Is the idea of permanent magnet "free energy" generators impossible?

It’s hard to say. I’ve tried building a few myself with no avail. I have gotten close a few times though, and that’s just tinkering around. The problem with permanent magnets in a PPM assembly, is that 2 magnets in close proximity to each other will eventually demagnetize on another. With that in mind, I don’t think PPM can be generated by any conventional means with permanent magnets. That being said, what would you consider a perpetual motion machine? I have a rather loose definition myself. If something can generate energy with no energy consumption for longer than I will live, then that’s good enough for me at the moment. Personally, I think any successful method for PPM will end up being much more complicated than we currently imagine. I hate when people say PPM is impossible. Whenever I hear that, I just point up at the night sky and say, “do you think all that is just sitting still?” It may very well be that the entire universe is one big perpetual motion machine, and that perhaps that’s how complex it has to be to achieve PPM. Since we’re no-where near being able to create a universe, and a few generations still before we’ll learn to manipulate gravity, I think any PPM we could create in the present would most likely work off an intricate design of step up transformers which draw a small amount of power, amplify that energy, and then recirculate it indirectly.

Another method for achieving over-unity could be found in the field of superconductors. For the past decade scientist have been working on different formulas for YBCuO (ceramic material that becomes a superconductor at sub-zero temperatures). The material has taken drastic leaps forward in terms of the temperatures needed to achieve superconductivity. The goal is to find a formula that will superconduct at room temperature. When/if that happens, over-unity will come with it.

Here are some links to permanent magnet PPM attempts on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ge2h8Apgd8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M8ANcxPF7o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_k2jTEuikA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bssBAb6EzM4&feature=related
This one looks like it works, but was later revealed to be a hoax.

Magnets are not “free energy.” Magnets transform mechanical energy into electromagnetic energy. The energy from so-called perpetual motion machines based on permanent magnets comes from using rotational energy from the Earth’s rotating core. Every time you use a magnet to perform work, you are very slightly slowing the rotation if the Earth’s liquid core. And while it contains a great deal of energy, it is neither infinite nor perpetual. TANSTAAFL.

I’ve heard about them but I have no idea on how they actually function, or even what parts they consist of. You have to be able to cut the magnetic lines of flux by a conductor (or vice versa) moving through the magnetic field. This is why an alternator/generator needs a prime mover.

Some of my invention ideas involve using certain methods to generate electricity but I need to purchase more machinery to be able to finish some of my prototypes and I currently do not have the money at this time. It is possible to use permanent magnets to turn a rotor by repelling/attracting other permanent magnets. However you will hit a gate which will eventually stop the rotor so perhaps a mechanical mechanism could be used to get around the stopping gate.

Permanent magnet DC motors use permanent magnets in their fields. However they only rotate due to the polarity of the electromagnetic field on the armature continually reversing at the right time due to a divided and rotating commutator. The motor brushes make contact with this commutator. It would be difficult to do this with an all permanent magnet motor since the polarity function is completely dependent on an electromagnetic field in the armature. It would be difficult to change polarities that the dc machine relies upon to keep rotating with all permanent magnets.

Free energy generators of all forms are prohibited by the laws of thermodynamics. No matter how much/little energy is produced, no matter how long it seems to produce energy, the energy is being sucked from somewhere.

The accelerating expansion of the universe caused by dark energy or zero point energy implies that energy is constantly being added to the universe. Whether it is ex nihilo or seeping in from a hyperverse remains to be seen. So if you can tap that energy, you can get “free energy”. The old crystal radios were also powered by “free energy”, because they used ambient electromagnetic energy to power themselves. It was extremely weak, but it was there. Solar power is “free energy”. So is wind power and hydro electric. “Free” because you do not constantly have to go around and actively gather and excavate or grow resources to convert them into energy. You just build the plant at the desired location, and wait for the energy to come to you.
But the classical perpetuum mobile, magnets included, are impossible. You need to be precise when you use the term “free energy” because it is a blanket term covering both the possible and impossible.

if it actually can be done, it could only occur in a free market system. GO CAPITALISM!!

on the contrary. capitalism would suppress this technology as long as there is money to make with harvestable resources.