There are many ways of doing this some don't even use a brush to trigger the solenoids.

Here's one using an opto isolator and transistor amplifier to power the solenoid - http://www.madteddy.com/sol_eng1.htm

https://woodgears.ca/tech/solenoid.html

One similar to the one in Grandpa's magazine - http://blog.modernmechanix.com/a-simple-2-cylinder-electric-engine/

https://hackaday.com/2016/02/19/home-made-solenoid-motor/

And for the pièce de résistance -

 

 

@shortbus: I really like the "Woodgears" engine. Great job on the builders part for attention to detail.

The four cylinder model (pièce de résistance) is similar to mine in that it uses four sources to drive the crank. Mine does so by utilizing magnets instead of a steel slug. If you know anything about Steam Locomotives, each piston counts as two cylinders because they duct steam pressure into one side of the piston then to the other so that the cylinder is always pushing or pulling - same with my magnetic setup.

No, I've never built one of these. Maybe I will - for the grandchildren. Especially the oldest; he has a very sharp mechanical mind.

 

Mine does so by utilizing magnets instead of a steel slug

In my limited experiments, magnets in solenoids don't work like you would think they would. The one time I did try it, once the magnet got to the center of the solenoid it just stayed there. But maybe you can get one to work. It may need to have some balancing with the PM strength and the EM strength that I didn't do.

 

I built this just as an experiment. I train app electricians. Part of it is electronics. My resources is limited !
Cant detemine rpm. My guess is +-500rpm. <SNIP>

Moderators note : removed email to avoid spammers.
Personal details can be exchanged using PM.

For training electricians perhaps the failure due to arcing contacts could be a good lesson on why arc suppression is important. The condition that is a problem can also be a teaching object, possibly. Certainly electricians do need to know about arcing and sparking and the results of that happening. Just a suggestion.

 

magnets in solenoids don't work like you would think they would

It's how speakers work.

 

It's how speakers work.

No. In a speaker the coil is inside the magnet and the magnetic field is radial.

 

OK, I don't understand how the magnetic field is "Radial". That just means I don't understand.

Sometimes I do things because I believe they will work. Back when I was a little boy, the radio in my mothers car - the kind you set a station then pull a button out then push it in and it mechanically sets the radio to that station, I believed that if you pulled all the buttons out at once and push them all in at the same time you would get Santa Clause. Boy was I surprised! And disappointed too.

I will try powering a coil and observe the response from a magnet. If I learn something that supports my beliefs I'll be back with information. If I'm proven wrong I will silently deny having ever done the test.

 

If I'm proven wrong I will silently deny having ever done the test.

<Snigger>

 

@albertall I just tried a coil. I have a spool of magnet wire reading from end to end 152 ohms. I have a 12 volt 36 amp DC supply as well. I just tried and couldn't get any magnetic pull, not that I could detect, and I don't have a compass which would show some change IF there were any. Obviously I don't know how to construct a coil. My spool is just a spool. I have no idea how many turns at what voltage. So for now I remain silent, though I admit I did give it a try. Snicker all you want. I don't mind making people laugh. Even when I do something dumb, though not intentionally.

I'm going to do some research on how to build a coil.

[edit] the wire used is 0.012" diameter (0.3 mm)

 

OK, I don't understand how the magnetic field is "Radial". That just means I don't understand.

Sometimes I do things because I believe they will work. Back when I was a little boy, the radio in my mothers car - the kind you set a station then pull a button out then push it in and it mechanically sets the radio to that station, I believed that if you pulled all the buttons out at once and push them all in at the same time you would get Santa Clause. Boy was I surprised! And disappointed too.

I will try powering a coil and observe the response from a magnet. If I learn something that supports my beliefs I'll be back with information. If I'm proven wrong I will silently deny having ever done the test.

IN a speaker the magnetic field is usually focused through a section of the voice coil only, so that the movement can be much greater, equal to the length of the coil. And it is the coil moving across the magnet. so the setup and intent are different.

 

@albertall I just tried a coil. I have a spool of magnet wire reading from end to end 152 ohms. I have a 12 volt 36 amp DC supply as well. I just tried and couldn't get any magnetic pull, not that I could detect, and I don't have a compass which would show some change IF there were any. Obviously I don't know how to construct a coil. My spool is just a spool. I have no idea how many turns at what voltage. So for now I remain silent, though I admit I did give it a try. Snicker all you want. I don't mind making people laugh. Even when I do something dumb, though not intentionally.

I'm going to do some research on how to build a coil.

[edit] the wire used is 0.012" diameter (0.3 mm)

12V and 152Ω implies nearly 80mA.
The wire is 64.9Ω per 1000 feet so there is over 2000 feet of wire. If the former for the coil is one inch diameter then there would be about 8000 turns which would give about 640 ampere turns which is quite a lot (typically 40 ampere turns will operate a reed switch).
That field should be easily detectable. Can you connect an ammeter in series with the coil and make sure the current is flowing.

My <snigger> was at the "keep silent if wrong" idea. I wish more folk would do that!

 

OK, I don't understand how the magnetic field is "Radial"

Here's a pic showing the radial field.

 

@Alec_t Thanks. That illustration cleared it up.

To make a solenoid motor the way I proposed would require a completely differently wound coil. Like you said, my design won't work.

Can you connect an ammeter in series with the coil and make sure the current is flowing.

My <snigger> was at the "keep silent if wrong" idea. I wish more folk would do that!

The only tests I did was to see if voltage was present at the coil and of course, to measure the resistance. It's just an old speaker wire spool with the high voltage windings from an old MOT. And in case you're worried, I didn't take the "snigger" comment as an insult. I believe I read it as you probably meant it - as a sign of laughing at my silly comment about silence when wrong.

 

@Alec_t Thanks. That illustration cleared it up.

To make a solenoid motor the way I proposed would require a completely differently wound coil. Like you said, my design won't work.

The only tests I did was to see if voltage was present at the coil and of course, to measure the resistance. It's just an old speaker wire spool with the high voltage windings from an old MOT. And in case you're worried, I didn't take the "snigger" comment as an insult. I believe I read it as you probably meant it - as a sign of laughing at my silly comment about silence when wrong.

I have found a lot, in situations not at all related to this forum or site, that a lot of folks don't know what to do. BUT that does not slow them from doing it. Then I get called on to fix it. In this forum most of those who do not know ask for help, which is the best option for those with no idea as to where to look.( dumb idea deleted)

 

For training electricians perhaps the failure due to arcing contacts could be a good lesson on why arc suppression is important. The condition that is a problem can also be a teaching object, possibly. Certainly electricians do need to know about arcing and sparking and the results of that happening. Just a suggestion.

Most satisfaction got was building this liquid starter. 430 v 3phase slipring motor. It controlls speed to perfection.

 

 

What is the liquid?

 

What is the liquid?

Distilled water then add a minute amount of washing soda.

 

It's how speakers work.

The coils are moving in that example. Also the coils are at the ends of the PM and only one is on at a time. And when the coil next to the for example N pole of the PM is activated it is also N so it pushes away for from that pole making the speaker cone move.

It's just an old speaker wire spool with the high voltage windings from an old MOT.

If that old spool is metal it won't work, the whole spool gets magnetized.