Bicycle energy production?!

[kyonu]

Its so simple, who woulda thought?



Anyone think of doing this before? I imagine you can simply take a big wind generator apart and use the motor in place of the motor this guy uses, and it already has everything else needed to control the voltage.

This would be perfect if there is no wind/solar (like if you're boondocking in a forest somewhere).

 

[Zil]

Yes it can work. I used a wiper motor from a VW with a homemade crank for the little ones to drive their floor toys (1967). You will be amazed how much resistance a alternator from a car will have. One of those chinese bike motor-wheels can be used as a generator also. Charge a battery.

 

[kyonu]

Well then, looks like I will look into this. Would be a great way to get exercise in the morning before a shower, and an easy way to top of some batteries (I'm going lithium, so the last 20% isn't too big a deal) before breakfast!

 

[highdesertranger]

yes it can be done. but as zil stated you will be amazed on how much resistance there will be. let us know how it works. highdesertranger

 

[kyonu]

yes it can be done. but as zil stated you will be amazed on how much resistance there will be. let us know how it works. highdesertranger

Well it will be mainly used as exercise anyways, so good! An hour of this will keep anyone fit!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I seem to recall reading that, during WW2, some of the Filipino Guerrillas up in the hills came up with similar homemade bicycle generators to charge salvaged car batteries to power their shortwave radios.

If I remember correctly, they had to change out peddlers frequently due to exhaustion.

It would be interesting if someone could run the numbers and figure out how many calories you have to burn to get X number of joules of electric energy.

Hopefully, yours will be more efficient that what they were able to come up with. Anyway, have fun playing with it.

Regards
John

 

[akrvbob]

You can buy these all ready to go, just do a google search.

There is no free lunch. It'a lot of work for not much power.
Bob

 

[kyonu]

You can buy these all ready to go, just do a google search.

There is no free lunch. It'a lot of work for not much power.
Bob

I'm not going to make this my main energy source, I just want an alternative in case of emergencies, and I'm outta gas for the generator. My main dealio is that I would like to stay in shape, and this would be a good way to do it. So why not get a bit of extra juice while I'm at it?

 

[highdesertranger]

nothing wrong with that attitude kyonu. highdesertranger