Would a clockwork device be able to produce enough power to vape with ?.
- Thread starter evan le'garde
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
I suspect it is but I’m not an engineer. There’s like 3 amps in a battery. Those shake flashlights use orders of magnitude less power. The battery operated versions often go for months on a single battery. I watched a bang goes the theory (British science kids show) where they powered a house with a bunch of bycicles for a day. Just from watching that I suspect that not only would the thing not be portable but you’d have to have a couple guys following you around just to help wind it.
Doing a quick search for flashlight bulb specs, they seem to range from about 0.7 watts up to like a max of 3 watts. I suspect the bulbs in the wind up lights are going to be rated for even less. So you are going to need a battery that is capable of a rapid charge and high amp discharge AND you will need a hand crank generator capable of delivering several amps of charging power.
For problem number one, the battery, you are going to need to stick with essentially the same type of batteries we are already using, but you might could get away with 14650's for low power uses. Unfortunately to charge them to full takes hours using an actual battery charger, plugged into a wall, I cannot imagine cranking for that long assuming you could get a crank to generate a consistent 2a charge. So most likely you would only be able to crank for a few minutes, take a puff (maybe 2), then crank again. Which isn't very efficient.
For the crank itself, I have seen some hand crank USB chargers on Amazon but they can only put out 0.5 to 1A max and are a bit big for a mod, not too terribly big though. To get on up to 2 amps would probably require more size though.
I suppose you could buy one of those hand crank USB chargers and connect it to your mod (assuming it has a USB charge port) and see how well it works as a cheap proof of concept. I doubt it will be a great experience, but if you try it, please report back to us. Oh and if you are going to try this, note that there are two types of these USB cranks. One is a direct charge, you plug it into the device you want to charge and crank away. The other has it's own internal battery and works like an external cell phone recharge battery, just one that you crank charge. Not sure which one would be better, so maybe try both. They are fairly cheap. I have not purchased any of them so I cannot speak to quality of any specific brand.
For problem number one, the battery, you are going to need to stick with essentially the same type of batteries we are already using, but you might could get away with 14650's for low power uses. Unfortunately to charge them to full takes hours using an actual battery charger, plugged into a wall, I cannot imagine cranking for that long assuming you could get a crank to generate a consistent 2a charge. So most likely you would only be able to crank for a few minutes, take a puff (maybe 2), then crank again. Which isn't very efficient.
For the crank itself, I have seen some hand crank USB chargers on Amazon but they can only put out 0.5 to 1A max and are a bit big for a mod, not too terribly big though. To get on up to 2 amps would probably require more size though.
I suppose you could buy one of those hand crank USB chargers and connect it to your mod (assuming it has a USB charge port) and see how well it works as a cheap proof of concept. I doubt it will be a great experience, but if you try it, please report back to us. Oh and if you are going to try this, note that there are two types of these USB cranks. One is a direct charge, you plug it into the device you want to charge and crank away. The other has it's own internal battery and works like an external cell phone recharge battery, just one that you crank charge. Not sure which one would be better, so maybe try both. They are fairly cheap. I have not purchased any of them so I cannot speak to quality of any specific brand.
I am not an engineer or electrician so I can't really speak to your question, other than whhhyyy? Is there a reason you are looking for something like this, just general interest or are you preparing for the vacopalypse?
I have considered a stationary power bike for electrical needs, but it really doesn't get you that far. Maybe a windmill? I've also (with the husband) considered this when discussing the future, LOL. Or solar that's kind of nice.
Come to think, I wonder if there will ever be a solar powered mod (I'm doubtful, but who knows). So now my question is less why, but more how come? It's an interesting idea, I just don't know how practical it would be....
Anna
I have considered a stationary power bike for electrical needs, but it really doesn't get you that far. Maybe a windmill? I've also (with the husband) considered this when discussing the future, LOL. Or solar that's kind of nice.
Come to think, I wonder if there will ever be a solar powered mod (I'm doubtful, but who knows). So now my question is less why, but more how come? It's an interesting idea, I just don't know how practical it would be....
Anna
I'm assuming you are looking for something to charge your mod when there's no place to plug up and charge. This one might charge a 2000mah battery mod with a half hour of cranking. One of the reviews said a minute of cranking raised his cell phone battery 4% through the USB port. Under $20 and ready made.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Emergenc...r-AM-FM-WB-Radio-Flashlight-Charger/113545297
Only time will tell
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I interpreted your question differently, I suppose. I assumed you were talking about cranking a mini generator on a per vape basis. Something along the lines of...
If I were going to design such a thing I would rather have a squeeze action, substantial gearing, and a heavy flywheel.
I figured using clockwork instead of a regular box mod could be considered a perfectly safe device to be used for vaping. It's the whole safety aspect of using clockwork which makes me think this is not such a stupid idea.
Only had this idea today, so haven't had much time to think it through. I got as far as an aluminium box with maybe two springs/coils, sandwiching the cogs, and the cogs would be held in place with cast aluminium........... just day dreaming really ! (As usual).
The idea of the device would be specifically for low power MTL vaping. And maybe designed to be used for 5 minutes at a time. The same lenght of time it might take to smoke a cigarette.
I did start thinking of the clockwork radio. That thing became viable, didn't require too much winding, so thought maybe the same mechanics could be applied to a vaping device.
Where i get a little lost is the winding aspect. Too many cogs and the winding could take too long. With the right amount of cogs and the right size cogs, plus with a little trial and error, "maybe", given the parameters i've mentioned, it could actually work and be practical, and who cares if it's a little hard to wind up.
I am basing all of this on the success of the clockwork radio.
Only had this idea today, so haven't had much time to think it through. I got as far as an aluminium box with maybe two springs/coils, sandwiching the cogs, and the cogs would be held in place with cast aluminium........... just day dreaming really ! (As usual).
The idea of the device would be specifically for low power MTL vaping. And maybe designed to be used for 5 minutes at a time. The same lenght of time it might take to smoke a cigarette.
I did start thinking of the clockwork radio. That thing became viable, didn't require too much winding, so thought maybe the same mechanics could be applied to a vaping device.
Where i get a little lost is the winding aspect. Too many cogs and the winding could take too long. With the right amount of cogs and the right size cogs, plus with a little trial and error, "maybe", given the parameters i've mentioned, it could actually work and be practical, and who cares if it's a little hard to wind up.
I am basing all of this on the success of the clockwork radio.
Last edited:
Come to think of it; you could have a device that was about the size of a medium-to-large box mod. Include a high Amp/low mAh battery in it. Have a crank and a squeeze action. The crank to start the flywheel and the squeeze to keep it going. You could use it on a per vape basis or charge it with your busy hands if you wanted. A useful fidget spinner vape.
Mass produced it probably wouldn't cost too much to manufacture. Probably cheaper than a regular battery mod given all the components that go into them. Clockwork is relatively simple, very few "cheap" component parts. Wouldn't have to import any part of it.
Do you mean a "highbrid" ?. Would the clockwork keep the battery charged ?.
Yeah. The internal battery is something you could charge by nervously fiddling with the device. I would imagine that this would be attractive to people who have a tendency to fidget. It could be a very cheap battery with a high Amp rating and a fairly low capacity.
Regardless if you crank, shake, or squeeze to create energy it HAS to be stored somewhere in order to be used. So the only way to eliminate the battery would be to use a capacitor. I have not done the math, but to be able to push the equivalent of 12-15 watts for up to 5 seconds of draw will likely be a fairly sizable capacitor. Even using a 12v capacitor. This would also require special charging, discharging, and voltage regulation circuits to be included. At this point you will need a fairly decent understanding of designing electronic circuits. There will be LOTS of math equations involved as well.
Oh and capacitors are still susceptible thermal runaway, and age degradation just as batteries are.
It supposed to be funny it dose not need scientific proof just enough imagination to picture someone trying to vape and shake at the same time.
I'm not completely sure I understand. Do you want your clockwork device to power the vape directly, or charge a battery that does it? The latter would be easier, by far. Either way, though, you're going to face about 5 minutes of cranking for enough power for one hit, even in the 10W MTL range. If I had to use the clockwork to make electric power directly... hhhmmm... I think I'd try a stiff spiral spring hung on a ratchet to power a gear train that would drive the generator. That way you could release 5 minutes of cranking in a few seconds by dumping the ratchet. Such a machine would be conspicuously larger and heavier than an 18650.
What on earth for, anyway? If it's vapocalypse, I think solar panels would be a better way to go. You could then charge any kind of battery that'd make 4-14V DC at 20 A or so, and drive a vape with it. And if you've got household AC current, just get a 500W DC power supply with voltage regulation, plug it in, and wire the output to a switch and a 510 connector.
What on earth for, anyway? If it's vapocalypse, I think solar panels would be a better way to go. You could then charge any kind of battery that'd make 4-14V DC at 20 A or so, and drive a vape with it. And if you've got household AC current, just get a 500W DC power supply with voltage regulation, plug it in, and wire the output to a switch and a 510 connector.
I would try to design a plunger type of device and attach it to the legs... as you walk, the plunger would contact the ground first and impart the energy to a linear generator thus charging/supplying the needed juice... that way you would get exercise while you vape 
Maybe two hundred watts -- IF you're in good shape.
You can get a single solar panel capable of producing that, with far less effort.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
