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Author: mcollinge
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Episode 399: Candle-Powered Robot

 

 

 

As, most tinkerers, Clem is in search of alternative sources of energy! The Sun does not shine in his underground bunker, so he taps into a source of power that is abundant in every household - the dreaded tea-candle! Let's face it we all have them lying around and there is at least one family member who buys them all the time. So why not use this dormant "paraffinic batteries" for a project! Clem tests out various Peltier elements and rigs up a circuit to power a simple machine that is rightfully powered by a tea-candle! 

 

 

 

Bill of Materials

 

 

Product NameManufacturerQuantityBuy Kit
MULTICOMP Peltier Cooler Module / Assembly, Thermoelectric Cooler, 18.8 W, 0.35 ohm, 8.5 A, 3.8 V, 70 °CMULTICOMP1Buy Now
MULTICOMP Peltier Cooler Module / Assembly, Thermoelectric Cooler, 19.6 W, 6.9 ohm, 2 A, 15.7 V, 75 °CMULTICOMP1Buy Now
MULTICOMP Peltier Cooler Module / Assembly, Thermoelectric Cooler, 35.2 W, 3.5 ohm, 3.9 A, 15.7 V, 70 °CMULTICOMP1Buy Now
EUROPEAN THERMODYNAMICS Peltier Cooler Module / Assembly, Thermoelectric Cooler, 8 W, 3.8 A, 3.78 V, 67 °CEUROPEAN THERMODYNAMICS1Buy Now
Electrolytic Capacitor, 1000 µF, 10 V, VZ Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 10 mmNichicon14Buy Now
Servo Motor, FeeTech FS5103R, Continuous RotatioAdafruit1Buy Now

 

 

Additional Parts:

 

Product Name
Tea candles
Teabag
Big Old Heatsink
Attachments:
CandlePoweredRobotAssets.zip
Anonymous
  • in reply to mayermakes

    I look forward to seeing your results.

    Just be aware, if you do see current flow it will be very small.

     

    You might need to go to a thermocouple type bimetal screen to get enough current to measure.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to DAB

    thanks a lot DAB for you generous 4 stars and for you insight!
    I actually also theorized about the properties of photons in regard of energy transfer, very interesting to hear similar ideas from your side.

    I will certainly try out the proposed experiment!

  • Very good episode Clem.

     

    Interestingly both the Peltier and Seebeck effects support my theory about photons being the main component of what we call electronics.

    Your candle provides a surplus of photons, predominantly IR, which raise the energy level in the atoms within the Peltier device.

    They become the source of the minute current that you then siphon off into the capacitor bank.

     

    I have seen camping devices that use wood in a small container to generate enough energy to indeed charge your smart phone.

    It has to do with the energy density within your heating source. The wax in the candle has only a small amount of energy to contribute.

     

    Now if you want to do a little experiment, try putting some metal screening across a big resistor to ground into the flame and attack your scope probe to it to see if you can see any charge flow directly from the metal through the resistor.

     

    DAB