Ive got a water wheel in a new adventure golf facility I built this year that I would like light up for Xmas. Were in MI. so naturaley were closed for the winter seasons. I have a 10′ water wheel on the side of our club house that just sits idle untill april and I would like to light it up. There is no water in the ponds or coming down the slueth.I would like to light it up and make it turn. I have to beleive that someone has had this Idea before and comeup with a way to light up a turning object.
Does anyone Know whats out there to help acomplish this?
Replies
Just add a copper ring and a carbon brush spring loaded to make the contact..just like a motor.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
I'm not into mechanical engineering. Is their anyplace to purchase this type if hardware?
McMaster-Carr, Grainger, Edmund Scientific just to name a few.
I'd go junking in my can't stand to toss it out pile, and cobble up the few parts.
edt: use the ring to conduct the hot leg and the axel to conduct the nuetral..solder a female ext.cord plug to the ring and axel and a hot to the brush and nuetral to the axel frame..ground the works to earth for safty.
Really just taking a stab at this, it may not be feasible at all. But I LIKE tinkering with stuff like that.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Edited 11/24/2006 9:10 am ET by Sphere
I've done something like this with a tractor before. Used some of those "racing light" strings where you can set the speed of the lights as they go down the string.
You wrap 'em around the tractor tire and it looks like the wheel is turning. I assume the same thing would work on your water wheel. The wheel would actually turn, but would look like it was.
What you need is called a slip ring.
Here are a couple of examples.
http://www.insul-8.com
http://www.uea-inc.com
Here is a consumer product that uses slip rings.
Here is a DIY slip ring.
http://www.makezine.com
http://maybevideodoes.de
But the chasing lights are probably the best option.
Thanks you've been a big help. I beleive this is exactly what I needed.
When I was about 4 my father rigged up our Christmas tree on a turntable, with lights, and placed it in the bay window of the house, facing the street. I'm told that perfect strangers stopped and asked to see it close up.
He used a simple (home-made) commutator arrangement to power the lights. I remember the remains of the thing sitting under the back porch for several years. Most commercial commutators are of the "slip ring" variety, with rings side-by-side on a shaft, but my vague recollection is that this one employed concentric rings on a plate.
Of course, another option is to use battery power.
12 V. D.C. LED ropelight is available..but the stuff is not cheap, but it only draws about 1 watt / foot
you could use a battery from a 12V cordless tool
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.Wer ist jetzt der Idiot
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