William Kamkwamba inspiration to us all

[mamos]

Watched a weird program about inventions with Wallace and Gromit and there was a short film about a teenager from Malawi who decided to bring electricity to his remote village

Humbling

Fast forward to about 7.25 minutes in the program

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00trcc9

mamos

[pelmetman]

We watched that and to think of how he did it with just bits and pieces he found lying around. A very clever young man.
Sue

[mamos]

It is amazing.

I have so many resources available to me but I always find some excuse to read books about everything and not actually build anything.

I don't have the time. I would, if I had a workshop, when I get this tool or that tool I will be able to change the world, I need to buy another book.

I need to pull my finger out

mamos

[Rik242]

I watched that as well, very inspirational. Can anyone point me to a link which shows the basics of how you can do it yourself. Am I right in thinking you need a DC motor to run in reverse?

[mamos]

I watched that as well, very inspirational. Can anyone point me to a link which shows the basics of how you can do it yourself. Am I right in thinking you need a DC motor to run in reverse?

There are loads of videos about building wind turbines on youtube.

I don't think you have to run the motor backwards. But I think pretty much any DC motor will act as a generator if you spin them. It is just coils of wire running within a magnetic field.

Or you could build your own permanent magnet alternator out of copper wire and magnets

mamos