Papa Bale — Pulse Motor Experimenter & YouTube Creator

Self-taught experimenter. Magnet obsessive since age 5. Documenting every pulse motor discovery on YouTube.

Papa Bale is a self-taught pulse motor experimenter and YouTube creator based in the United States. Known for his hands-on approach to DIY electric motor research, he documents Bedini SSG circuits, litz wire coil pickups, counter-rotating magnetic devices, and back-EMF recovery experiments on his YouTube channel @MPHJR. His work is notable in the pulse motor enthusiast community for combining rigorous measurement with accessible explanations, making complex electromagnetic concepts approachable for beginners.

Background

Papa Bale's fascination with magnets began at age 5. The invisible forces — push, pull, attraction, repulsion — captivated him in a way that few childhood experiences do. Like many childhood obsessions, it was set aside as life progressed: work, family, and the demands of adult life occupied the next three decades.

The return came unexpectedly. Browsing YouTube one evening, Papa Bale encountered a pulse motor video. Something clicked. The childhood questions — why do magnets push? where does the energy go? — came flooding back, this time accompanied by decades of life experience and a new willingness to experiment publicly.

His first pulse motor was built on a kitchen table from salvaged parts. It barely worked. He filmed it anyway. That decision — to share the imperfect, the in-progress, the genuinely confused — became the foundation of his channel. Papa Bale's Pulse Motors launched with a simple promise: document everything, hide nothing, learn in public.

Areas of Expertise

⚡ Pulse Motors

Timed electromagnetic pulses driving permanent magnet rotors — the foundational technology of all his builds.

🔌 Bedini SSG Circuits

The classic School Girl circuit — single transistor, trigger coil, and energizer coil — taught and demonstrated at multiple skill levels.

🧵 Litz Wire Coils

Multi-strand litz wire pickup coils for high-efficiency electromagnetic induction, including 26AWG 12-strand configurations.

🧲 Magnetic Levitation

Experiments with levitation on poles using interchangeable magnetic discs, exploring push-pull balance dynamics.

🔋 Back-EMF Recovery

Capturing voltage spikes from coil de-energization to charge secondary batteries or supercapacitor banks.

⚗️ Cap Bank Charging

Filling 20-farad supercapacitor banks via bridge rectifiers from trifiler proximity coils — passive energy harvesting from spinning rotors.

🔄 Counter-Rotating Devices

Dual-rotor systems spinning in opposite directions, equipped with safety relays and infrared auto-cutoff circuits.

Notable Experiments

7-Minute Magnetic Spin

A magnetic disc set spinning with a single wrist flick continued rotating for over 7 minutes — demonstrating the remarkably low friction achievable with balanced permanent magnet rotors and proper bearing alignment. Watch video →

220mA Litz Wire Pickup

A 26AWG 12-strand litz wire coil used in pickup mode alongside a 16AWG trifiler dual drive produced 220 milliamps of output at ~9V — remarkable output for such thin wire, challenging expectations about gauge-to-current relationships. Watch video →

Levitation Pole Experiment

Papa Bale demonstrated magnetic levitation using interchangeable discs on a pole, documenting simultaneous push-pull forces and the key insight: keep the disc flat — wobbling self-corrects, but tilting indicates imbalance. Watch video →

Counter-Rotating Device with Safety Relay

A dual-rotor counter-rotating motor was upgraded with a latching relay + infrared sensor safety cutoff system. The device charges a 20-farad supercapacitor bank via 28-gauge trifiler proximity coils and bridge rectifiers. Watch video →

YouTube Channel

Papa Bale's YouTube channel @MPHJR is home to his complete video library of pulse motor experiments. Content covers everything from no-solder beginner builds to advanced multi-coil configurations and real-time measurement analysis. New videos are published regularly, documenting the ongoing evolution of his builds.

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The channel is particularly popular for its honest, measurement-driven approach — Papa Bale shows multimeter and oscilloscope readings in real time, letting viewers draw their own conclusions rather than relying on unverified claims.

Membership Community

Papa Bale operates a paid membership community for dedicated enthusiasts. Members get access to extended build videos, early experiment previews, and live shoutouts during streams. The community is hosted on Discord and through YouTube Memberships.

⚡ Join the Community

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Papa Bale?

Papa Bale is a self-taught pulse motor experimenter and YouTube creator. Fascinated by magnets since age 5 and returning to the hobby after a 30-year break, he now runs one of YouTube's most active pulse motor channels under the handle @MPHJR.

What does Papa Bale build?

Papa Bale builds pulse motors, Bedini SSG circuits, litz wire pickup coils, counter-rotating magnetic devices, cap bank charging systems, and magnetic levitation rigs. He documents each build on video — including the failures — making his channel an invaluable practical learning resource.

Where can I watch Papa Bale?

Watch Papa Bale on YouTube at youtube.com/@MPHJR. His full video library, blog posts, glossary, and community links are also available at papabalespulsemotors.com.

Explore the Experiments

Watch Papa Bale build, measure, and explain pulse motor circuits in real time — no theory-only content here.