Search found 123 matches

by Junkie
Sat Sep 01, 2012 2:16 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Vote best amateur stirling
Replies: 2
Views: 2841

Re: Vote best amateur stirling

I have to agree that is probably the best non-machined engine that produces a little power.
I have tried building a few of these with reasonable success. They are not too difficult to
build, although the stainless steel wool can be hard to get hold of.
by Junkie
Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:56 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Soda can Stirling Motor smoke problem
Replies: 3
Views: 2720

Re: Soda can Stirling Motor smoke problem

Hi, this is my engine design. I have built over 800 can motors using a variety of cans, I don't believe than any of the cans have a problem with the coating (although, I don't live in Canada, I see no reason for the cans to be constructed differently. They all seem to be coated and they all smoke, i...
by Junkie
Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:12 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: LTD Power by Bagel
Replies: 62
Views: 29315

Re: LTD Power by Bagel

Beware of those little squeeze generators, some of the actually have batteries in them that just power the light when the trigger is squeezed. I bought one and took it apart for a similar purpose only to find the magnet generator was actually useless and there were several button batteries hidden in...
by Junkie
Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:41 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: LTD Power by Bagel
Replies: 62
Views: 29315

Re: LTD Power by Bagel

I think it'a possible! I've seen a few LTD engines with small slternators on them.

Here's a coke can one I built, with better meterials I think it should be possible:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5po6XqyR0g[/youtube]
by Junkie
Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:45 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Diaphragm Stirling generator charging 12V battery.
Replies: 5
Views: 4936

Diaphragm Stirling generator charging 12V battery.

This is one of my stirling engines charging a 12V battery. The output is around 1 - 1.5 watts electrical. The ouput is still low. around 100ma into a 12V battery. It's made from the following: Stainless steel cylinder approx 85 dia x 230mm. Innertube rubber diaphragm. Ball bearings throughout. Stain...
by Junkie
Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:04 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tin can engine almost runs
Replies: 12
Views: 6273

Re: Tin can engine almost runs

From looking at the video I would say it looks like it's leaking air somewhere. It doesn't look like there is a lot of friction.
I can't say for sure though.
by Junkie
Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:40 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: simple model engine info required
Replies: 1
Views: 2120

Re: simple model engine info required

This very site does indeed have plans for a simple walking beam engine, they're here : http://www.boydhouse.com/stirling/htmls ... index.html. I think those plans cover pretty much everything you need.
by Junkie
Sat Jun 16, 2012 3:35 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Larger Srirling Build.
Replies: 1
Views: 2188

Re: Larger Srirling Build.

I have been trying to build one of these for some time time, without much success.
I hope you find someone to build it. If you do please show us the finished work.
by Junkie
Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:21 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Is anybody on this forum building Stirling Cycle engines?
Replies: 46
Views: 26714

Re: Is anybody on this forum building Stirling Cycle engines

The name "Stirling engine" seems to get used to refer to nearly everything that isn't an IC or steam engine. Most of my engines use a moving regenerator (the displacer is made of wire wool) which I think is the kind of thing you're looking for, however I only use low tech construction as I...
by Junkie
Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:11 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: RTV diaphragm
Replies: 2
Views: 3060

Re: RTV diaphragm

I haven't tried bonding it to a cloth backing, but I made an RTV diaphragm for one of my Stirling generator that worked reasonably well. I used a balloon stretched over a tin can, I forced some of the air out to give the balloon a slight satellite dish shape. Next I spread a thin layer of RTV over t...
by Junkie
Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:07 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: My new stirling project
Replies: 19
Views: 9922

Re: My new stirling project

Nice work! It's looking good :)
by Junkie
Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:06 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: help needed
Replies: 14
Views: 7881

Re: help needed

The position of the diaphragm is not important, so long as the crank shaft maintains the 90* difference. This engine was built from around my ASAP plans I believe, if so the two most common problems people have had are that the wire wool displacer is rubbing against the sides of the can preventing i...
by Junkie
Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:59 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Looking for some opinions...
Replies: 12
Views: 6273

Re: Looking for some opinions...

If you happen to have an old timer mechanism from a washing machine, or some other synchronous type motor, you can use this video tutorial
to add a small LED light to pretty much any engine that runs above around 100 RPM. Easy to add.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwofse9ICxo
by Junkie
Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:20 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Power piston sideloading: possible solutions
Replies: 2
Views: 3178

Re: Power piston sideloading: possible solutions

Those airpots made by airpot corporation have a ball joint to minimize the side loading. Probably one of the
reasons they're so smooth.
by Junkie
Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:18 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: stirling genrator
Replies: 13
Views: 7596

Re: stirling genrator

Yes, nearly all steppers have too much resistance. I found one that works on one of my coke can engines,
but I think it's unusual to find a stepper that will work in this situation.

For the engine you describe, a DC motor or home made PMG is probably your best bet.