Friction Lighted Car

In this instructable, I take a radio controlled car and convert it to a friction powered illuminated car--with ultracapacitor energy storage. You pull the car along the floor and the led on top comes on.  The one farad (not microfarad) capacitor (under $4.00) keeps the light on for half an hour or more.

Step 1:

Start with a radio controlled car--one where the wheels stay engaged with the motor.  Some of the cheapest cars have a slip arrangement in the gearbox for changing direction.  We need a vehicle which is either tank like (left side on or right side on) or one with geared drive wheels and proportional steering. I've suggested one from Amazon.com that works.

Comments

[craigferguson]

very nice man! good job on this instructable.

[mikeasaurus]

I like this idea, and it's a neat way to give this toy a new life.