The magnet motor: the prime mover of the future?

The idea of the magnetic motor as a machine powered solely by magnetic force is not new. In fact, as early as 1269, the scholar Petrus Peregrinus Maricourt described how a serrated wheel could be powered by permanent magnets.
However, nothing is known of a successful implementation. Nevertheless, the idea bore fruit: In the 20th century, inventors and hobbyists increasingly dealt with the theory and claimed that they were able to build working magnet motors themselves. To date, however, no one has succeeded in constructing one. But what makes the principle of the magnet motor so interesting?

How could a self-running magnet motor work?

Researchers have been fascinated by the idea of a magnet-driven motor for centuries because it represents a kind of perpetuum mobile. The motor would constantly produce its own energy without depending on an external energy source.
As a result, drive systems would no longer be dependent on petrol, diesel, or electricity - A revolutionary technological advance, also regarding the environmental compatibility of car engines.

In concrete terms, a magnetic motor would consist of several permanent magnets, which are divided into a stator and a rotor. The magnets would repel and attract each other if they were cleverly arranged in a way that ensures a constant rotary motion.
So much for the idea – but the implementation is difficult. It primarily fails because there is no energy in magnets themselves. The force in permanent magnets is conservative - so no work is done over a cycle.
As a result, the motor would stop moving after a short time and return to the equilibrium position.
Therefore, according to the rules of physics, a magnetic motor that independently generates free energy cannot exist.

That doesn't stop technology enthusiasts from trying their luck anyway. Most recently, a sensational case occurred in 2006:
An American inventor named Mike Brady marketed a magnetic motor for cars - and sold it to paying customers.
However, the promised marvels of technology were never delivered. Four years later, Brady was charged with aggravated fraud and sentenced to five years in prison.
Since then, it has become quiet around the magnet motor.

Permanent magnet motors: This is how the magnet motor principle works

However, there is one type of working magnet motor that has found its way into everyday life: permanent magnet motors. Permanent magnet motors are used in various everyday devices, such as electric toothbrushes.
In contrast to the non-existent magnetic motor just described, which could be used to generate energy or electricity, they work in a similar way to an AC motor - with the help of electromagnetism. They are therefore dependent on a power supply as an energy source.
The so-called stator contains permanent magnets that generate the magnetic field required for the drive.The advantage is that this type of magnetic motor can be produced in a wide variety of sizes - it is perfect for small applications:

in windshield wipers
in air conditioners
in compressors

Permanent magnet motors are used where a high power-to-weight ratio is required with limited installation space.

Will there ever be large magnet motors for the home?

In times of rising prices for electricity, oil and gas, the search for alternative energy sources is accelerated.
The idea of a simple magnet motor replacing conventional heating or acting as an electricity generator is undoubtedly intriguing. On the Internet you can find a wide variety of building instructions, which supposedly make it possible for laypeople to construct one.
Here's an example:

Build a magnet motor yourself: Instructions

You need:

a square strip of wood, 20 to 30 mm, about 5 cm long
a wooden board, 10 cm wide
nails
non-conductive paint
glue
sandpaper
enameled copper wire
50 cm thick floral wire
3 to 4 magnets
1 m electric cable (single core)
various tools
a battery

In the first step a nail is hammered into the middle of the front side of the square strip. It is important to let the nails stick out about 2 cm on each side. Then isolate around 2 cm of the copper wire with sandpaper and solder this end to one of the nails that have been driven in. The wire is then wrapped around the bar 20 to 30 times so that it runs above the ends.

In the second step insulate a small piece from the other end of the wire and solder it to the other nail. Half of a nail is then painted with the non-conductive paint to insulate it. Do not paint a ring, but a stripe of paint on the nail.
When you turn the anchor, sometimes the insulated and sometimes the uninsulated part must be on top.

In the third step Let's turn to the bearing: to do this, remove the varnish from the floral wire to bend the bearings from it. The wire is wrapped twice around a round tool that should be slightly thicker than the nails - about 10 cm of the wire should be straight at the beginning and end of the spiral. Then place the anchor on the wooden board and mark the position of the nails.

In the fourth step of constructing your magnet motor, drill two small holes per nail and attach the straight ends of the bearing so that you can slide the nails into the spirals. Now put the anchor in the bearings - test if it rotates.
Then you can finally use the magnets. Drill the indentations between the bearings into the wood. Make absolutely sure that they are all facing the same pole.

The final step is to cut the electric wire for the magnet motor in half and solder one end to each bearing.
Now the armature is inserted into the bearings and the cables are connected to a battery. As soon as you kick the motor, it should spin - done!
That's how quickly you can construct a simple - albeit not very powerful - magnet motor.

Conclusion

The technology behind the magnetic motor is fascinating, but it cannot be used profitably in reality.
On the one hand, the construction of such a motor would have to prevent frictional losses during operation and ensure that the motor constantly gains energy at the same time.
However, a technical solution to these problems is currently not available.
Nevertheless, the possibility of building a magnetic motor continues to fascinate many inventors - and who knows, failures may lead to solutions for new, different alternative energy sources.
In any case, we hope that at some point in the future it will be possible to overturn the laws of physics and build a powerful, low-emission magnet motor.