# Could We Produce Power from Hamsters in Wheels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454 "2012-03-21T23:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/41 "2012-03-26T20:57:38Z")
> [@JoshuaSD](#): > > OK first of its so cool that my second thread ever is in the “threadspotting” section. You’re welcome. 🙂 > [@](#): > > Is there any small generator that something as lightweight as a hamster could even turn? Sure, but just how much energy do you think one puny hamster could generate? > [@Modevo](#): > > You would need to buy a lot of hamsters, and half of them would probably die from overwork, unless you buy a swarm and make them work in shifts. [Like this?](http://www.hampsterdance.com/classics/originaldance.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/42 "2012-03-26T21:41:54Z")
> [@JoshuaSD](#): > > Serious? No of course not. But sill… > Well rodents breed like rabbits. (redundant) Rabbits aren’t rodents, if that’s what you’re implying. Something like this came up when we were discussing why exercise bikes don’t come with generators, with the upshot being that a human biker would be hard put to power a single 100 watt light bulb while going full power. Hamster generators just would never produce enough energy to pay for the equipment, feeding, and logistics involved. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/43 "2012-03-27T02:49:41Z")
I hope **JoshuaSD** is pleased to note that [a certain Isaac Newton](http://emmamelaney.tripod.com/id22.html) beat him to this invention: > [@](#): > > He is remembered from [his early teen-age years] in Grantham for ‘his strange inventions and extraordinary inclination for mechanical works’. Among these were a windmill powered by a treadmill run by a mouse - the latter urged on by tugs on a string tied to its tail … ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/44 "2012-03-27T03:28:00Z")
Five-year-olds. Now, there’s an energy source just going to waste. We’d have to make it look like play time, wouldn’t we? Pesky child labor laws to work around, too. Some kind of device that didn’t depend on the kids running in the same direction for any length of time. Parental consent forms… snack time… nap time… Darn. It seems so promising. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/45 "2012-03-27T09:50:11Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > And if _three_ gyms do it, three–can you imagine gyms with all their machines hooked up, powering the neon sign out front? They may think it’s an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty gyms a day, I said _fifty gyms a day_ with all their machines hooked up, powering the neon sign out front? And friends they may think it’s a movement. I didn’t see any follow-up posts yet, expressing any appreciation of the vast implications here. Why is it up to me to have to state this? If you have _fifty gyms a day_ powering their neon signs with human treadmills, friends, you’ll have The Alice’s Gymnasium Anti-Hamster Massacree Movement. And all you have to do to join it, my friends, is sing along the next time it comes around on the treadmill. . . . We’re just waiting for it to come around on the treadmill here . . . ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/46 "2012-03-27T11:30:55Z")
All I know is, ain’t nobody puttin’ no hamsters up in me. ---
**Author:** ![JoshuaSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@JoshuaSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoshuaSD)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/47 "2012-03-27T12:09:10Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I hope **JoshuaSD** is pleased to note that [a certain Isaac Newton](http://emmamelaney.tripod.com/id22.html) beat him to this invention: Of course Newton beat me to it. He seems to have beat me to every one of my great ideas. As for the five-year-olds. I’m thinking a sound proof booth at every restaurant. Inside a giant treadmill. It will both power the restaurant and silence the screaming kids so I can eat in quiet well lit ambiance. So there Newton invent that! ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/48 "2012-03-28T03:58:10Z")
Looks like someone has already found a way to do it. [Link here.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YOAmqXEehA&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![JoshuaSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@JoshuaSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoshuaSD)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/49 "2012-03-29T20:53:48Z")
> [@X.L.Lent](#): > > Looks like someone has already found a way to do it. [Link here.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YOAmqXEehA&feature=related) Thats perfect! I knew hamsters rocked. Assuming its legitimate, and from the video and pictures I have no reason to think its not, I think I may just try it out myself. At least once I finish the other 10,000 projects around the house that need doing. Thanks to all. This was way more than I ever thought I would get on this absurd but fun little topic. SD comes through once again. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/50 "2012-03-30T01:10:12Z")
> [@JoshuaSD](#): > > Thanks to all. This was way more than I ever thought I would get on this absurd but fun little topic. SD comes through once again. No ignorance is too absurd to be fought! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bowlweevils](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@bowlweevils](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bowlweevils)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/51 "2012-03-30T11:11:27Z")
What kind of person says rabbits aren’t rodents and hops off without lagging more for supplying the correct category? I thought this site was about knowledge. BTW, Pessimist, hamsters and gerbils will work for crack cocaine too. Plus when some die from overwork, excess crack, or starvation, the critters still alive will eat the dead ones for their crack content. Efficiency! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpax181](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3da27b/32.png) [@wolfpax181](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpax181)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/52 "2012-03-31T21:14:41Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > Five-year-olds. Now, there’s an energy source just going to waste. > > We’d have to make it look like play time, wouldn’t we? Pesky child labor laws to work around, too. Some kind of device that didn’t depend on the kids running in the same direction for any length of time. Parental consent forms… snack time… nap time… > > Darn. It seems so promising. I’m trying to find a story on making essentially pressure plates that generate electrical power when walked on. Having no luck at the moment… Two places that were brought up on having them installed were schools and playgrounds. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/53 "2012-03-31T21:22:45Z")
> [@wolfpax181](#): > > I’m trying to find a story on making essentially pressure plates that generate electrical power when walked on. Having no luck at the moment… > > Two places that were brought up on having them installed were schools and playgrounds. Hmm yes… a piezoelectric material, maybe with some springs… I guess it could work! I wonder how much electricity you could produce this way and how expensive it would be… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/54 "2012-03-31T21:32:01Z")
> [@wolfpax181](#): > > I’m trying to find a story on making essentially pressure plates that generate electrical power when walked on. Having no luck at the moment… > > Two places that were brought up on having them installed were schools and playgrounds. Sidewalks downtown in big cities, and dance floors in bars and clubs. Also the aisles leading to and from entrances and bathrooms. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/55 "2012-04-01T09:30:00Z")
> [@wolfpax181](#): > > I’m trying to find a story on making essentially pressure plates that generate electrical power when walked on. Having no luck at the moment… > > Two places that were brought up on having them installed were schools and playgrounds. The easiest way to get power from kids in a playground is to put generators on the merry-go-rounds, swings and seesaws. And no pesky labour laws - the kids are playing. 😉 Si ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/56 "2012-04-01T21:59:42Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > No ignorance is too absurd to be fought! 😛 Some absurdities, however, should be ignored. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![tarmaque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@tarmaque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarmaque)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/57 "2012-04-02T00:22:55Z")
Y’all are missing the point. What if you’re raising hamsters anyway? Say you need 'em for food for your guard python? It’s about making efficient use of resources. If you’re raising them anyway, why not extract all the value you can from them? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454/58 "2012-04-02T00:25:35Z")
Perhaps we could plug them into artificial womb-things and use them as batteries in a matrix before feeding them to the pythons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-produce-power-from-hamsters-in-wheels/616454.md?page=2)