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The EZ-Spin motor can keep a lightly loaded rotor turning for a remarkably long time, but it does not run forever or create free energy. A reed switch briefly energizes coils as rotor magnets pass; between those pulses, the rotor coasts. Low friction, careful balancing, and stored energy help explain the demonstration.
How the EZ-Spin motor works
Hackaday’s 2016 account describes the EZ-Spin as a simple motor arrangement similar to a brushless DC motor. Its stator has between 6 and 24 coils wired in alternating polarity, and the rotor carries permanent magnets arranged with the same polarity. A capacitor supplies energy, while a reed switch serves as a basic commutator.
As a rotor magnet passes the reed switch, the switch closes the circuit. The series-wired electromagnets then give the rotor a forward kick. When the magnet moves past, the switch opens and the rotor coasts until the next pulse. The cycle repeats as the rotor turns. Hackaday’s 2016 EZ-Spin account describes the mechanism and the build.
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The capacitor stores energy used to power the pulses. Hackaday also notes that spinning the rotor by hand can make the motor act as a generator and charge the capacitor. That stored energy, combined with low friction, can support a long demonstration; it is not energy creation.
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Why it can spin for a long time
A long runtime depends on minimizing the energy lost on every revolution. Hackaday describes a carefully balanced rotor, sapphire bearings, high-impedance coils, and no load as conditions for a build that can draw current in the microamp range. The demonstration is therefore about sustaining an unloaded rotor with very small losses—not delivering useful work indefinitely.
“The EZ Spin motor is absolutely, positively not perpetual motion or ‘over-unity’ or any of that mumbo-jumbo,” wrote Elliot Williams, the author of Hackaday’s 2016 article. “Forever” is a description of an impressive long-spin project, not a verified infinite runtime.
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What the published runtime numbers do—and do not—show
A 2019 Hackaday follow-up covers a different, more elaborate version that uses magnetic levitation. It reports a maker’s measurement of 150 nanoamps, while also saying the maker was unsure of the measurement. The same article reports a calculated runtime of 89,000 years from a single AA battery; that is a projection, not an observed run. Hackaday’s 2019 account of the magnetic-bearing variant discusses the measurement and calculation.
In the comments on that article, Williams offers an alternative theoretical estimate: 1,673 years using a 2,200 mAh battery rating and a 0.15-microamp draw. He points out that the longer estimate omits dissipation in a dropper resistor. The maker says the 89,000-year calculation was intended to describe runtime from 3.9 Wh of energy, while acknowledging that the battery, plastic, reed switch, and other components would not last that long. Neither estimate is a measured runtime or a realistic promise about component life. Battery self-discharge and practical losses also constrain real battery operation.
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How the two versions differ
| Version | Bearing or friction approach | Adjustment and remaining losses | What the runtime figure represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire-bearing EZ-Spin | Sapphire bearings, with low friction as a key part of the long-spin demonstration. | The source emphasizes careful rotor balance; no quantified adjustment difficulty is stated. | Hackaday describes a low-power, unloaded long-spin demonstration; no exact runtime is stated. |
| Magnetic-levitation extension | Magnetic bearings use pyrolyzed graphite discs and a rare-earth ring magnet. | Hackaday describes the magnetic bearing as fussy to adjust and notes that air drag remains. | The reported 150-nanoamp figure is a maker measurement the maker was unsure of. The 89,000-year and 1,673-year figures are theoretical calculations, not observed runtimes. |
The magnetic-bearing extension is not just a friction-free version of the original: it adds setup complexity, and levitation does not eliminate air drag or limits imposed by the materials and battery.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What you need to reproduce the base project
The documented base-project components are a reed switch, coils, permanent rotor magnets, a capacitor, and low-friction bearings. Hackaday’s 2016 article links to a 3D model and maker resources. The available source does not establish that a complete kit is currently available or provide a verified parts bill.
Rank #4
- Pay attention: Please read the instructions or pictures carefully, use the correct circuit diagram to avoid short circuit, short circuit will produce high temperature and Causing accessory damage
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- High torque Strong magnetic Brushed Electric 130 MOTOR, can be used for Science Educational models, DIY STEM toys, etc.. It is recommended to use a 3V battery drive to avoid high-speed operation affecting the motor life.
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A reed switch is one component, not a complete motor or a guarantee of compatibility. The magnetic-levitation extension is a substantially more demanding build because its magnetic bearing needs careful adjustment.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
