Resources & Glossary

An electric motor driven by timed electrical pulses rather than continuous DC or AC current. The pulses energize coils at precise moments to attract or repel permanent magnets on a spinning rotor, creating efficient rotational motion. Also called a Bedini motor in many hobbyist contexts.

A specific type of pulse motor popularized by inventor John Bedini. Characterized by its use of a charged battery as the power source, a transistor-based switching circuit, and an energizer coil plus trigger coil configuration. Known for its reportedly high efficiency and battery-charging capabilities.

The rotating component of a motor. In pulse motors, the rotor typically consists of a wheel or disk with permanent magnets attached around its perimeter. The magnets interact with the stator coils as the rotor spins.

The stationary part of a motor. In pulse motors, the stator contains the electromagnetic coils (energizer coil and trigger coil) that interact with the rotor magnets. Proper stator positioning relative to the rotor is critical for efficiency.

A small coil wound on the stator that senses the approach of a rotor magnet and generates a small voltage to trigger the transistor switch. The trigger coil is the "timing mechanism" of the pulse motor — it tells the circuit when to fire the energizer coil.

The main power coil in a Bedini-style pulse motor. When the transistor fires (triggered by the trigger coil), current flows through the energizer coil, creating an electromagnetic field that repels the nearest rotor magnet, giving it a push and maintaining rotation.

The voltage spike generated when current through an inductor is suddenly interrupted. In pulse motors, back-EMF occurs when the transistor cuts off current to the energizer coil. Some designs use this energy spike to charge a secondary battery, which is the basis of claims about pulse motor efficiency.

The switching component at the heart of most pulse motor circuits. The transistor acts as an electronically controlled switch — the trigger coil signal at the base turns on the collector-to-emitter current path, energizing the coil. Common choices include 2N3055 (NPN) and TIP31C for hobbyist builds.

The process by which a changing magnetic field produces a voltage (and potentially current) in a nearby conductor. Magnetic induction is the fundamental principle behind generators, transformers, and many aspects of pulse motor behavior including the trigger coil signal generation.

A material that maintains a persistent magnetic field without requiring electricity. Common types used in pulse motors include neodymium (NdFeB) magnets for high strength in small sizes, and ceramic (ferrite) magnets for cost-effective builds. Magnet strength, placement, and polarity significantly affect pulse motor performance.

A motor that operates on the principle of magnetic reluctance — the tendency of magnetic circuits to minimize reluctance (maximize magnetic flux). Switched reluctance motors are closely related to pulse motors and share the concept of precisely timed electrical pulses to create torque.

A measure of efficiency comparing output power to input power. In pulse motor discussions, COP is often debated — proponents claim values >1 (output exceeds input), while mainstream physics holds COP must be ≤1 for any closed system. Understanding this debate is essential context for the pulse motor hobby.

A simple Bedini pulse motor circuit design often recommended for beginners. Named partly due to its simplicity — reportedly understandable by anyone. Uses a single transistor, trigger coil, and energizer coil with a few resistors. Excellent first build for anyone new to pulse motors.

A type of wire made from many thin individually insulated strands twisted or braided together. Designed to reduce the skin effect and proximity effect at higher frequencies, allowing more current to flow through the full cross-section of the conductor. Papa Bale uses 26AWG 12-strand litz wire for pickup coils, noting impressive energy output — up to 220mA at ~9V — despite the thin gauge.

A coil wound with three separate strands of wire simultaneously, so all three follow the same winding path. Each strand can serve a different purpose — typically one for driving, one for triggering, and one for pickup. Papa Bale uses both 16AWG trifiler coils (for drive) and 28-gauge trifiler strands (for charging cap banks via bridge rectifier).

Like a trifiler but wound with two strands instead of three. One strand typically acts as the energizer/drive winding and the other as the trigger or pickup. Bifilar winding creates a specific mutual inductance between the strands that is exploited in many Bedini-style circuits.

A bank of capacitors (often supercapacitors) used to store electrical energy generated by the pulse motor's pickup coils. Supercapacitors can store and release energy quickly compared to batteries. Papa Bale uses a 5.5V parallel 20-farad supercapacitor bank in several experiments, charging it via bridge rectifiers from trifiler pickup coils.

A circuit using four diodes arranged in a bridge configuration to convert AC (alternating current) into DC (direct current). In pulse motor setups, pickup coils generate AC-like signals; a bridge rectifier converts this into usable DC to charge capacitors or batteries. Papa Bale wires his 28-gauge trifiler strands in series through a bridge rectifier into parallel cap banks.

Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor. A type of transistor used as a switch or amplifier in electronic circuits. MOSFETs can switch very quickly and handle higher currents than standard bipolar transistors at lower gate voltages, making them useful in advanced pulse motor control circuits and safety mechanisms.

A relay that maintains its switched state without continuous power — once activated, it stays on (or off) until it receives another signal to switch back. Papa Bale incorporates a 12V latching relay into a safety cutoff mechanism for high-speed motor runs, paired with an infrared sensor and MOSFET on a PCB board.

A technique where coils are placed near (but not physically touching) a magnetic rotor to harvest electricity through electromagnetic induction as the rotor spins past. Papa Bale uses proximity charging with trifiler coils to fill supercapacitor banks — the coil picks up voltage just from the passing magnetic field without being part of the drive circuit.

In pulse motor circuits, resonance occurs when multiple circuits interact and their frequencies align, causing the system to "hum" or oscillate. Papa Bale notes that adding more cap banks to his counter-rotating device causes stepped-up resonation — the hum gets stronger with each additional circuit. The system still functions but the resonance is a sign of coupling between circuits.

A standardized wire thickness measurement used in the US. The higher the AWG number, the thinner the wire. Common gauges in Papa Bale's builds: 16AWG (thick, high current, drive coils), 20AWG (mid-range), 26AWG (thin, pickup coils), 28AWG (very thin, proximity/trifiler strands), 32AWG (ultra-thin, high voltage low current). Thinner wire gives higher voltage; thicker wire gives higher current.