During the first half of 2007 I have built a test machine, more or less exactly as described in the previous page.
I have used a Briggs & Stratton lawnmower motor, although I believe that a coil ignition motor may not be ideal within the fields which may be created. So far no problems with the motor. The motors coil is about 350mm below the rotating magnetic disc.
A setback occured when centrifugal force tore out all 16 "AA" on board batteries. Cable ties were not up to the job. All are now secured with aluminium plates and bolts. The installed guards were well worth the effort. The batteries are required to run the Picaxe micro controller, and to release the disc by retracting 2 12v car door lock actuators.
While the locks and the microcontroller work perfectly while the disc is stationary, the locks will not retract while rotating at about 2000 RPM. I was using relays to control the locks and suspected that centrifugal force was interferring with their operation. The relays have now been removed and replaced with solid state (mosfet) switching.
Once again the machine operates perfectly when stationary, but refuses to retract the locks while rotating. The microcontroller appears to be working quite happily while rotating within any field which may be created. It is programmed to flash a LED in a particular way. The command for this is immediately after the command to release the locks, and when the machine is stopped the light sequence shows that it is performing as expected.
My next move is to replace the disc with one containing no magnets, as this may give some indication as to whether the cause of the non operation of the locks is centrifugal force, or a problem with a field interfering with the lock motor. I suspect that I may have to shield either or both the locks and the mosfet.
Of course if a created field is causing the problem with the operation of the locks it could be an indication that we may be on the right track. UFO folklore is full of accounts of car engines or lights failing when in close proximity to one of these machines. Coils are the common link between the lock motors, lighting relays, and car ignition.
The disc which I am using at present is of double sided sheet aluminium construction, with an internal gap of about 8mm. The outside dimension is 300mm, and the central hole is 200mm. Inside is glued an array of 34 ferrite magnets 22mm round and 3mm thick.I expect to have no positive results until I install rare earth magnets, although I have a disc with about double the number of ferrite magnets to try next.
The machine has been made with provision to increase the revs by way of changing pullies and belts, but this may require a more powerful motor, and some form of remote control as I shall be hiding behind a large tree once the revs get above 2500.