I've seen flashlights that are powered mechanically(A mechanically powered flashlight is one of several varieties of flashlights that do not use batteries, but rather depend on mechanical movement by the user to generate enough electrical current to power a miniature incandescent bulb or light-emitting diode.). is it possible to create this to make a fan instead of light?
2007-09-05 02:06:58 · 6 answers · asked by melviely_mj 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Here's a picture of a directly powered fan:
http://www.healthstylesexercise.com/catalog/images/0179_Schwinn_Airdyne_lg.jpg
I have also seen generators attached to exercise bicycles used to power small televisions, so it is possible to power a fan from such a setup.
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2007-09-05 02:16:27 · answer #1 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A small, hand-held fan could be mechanically powered, since these also only would use a small battery normally to run. What these little flashlights have is a small generator in them, and this could power any small battery-operated device. I've also heard of portable radios that can be mechanically powered. Some of these have recharging batteries in them, so you "pump them up" electrically, then they play for half an hour or so. I think I also saw one of these mechanically powered flashlights work like this as well.
The most efficient room fan would best be made (already quite successfully) by putting a fan blade where the turning wheel of a stationary bicycle usually goes. Everybody but the exerciser could be cool with this.
2007-09-05 09:21:39 · answer #2 · answered by Don E Knows 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looks like you have a class project that everyone is required to do :)
No it is not possible without using the mechanically setup to charge a battery then it becomes unpractical. Who would want to crank a generator for 2 Minutes to run a fan for 30 seconds? I mean you could hook it up to a foot powered generator but then it just becomes stupid.
2007-09-05 09:16:43 · answer #3 · answered by Yoho 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possible? Yes. Practical? No.
The point of the fan would be to cool you off, but you would get hotter operating the fan than the cooling you could achieve from the fan.
2007-09-05 10:46:47 · answer #4 · answered by dansinger61 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hook a fan blade to bicycle pedals through gears and chains.
mechanical to mechanical.
the flashlight is more electro-mechanical. magnet moves through coil, makes electricity.
2007-09-05 09:13:34 · answer #5 · answered by mike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah, it's possible, but I think that even a miniscule motor would take the charge off the battery in a fraction of the time it takes for the LED to do it.
2007-09-05 09:15:43 · answer #6 · answered by H_A_V_0_C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋