Help needed with Hyde Generator

[Steven Dufresne]

Well, I ordered this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Mini-Grinder-Bench-w-Flex-Shaft_W0QQitemZ290288077575QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGrinders?hash=item290288077575&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

It's the same grinder as Mark found, just at a cheaper cost. It should get here in 7-11 days so I guess I'll work on my testatika in the meantime, trying out pretty much the same principle. I'll let you know when the grinder arrives and give gory details of the dissection. 
Thanks all!
Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org

EDIT: Paul, I normally don't even glance at the ads in between messages but out of curiosity I just did. The one's on this page  at the time were for "Dynamic Balancing Services"! Who knows, maybe I'll need them someday.  Stefan, I clicked!

[Paul-R]

EDIT: Paul, I normally don't even glance at the ads in between messages but out of curiosity I just did. The one's on this page  at the time were for "Dynamic Balancing Services"! Who knows, maybe I'll need them someday.  Stefan, I clicked!

I still think you should try the Professor of Mech Eng at one of
your local universities. They might be able to turn your work
into a minor 2nd year project ("Effect of out-of-balance forces on
bearing performance" - or somesuch) and leave you with a
very well balanced shaft, motor and double disc system.
Paul.

p.s. very interested in the electrets on your site.

[Steven Dufresne]

I still think you should try the Professor of Mech Eng at one of
your local universities. They might be able to turn your work
into a minor 2nd year project ("Effect of out-of-balance forces on
bearing performance" - or somesuch) and leave you with a
very well balanced shaft, motor and double disc system.

I am tempted to. One of those universities is the University of Ottawa which has been very open minded in working with Thane Heins. But, I take a minimalist approach first, that way if I manage to do it in my living room and it taps into some energy source then I'll know that anyone else around here will be able to too. If I find I can't balance it then I'll go to the uni.

p.s. very interested in the electrets on your site.

Sadly I didn't measure and limit input current, so they didn't work out. It would have been so easy to have put in an ammeter and a resistor. Maybe I'll set it all up again some day.
-Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org

[Steven Dufresne]

Hey Guys!
My mini bench grinder (aka motor for Hyde generator) arrived and it works great! I made up a video so you can see it for yourself. I even filmed a speed test using my tachometer and sure enough, 10,000 RPM no load.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR8U6T9Q0tc

I will have to cut off the black metal rim covers that extend over the wheels and that the flexible shaft attaches to. Too bad, I was hoping to not have to damage it in case I want to reassemble it again later (in the unlikely event the Hyde generator doesn't work out .) I'll still be able to reassemble it but without the plastic guard and flexible shaft attachment. Anyway, I'll keep you posted and thanks again for you help.
-Steve
http://rimstar.org   http://wsminfo.org

[X00013]

Hi, I'm tuning in late, as far as balancing goes on a budget, watch the vid i post just as a reference. You can build one of these and balance anything almost as good as a very expensive machine ( which I have done and still do), Modern day percision bearings cleaned out are 99.99% efficient, so if you buy good bearings, clean them out ( no seals or greese), treat with less than zero weight oil, AND the trick is to hang the jig ( use gravity), use percision cones, and for less than $25 dollars you can balance anything to the efficiency of your bearings ( remember 99.99)  which most people cant and wont do, but they will tell you i got this dohickey that can do it,  if you want it done right ,  hell,  you gotta do it yourself),,   and if you dont want to go thru all that, then call up your local speedbike shop and ask them to balance something for you (old school), they will charge you 5 bucks and do a better job than any $10,000 piece of equipment can do. Good Luck  (dremels spin at 30k) stackm up!!