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Stirling generator powering radio demonstration.

video Stirling generator powering radio demonstration.

This video shows my Stirling generator powering a low power radio. It makes about 30mw. For comparison my thermoelectric generator will power the same radio with only one candle and no moving parts, so it should be possible to get quite a bit more power out of these candles.

https://sites.google.com/site/reukpower/can-stirling/stirling-generator

22 comments

Jul 9, 2011. 12:42 PMGrey_Wolfe says:

I've always been interested in alternate motor designs. Perendev, tirling, etc.

I haven't been able to see any larger scale builds of stirling motors. Like something maybe barrel sized for the piston.

If anyone has seen some good larger builds, or has ideas for how to pull it off effectively, please shoot me a not.

P.S. I tend to be a slow responder, but now that I didscovered i can get Ibles at work I should be more reliable. lol

Mar 5, 2011. 12:28 PMn0ukf says:

"Construction photos on my website below."

Below... where?

Mar 5, 2011. 3:29 PMscraptopower (author) says:

Sorry, missed the link off here :

https://sites.google.com/site/reukpower/can-stirling/stirling-generator

Feb 14, 2011. 8:47 AMSelfCheck says:

Can I have the schematic? PLIS?

Feb 14, 2011. 9:25 AMscraptopower (author) says:

Nothing to it, it's just a bridge rectifier made from BAT85 diodes and around 8000uf of capacitors on the output. I don't have a schematic drawn up, sorry.

Jan 23, 2011. 10:08 AMmatt_and_nick says:

this is something you'd see like after the apocolypse, except it would have to be hooked up to a walkman or something

Aug 30, 2011. 3:44 AMscraptopower (author) says:

LOL yeah :) Post apocalyptic generator woohoo :D

Oct 9, 2010. 2:05 AMRocketManDave says:

Ah, some classical, so refreshing :) Really inspiring example.

Aug 14, 2010. 12:27 PM

dresch says:

That is awesome. You would be a good person to know on a desert island! I believe the Philips company at one point (50+ years ago) built just what you have here: a Stirling powered radio. Next stop: powering a netbook or a iphone...

Jul 11, 2010. 1:03 PMCeiling cat says:

Yay classical music! Is that NPR? MPR(Minnesota Public Radio) is the only radio station I'll listen to. Or NPR.

Apr 28, 2010. 7:37 AM

celalboz says:

Wonderfully simple yet practical, well done...
circuit diagram will be nice unless trade secret....
thanks

Apr 28, 2010. 11:12 AMscraptopower (author) says:

Thank you. Theres no secrets here, it's just the circuit off the coffee cup windmill to rectify the output and then a bank of capacitors in parallel with the output (I used 8000uf ish) to smooth out the power. The reason for so many capacitors is because the stroke of the engine isn't perfect so the power output fluctuates a little which is noticeable in the radio output. the output is 2V unloaded and it will put 25ma into a 1.2v ni-cad.

Once I perfect it and hopefully get some more reasonable power output I'll do an instructable on how to build it.

Jun 18, 2010. 3:20 PMmr thrifty says:

I can't wait untill you perfect it reukpower Simply awesome.

Jun 7, 2010. 7:47 PMEye Poker says:

You need to be introduced to the heat generating power of the fresnel lens. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcL7s9aX494

Jun 12, 2010. 3:57 AMscraptopower (author) says:

I want one!! It'd probably melt the coke cans though!! (Robot is malfunctioning btw, posting the wrong comment to you! [deleted])

Jun 11, 2010. 8:21 AMFenryx says:

I was wondering if you were planning on doing an instructable to go along with this. I was hoping to use this as a demonstration and activity at an engineering based camp, but circuits are not my strong point.

Jun 12, 2010. 3:47 AMscraptopower (author) says:

Have a look at this : http://www.instructables.com/id/Wind-Generator-from-old-scanner/step3/Building-the-rectifier-circuit/
My circuit is the same except I don't have the 50ohm resistor. You can assemble it all with screw blocks or a bread board, no soldering needed

May 16, 2010. 8:02 PMfate6900 says:

How long do you think you could run of these without maintenance or problems surfacing??

May 17, 2010. 5:35 AMscraptopower (author) says:

Probably not very long! It needs to be well oiled and the oil on the displacer wire runs out after about 5 hours.

May 6, 2010. 2:30 PMtrailleadr says:

Just curious, not criticizing. But couldn't you get more juice out of a dc motor as opposed to as stepper, not to mention doesn't the stepper add resistance?
Or is that not a stepper? Because to me, it looks like one.

May 7, 2010. 12:50 AMscraptopower (author) says:

You're right that a DC motor would be more efficient but they are usually much higher rpm, most of take 800 + rpm to produce 2V so you'd have to add a belt/gearing to get that speed. Where as the stepper will produce 2V at about 300-400RPM so it doesn't need any gearing. Thats the only reason.

But yeah, if I find a low RPM DC motor that would be preferable.

May 7, 2010. 7:51 AMtrailleadr says:

Oh. ok. good to know. thanx for the reply. :)