, magnetically levitated

[Dingus Mungus]

This is nothing more than a inefficient conversation piece...

Think about it. Solar collector (<20%efficient) builds a charge and pumps it through an electromagnet which turns the rotor 90 degrees. Even though it is "floating on magnetics" there are still mechanical losses. Plus half or more of your solar collectors surface area is in the devices own shadow at any given time. I would assume a roof mount solar collector powering a brushless LRK motor would make a lot more sense when it comes to efficiency. A hell of a lot easier to construct too.

Just my 2 cents,
~Dingus

[Dingus Mungus]

Dingus.

Send me a quick drawing and I will make your version for my desk if it is a heck of a lot simpler to make.
I thought this would be cool on my desk at work.
I have many fresnal (SP) lenses I can use for it.  From 12"x12" to to 3'x4'
But for my desk..  12"x12" will get in the way.

I can send you the component links but it would just be a spinning shaft in the end. I was pointing out the inefficiency of the design since the solar collectors are only half exposed at any given time when they are on the armature. You would be looking for more of a "conversation piece" for work more than an efficient solar powered motor I would think.

Brushless DC motor made for next to nothing.
http://www.simplemotor.com/kits1-4.htm
I would just use junk to build the motor, and you can get the solar cells
at radio shack or try to get the same cells as the mendo motor uses.

Then power it by a 4x solar array, just like the mendo motor...
The big difference is all 4 of your cells will be fully exposed at all times.
That should mean twice as much transfered power and removing the solar cells
combined weight from the armature will also increase efficiency at the shaft.

Good luck either way...
~Dingus

P.S. The mendo motor sure does look neat though.