Power (electricity) from playing?

[line6man]

But with advancements in the technology, it's not beyond reason to think that's just another hurdle that will get jumped eventually.

What advancements in technology?

The principles of electronics and physics do not change just because the technology changes.

The only thing that advancements in technology does is makes things smaller and more efficient.

 

[St Drogo]

That's what I mean. Sure, this setup will always drain a bit from your signal, that is inherent to it. But the efficacy with which that power is used could very well be improved to a point that you can do a whole lot with a whole little, thus decreasing the amount/percentage of the signal that would get siphoned off. If you catch my drift.

Also, if we're talking about penile implants, your last statement would not apply. Luckily, we're not.

 

[guroove]

What I might like to see, and which also might actually be possible, would be a passive compressor where the excess voltage powered some LEDs that would light up the fretboard dots. This seems like a feasible and useful way to make use of the voltage generated from the pickups.

 

[mongo2]

But with advancements in the technology, it's not beyond reason to think that's just another hurdle that will get jumped eventually.

I'm still waiting the flying car I was promised at the New York World's Fair in 1966.

 

[stephenrheard]

Just throwing this out there, the pickups don't "generate" electricity, they just convert the mechanical energy from your hands into a voltage and current in the coil of the pickup. There would me much more efficient ways to convert mechanical energy from your body into electricity - ie sitting on generator-bike while playing. Just sayin'.

 

[walterw]

So if this pup-generator-thingymabob would be feasible (Which I'm kinda desperately and contrary to the arguments presented and all common sense holding on to, I know ) the first few ones may have those " friction" problems, if you will, in this case bleeding your tone.

it's not "friction" as such, it's actual magnetic force fighting the movement of the generating item.

Just throwing this out there, the pickups don't "generate" electricity, they just convert the mechanical energy from your hands into a voltage and current in the coil of the pickup.

um, "converting mechanical energy into voltage and current" is the very definition of a generator.

 

[stephenrheard]

um, "converting mechanical energy into voltage and current" is the very definition of a generator.

Creating then. You're not creating energy. If you want to suck out mechancial energy from the strings then it is going to slow them down. Doesn't matter how efficient you get.

 

[stephenrheard]

Sorry walter, didn't read your "bicycle generator" post very well earlier, I wasn't attacking what you said. Really we're on the same page. The sustain would suffer a lot depending on how much power you're sucking out of the strings.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Haha, okay then, looks like I need to think this through a bit more. I ahven't even thought of what you mention, that the power in fact is the signal, so this idea would be detrimental to mah tone.

But maybe you could add a pickup that's dedicated to volt output. Like, next to the pickup that's there for your sound. I'd put that right up there, as near to the neck as you can get it, because the bigger the pick up string amplitude, the bigger the voltage, right? Also, Laevinus mentioned overwound pu's generate more power. So as this pu would be a dedicated powerpickerupper, you could overwound this as much as you'd like, seeing as it doesn't have to sound good. As long as you keep the magnetic field small enough to not completely muffle the strings (like on the MM sabre). Maybe you could add a few more of those once you've reached the limit of what one of those can do.

It's now getting a bit impractical, sure, but just for argument's sake.

What is the voltage you produce determined by? I guess the amount of metal that moves, so that would be stringguage. Amplitude, as I guessed above. Magnetic field strength? So maybe you could use neodymium mags? anything else?

Induced EMF = -Number of coil turns * (change in magnetic flux / change in time).

Essentially, larger & stronger magnets, overwound pickups, and larger amplitude in string vibrations (as well as greater string mass) is going to cause a greater induced EMF.

 

[mongo2]

Induced EMF = -Number of coil turns * (change in magnetic flux / change in time).

Essentially, larger & stronger magnets, overwound pickups, and larger amplitude in string vibrations (as well as greater string mass) is going to cause a greater induced EMF.

Don't forget closer proxmity between the moving string and the pickup.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Don't forget closer proxmity between the moving string and the pickup.

Magnetic flux is all about the rate of movement between the loop and the magnet. Assuming the string vibrates at a constant frequency, a change in amplitude is going to produce a greater EMF than moving the pickup closer.

 

[mongo2]

Magnetic flux is all about the rate of movement between the loop and the magnet. Assuming the string vibrates at a constant frequency, a change in amplitude is going to produce a greater EMF than moving the pickup closer.

The magnetic flux in a pickup is not dependent on any movement. That would be the electric field that's dependent on the movement of the string through the magnetic field.

The string can be plucked as hard as a player wants or can, but if the pickup is too far away there will be little output. The flux can fall off rather quickly. Moving the pickup closer will still increase the output. But just be sure not to move it so close that heavy handed plucking causes the string to hit the pickup.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

The magnetic flux in a pickup is not dependent on any movement.

The string can be plucked as hard as a player wants or can, but if the pickup is too far away there will be little output. The flux can fall off rather quickly. Moving the pickup closer will still increase the output. But just be sure not to move it so close that heavy handed plucking causes the string to hit the pickup.

Why I typed magnetic flux, I don't know. I meant induced EMF. **slaps forehead**

 

[mech]

If you can put a large enough flux capacitor for storage at the motor apex and use a knuter valve made of unobtanium as a regulator, it will work.

I've seen some experiments with trying to use the output of a POWER AMP to light leds in a speaker cab and keep them lit for a while when there was no output from the power amp. Given the range of frequencies and amplitude, it was extremely complicated and not really worth the effort/cost, even at power amp levels. The output of a pickup will be useless.

mech

 

[JackANSI]

I just happened to have a bridge recitifier laying around and got a max of .150v DC across a .01uf cap from my QP P/J loaded warmoth. I tried to measure current but on the 2ma setting I still got 0.

 

[line6man]

I just happened to have a bridge recitifier laying around and got a max of .150v DC across a .01uf cap from my QP P/J loaded warmoth. I tried to measure current but on the 2ma setting I still got 0.

What was the voltage drop of the rectifier bridge though?

I've got some 1N4007 diodes and a 4A rectifier bridge on hand right now for a hifi amp I'm building.
I might try them out on the voltmeter and oscilloscope to see what happens to the bass signal.

 

[mongo2]

Why I typed magnetic flux, I don't know. I meant induced EMF. **slaps forehead**

Phew, for a minute there I thought Maxwell and Gauss were spinning in their graves.

 

[mech]

Germanium diodes will have less forward drop but may not have a high enough PIV rating. They are also more sensitive to damage from static electricity.

mech

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Phew, for a minute there I thought Maxwell and Gauss were spinning in their graves.

Faraday took it the hardest.

 

[JackANSI]

What was the voltage drop of the rectifier bridge though?

I've got some 1N4007 diodes and a 4A rectifier bridge on hand right now for a hifi amp I'm building.
I might try them out on the voltmeter and oscilloscope to see what happens to the bass signal.

Its just a crappy W04M..

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Looks like 1.0V per element max at 1A DC.

So yes there might be something coming out but might not be strong enough to get past the recifier. But I highly doubt anyone could get a useful current out of passive pickups, or at least 2-3ma needed to power a preamp anyway..

Edit:

BTW I was literally pounding on all 4 strings to get that .150v.. just playing normally would only give me .005 - .018v.