Have you ever heard the term "perpetual motion machine?" If so, you may have smiled, thinking of an inventor putting together gears, wheels and pulleys in his basement to make a machine that runs forever without any external power.
Well, it may not be as crazy as it sounds.
Scientists and inventors have worked for years to develop a machine that will run without needing any energy to power it.
They've actually done so.
They used permanent magnets arranged so that their opposing forces turn a shaft that, in turn, generates power.
Every magnet has a north and a south pole.
If you've ever played with bar magnets, you probably found that when you place the north pole of one next to the north pole of another, you can move one by pushing it directly at the other.
By arranging magnets in this fashion, builders have been able to actually create a perpetual motion machine.
Once started,the opposing forces of the magnets will keep the machine's armature continually rotating.
Builders have gone one step further in the process by using this motion to generate electricity.
As a result, they've created plans you can follow to build a permanent magnet generator ("PMG") and actually power some or all of your home with it.
If you're new to PMG's, do some research on the various sites to become familiar with the types of plans being offered.
You'll see a wide variety.
Some sites also have video clips of their PMG's in action.
Most sites say you can build a PMG using readily available parts, usually those you can find at larger hardware and building supply stores.
Although many say you don't have to be an engineer to build theirs, some of the plans are quite sophisticated and do require higher-than-average mechanical ability.
You can get additional information in this area by checking into online PMG forums.
Most sellers also offer guarantees, so if you do order plans and find them to be beyond your ability, you can usually return them for a refund.
Be sure to read and fully understand the specifics of these guarantees before purchasing any plans.
Another consideration is how much power you want to generate.
Here too, you'll find a fairly wide range of outputs.
You may want to build a smaller PMG to get a feel for its design and power output before moving up to a higher power version.
If and when you've decided to build a PMG, be sure the plans you get are detailed enough to guide you completely through the process.
Here again, if you're not comfortable, return the plans.
The more detailed the instructions and number of photographs, the better.
You'll also need to know how to connect your PMG to your home's electrical system.
Be sure your plans cover this aspect of the project.
NOTE: Be extremely careful with the home wiring hookup step of your project.
If you're the least bit unfamiliar with your electrical system, get professional help as a mistake could cause severe injury or death.
If you follow your plans correctly, you'll be very pleasantly surprised when your next electric bill arrives! PMG users have reported savings of 20% up to 100% of their electric bills.
Regardless of your savings, you'll definitely be helping to reduce your carbon footprint.