Trouble is, I can see no reason why it works at all without a commutator! The button cell will not get exhausted because it is not connected! The top bearing rests on the negative pole, but the wire rotator does not touch either the steel spacers, or the magnets. There is no closed circuit – no current is flowing! However, it will not work if the battery is not there! It is a complete mystery to me! I have never heard of DC making anything rotate without some sort of commutator. Just had another look, and it is still going after 8.75 hours!

Bob

No – it stopped after 48 hours!

Bob

It didn't cost anything – already had the magnets.

Since then, have made several more and getting better at it each time. My wife made a splendid little spiral one that really whizzes round!

My latest has a revolving battery (AA cell).

These things are really habit forming!

Bob

True enough – but its fun trying!

After a lifetime of mediocracy, I don't think I could cope with success!!!

As in the words of Robert Service, ( from my hometown of Preston).

I wanted the gold and I sought it,

I scrabbled and mucked like a slave,

Was it famine, or scurvy, I sought it,

But I hurled my youth to the grave.

I wanted the gold and I got it!

Came out with a fortune last fall,

But somehow life's not what I thought it,

And somehow, the gold isn't all!

—————-

Bob

I had also though of a windmill on deck, coupled to the propeller shaft. It probably would work, but it would not be something for nothing, because it would be the wind driving it, and if the wind stopped, the contraption would stop as well!

Bob