How to Build a Hydro Generator
Generating electricity with water is becoming more popular where available. Here is how you can build your own hydro generator.
Required Materials
- 4L plastic jug
- 10 plastic spoons
- 120M copper enamel wire
- cork – 1-5cm long
- corrugated cardboard
- wood dowel - 1’4”, 20cm long
- 4 rare earth magnets and washers
- ¼” diameter 6cm long clear tubing
- 4 brass fasteners
- electrical tape
- glue sticks
- white glue
- bolt meter
Required Tools
- scissor
- wire snips
- coping saw
- glue gun
- pencil sharpener
- utility knife
- black marker
- magnetic compass
- emery board
Instructions
- Constructing the Rotor and Stator - Using a piece of cardboard, a compass and a utility knife, cut out two circles 6cm in diameter. Mark the center of the circles with two pencil lines drawn at a 90-degree angle. Punch a 1cm hole into the center of each disc.
- Constructing the Coils - Fold a piece of corrugated cardboard to form a 3cm x 16cm jig. With the enamel wire, make 4 coils of 200 wraps around the jig, leaving approximately 3cm of slack at either end. Carefully remove one coil at a time and wrap with pieces of electrical tape to hold them in shape. Using emery board, remove approximately 1cm of enamel from the wire. All enamel must be removed from the 1cm area.
- Attaching the Coils - Place the coils onto the cardboard discs. Use the lines drawn earlier for a center line location. When placing the coils, alternate them counterclockwise and then clockwise for electron flow. Attach each of the coils to one another in sequence and test with the voltmeter. There should be little resistance shown on the voltmeter (10 ohms or less.) Now attach the coils to the cardboard with glue. Cut four slits in the cardboard between coils to receive brass tabs.
- Attaching the Magnets - On the second cardboard disc (the rotor), draw the same lines to establish a center. Punch a hole at the center the same size as the first. Attach the magnets to the cardboard with washers, making sure that they are alternating north and south polarities. Use your compass to determine polarity.
- Shaft and Turbine - Sharpen the end of the dowel with a pencil sharpener and place to one side. Using your utility knife, cut eight evenly spaced and angled slots into the cork. Cut the handles off the spoons, leaving 1cm of the handle. Insert the remaining portion of the handle into the cork with all dishes facing the same direction.
- The Container - Cut the bottom off the 4L container. Find the center of both sides of the container. Punch a hole at these locations using a nail or awl. Lay the stator on the container and use the slits to mark the container. Cut identical slits into the container and attach the stator with brass pins.
- Assembly - Cut two plastic tubing sections 1cm long and assemble the generator using the dowel as a pole guide. Assemble in this order: rotor, tubing, stator, container, tubing, turbine and container.