Be a Scientist: Build an Electrostatic Motor

Normal motors are driven by electromagnetic forces. This motor needs no batteries, mains supply or solar cells. Electrostatic motors are turned by the kind of electricity generated by wearing nylon clothes in a modern office. Think of it as gigantic nano-technology as well, because this is how the microscopic motors of nanobots work.

Step 1 Gather your materials.

For the basic motor, you need a disposable plastic drinking cup, aluminium foil, glue-stick, bamboo or dowel (at least a centimetre or two longer than the cup is tall), wire and a non-conducting base, such as a plastic plate or a wooden board.

Comments

[jembersonic]

This didn't work With the TV method, my ground was a plumbed radiator :/

[Kiteman]

That's a shame.

My first questions would be "Was the weather humid?", and "Were you in contact with bare metal on the radiator?".

[Ugifer]

This is great - thanks for the instructable.

I bought a cheap refurb Van de Graaff off e-bay and it arrived today. The thing is, the generator makes so much electrostatic wind that a plain plastic cup will turn in any case - no need for the foil!

I made my rotor using mylar film from a crisp-bag (chip-bag if you are American) and it seemed to work very well. Turned when the other end of the wire was about a foot from the VdeG. No need to actually contact the dome.

[Kiteman]

Wow - how big is your VdG??

[Ugifer]

Nothing huge - dome is about 9". Makes maybe a 3" spark.

I think the friction on the cup is just so low that it turns with the slightest breath. Certainly you don't need to be anywhere near contacting the dome once its charged up to make it spin (that's the rotor with the mylar strips). It wil easily turn a plain cup by the wind it produces, but you need to contact the dome for that one.

[Electroinnovation]

I just recently built something like this...and unfortunatly it is hard for me to find somewhere to ground my wire near my old tv. Would it be possible to build a sort of leyden jar or something to store the electricity then discharge the jar to my house plumbing later?

[Kiteman]

You really need a decent "ground" for this to work.

If you only have a couple of feet of spare wire, find an extension lead.  Touch the plug end to your ground, and stick the spare wire into the socket end at your motor.

You could, though, charge the jar and then use it to run the motor...

[matstermind]

great way to accidentally electrocute yourself :D

[Kiteman]

The VdG is much more fun.

[matstermind]

agreed

[Electroinnovation]

ohh ok thanks

[rrpo_10]

this is very hard i am electriacally shocked 5 times and still i can't make the rotor move....can you help me out??--- i use my tv and a foil and on the other part i use cold water with salt....yet it,s revolves but it is not continous....aarrgghhh this one is killing me!!!...pls help me guys

[Kiteman]

The cold water with salt is the problem.

Connect the the Earth (or "ground") instead.  Use a longer wire and touch it to bare metal on a cold-water pipe.  The container of water will charge up, but not allow that charge to flow away.  When it is as charged as the TV, the static will stop flowing, and the motor will stop.

[magicmike5462]

where do i connect the earth to

[Kiteman]

See Step 5 - any bare metal that is connected to the ground.  Plumbing is good.

[azuro]

Neat work I must say.

[Kiteman]

Thank you.

[impedance214]

hey i try to used the tv as a source of static but it did not work.. do i need to cover large part of the screen to collect more static?

[bears0]

 it cant be plasma or flatscreen it has to be the big old tvs and the bigger the better

just in case you didnt know

:-D

[Kiteman]

Yes, that would help.

[skatepark13]

thanks for the help very neat

[Kiteman]

You're welcome.

[octavian234]

Kiteman is awesome!

[Kiteman]

Thank you!

[arihant]

my motor does not rotate:(instead it gets attracted towards wire carrying static.now what can i do Mr Kiteman

[Kiteman]

How good is your "earth" or "ground" connection?

[El Mano]

Does the cup have to be plastic, or can I put the foil on any thing that will turn?

[Kiteman]

It must be an insulator, and light, which pretty well limits you to plastic, foam or paper.

[arihant]

can it detect static in the air when thunderstorm comes?

[Kiteman]

I've never tried.  I guess, if you had a tall aerial for the input, and a good ground, but I'd be concerned about it attracting lightning strikes.

[insistent]

flyback with a cfl driver doesnt seen to works. :(

[Kiteman]

Sorry about that, but I know nothing about flybacks.

[thierrywalt]

Hi! How could I connect this generator (http://www.instructables.com/id/Kelvin_s-Thunderstorm---Create-lightning-from-wate/) to this motor? Could you give more details on how to connect it to a TV, like how long it should be on before connecting?

Thanks!

[Kiteman]

For the thunderstorm, connect one side of the spark-gap to each side of the motor.

Fot the TV, connect the foil to the motor, switch on the TV, then brush the foil against the screen.  Switch the Screen off, then brush the foil against it again, almost straight away each time.

(That won't work on an LCD or plasma screen)

[Lithium Rain]

Haha, "Giant nano-technology" my new favorite oxymoron! XD

[impedance214]

what is the purpose of the other wire which is the earth connection??

[Kiteman]

To allow the charge that has built up on the rotor to be carried away (to earth!).

[impedance214]

is there a need of magnet?/

[Kiteman]

None whatsoever.

[ranzau]

Hey do you think a high voltage transformer would work.(6-15KV@30-60mA) Thanks.