powerbiking
Question:
My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 plywood and then belt that to a bicycle windtrainer and make myself useful by charging a 12 V battery. I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to light up the laundry corner of the garage, and maybe some more. A bicycle trainer holds the bike up by its rear axle and the rear tire turns a roller that has either a fan of a magnetic resistance gizmo at the end. Mine coincidentally could be easily used to drive a belt like an auto fan belt. As you can see at http://users.erols.com/mshaver/bikegen.htm, this is quite do-able. There, the guy describes his battery-charging attempts as "great" compared with his endeavors to run various gizmos directly. He rated the results of those from "good" down to "useless." My current (no pun intended) obstacle is knowing what equipment I should use. What generator? What type of battery? What fuses where? What kind of ammeter where? (I’ll need that and a voltmeter to avoid overcharging, etc., right?). I would love to have someone just tell me what the optimum set of devices is and go from there. It seems to me that someone with some fundamental knowledge of electricity could sketch this out on a napkin in about a minute. Please help me out with this. Thanks, Kevin Article posted with Cabling-Design.com Newsgroup Archive http://www.cabling-design.com/forums no-spam read and post WWW interface to your favorite newsgroup – alt.energy.homepower – 5102 messages and counting!
Response:
>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 >plywood and then belt that to a >bicycle windtrainer and make myself >useful by charging a 12 V battery. >I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to >light up the laundry corner of >the garage, and maybe some more.
Not practical. A ham-radio magazine ran an article on a bicycle-cranked generator a few years ago – and it takes a hell of a lot of effort for a hell of a little power (enough to power a mobile 2-meter radio, which is damn little). I’d get a deep-cycle gel cell instead – maybe one of the kind sold for power-outage lights – and a low-output solar panel (with diode to avoid reverse charging at night) and an LED "lightbulb" for this one. <B>Dissident news – plus immigration, gun rights, weather, Internet Gun Show <I><A HREF="http://www.alamanceind.com">ALAMANCE INDEPENDENT: official newspaper of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy</A></b></i>
Response:
Not true GLC! Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to generate electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator connected to the bike. Seeing all you want to do is power some lights, I see no obstacles stopping you do this especially if they are low watt lighting. You could go one step further and use light concentration techniques to amplify low watt lights. Good luck
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 >plywood and then belt that to a >bicycle windtrainer and make myself >useful by charging a 12 V battery. >I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to >light up the laundry corner of >the garage, and maybe some more. > Not practical. A ham-radio magazine ran an article on a bicycle-cranked > generator a few years ago – and it takes a hell of a lot of effort for a > hell > of a little power (enough to power a mobile 2-meter radio, which is damn > little). > I’d get a deep-cycle gel cell instead – maybe one of the kind sold for > power-outage lights – and a low-output solar panel (with diode to avoid > reverse > charging at night) and an LED "lightbulb" for this one. > <B>Dissident news – plus immigration, gun rights, weather, Internet Gun > Show > <I><A HREF="http://www.alamanceind.com">ALAMANCE INDEPENDENT: > official newspaper of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy</A></b></i>
Response:
http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen.html http://users.erols.com/mshaver/bikegen.htm http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bicycle+pedal+generator&btnG=Goo… 
Response:
He’s lucky if he can generate more than 100 watts for any length of time. Pedal power is neat, but you really need multiple people taking turns, or run mutliple "cylinders" at a time. Steve Spence Dir., Green Trust http://www.green-trust.org – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Not true GLC! > Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to generate > electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator connected > to the bike. > Seeing all you want to do is power some lights, I see no obstacles stopping > you do this especially if they are low watt lighting. You could go one step > further and use light concentration techniques to amplify low watt lights. > Good luck >>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 >plywood and then belt that to a >>bicycle windtrainer and make myself >useful by charging a 12 V battery. >>I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to >light up the laundry corner of >>the garage, and maybe some more. > Not practical. A ham-radio magazine ran an article on a bicycle-cranked >generator a few years ago – and it takes a hell of a lot of effort for a >hell >of a little power (enough to power a mobile 2-meter radio, which is damn >little). > I’d get a deep-cycle gel cell instead – maybe one of the kind sold for >power-outage lights – and a low-output solar panel (with diode to avoid >reverse >charging at night) and an LED "lightbulb" for this one. ><B>Dissident news – plus immigration, gun rights, weather, Internet Gun >Show ><I><A HREF="http://www.alamanceind.com">ALAMANCE INDEPENDENT: >official newspaper of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy</A></b></i>
Response:
It might "feel" easier though if he inclined the front of the Bike downwards slightly (to give the effect of rolling down a Hill). Ashley Clarke
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> He’s lucky if he can generate more than 100 watts for any length of > time. Pedal power is neat, but you really need multiple people taking > turns, or run mutliple "cylinders" at a time. > Steve Spence > Dir., Green Trust > http://www.green-trust.org > Not true GLC! > Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to generate > electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator connected > to the bike. > Seeing all you want to do is power some lights, I see no obstacles stopping > you do this especially if they are low watt lighting. You could go one step > further and use light concentration techniques to amplify low watt lights. > Good luck >>>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 >plywood and then belt that to a >>>bicycle windtrainer and make myself >useful by charging a 12 V battery. >>>I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to >light up the laundry corner of >>>the garage, and maybe some more. >> Not practical. A ham-radio magazine ran an article on a bicycle-cranked >>generator a few years ago – and it takes a hell of a lot of effort for a >>hell >>of a little power (enough to power a mobile 2-meter radio, which is damn >>little). >> I’d get a deep-cycle gel cell instead – maybe one of the kind sold for >>power-outage lights – and a low-output solar panel (with diode to avoid >>reverse >>charging at night) and an LED "lightbulb" for this one. >><B>Dissident news – plus immigration, gun rights, weather, Internet Gun >>Show >><I><A HREF="http://www.alamanceind.com">ALAMANCE INDEPENDENT: >>official newspaper of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy</A></b></i>
Response:
really …… Steve Spence Dir., Green Trust http://www.green-trust.org – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > It might "feel" easier though if he inclined the front of the Bike > downwards slightly (to give the effect of rolling down a Hill). > Ashley Clarke >He’s lucky if he can generate more than 100 watts for any length of >time. Pedal power is neat, but you really need multiple people taking >turns, or run mutliple "cylinders" at a time. >Steve Spence >Dir., Green Trust >http://www.green-trust.org >>Not true GLC! >>Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to generate >>electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator > connected >>to the bike. >>Seeing all you want to do is power some lights, I see no obstacles > stopping >>you do this especially if they are low watt lighting. You could go one > step >>further and use light concentration techniques to amplify low watt > lights. >>Good luck >>>>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 >plywood and then belt that > to a >>>>bicycle windtrainer and make myself >useful by charging a 12 V battery. >>>>I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to >light up the laundry corner > of >>>>the garage, and maybe some more. >>> Not practical. A ham-radio magazine ran an article on a > bicycle-cranked >>>generator a few years ago – and it takes a hell of a lot of effort for a >>>hell >>>of a little power (enough to power a mobile 2-meter radio, which is damn >>>little). >>> I’d get a deep-cycle gel cell instead – maybe one of the kind sold for >>>power-outage lights – and a low-output solar panel (with diode to avoid >>>reverse >>>charging at night) and an LED "lightbulb" for this one. >>><B>Dissident news – plus immigration, gun rights, weather, Internet Gun >>>Show >>><I><A HREF="http://www.alamanceind.com">ALAMANCE INDEPENDENT: >>>official newspaper of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy</A></b></i>
Response:
746 Watts = 1 Horse power How many horses would you like to pull and for how long LOL : )
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It might "feel" easier though if he inclined the front of the Bike > downwards slightly (to give the effect of rolling down a Hill). > Ashley Clarke > He’s lucky if he can generate more than 100 watts for any length of > time. Pedal power is neat, but you really need multiple people taking > turns, or run mutliple "cylinders" at a time. > Steve Spence > Dir., Green Trust > http://www.green-trust.org > > Not true GLC! > > Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to generate > > electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator > connected > > to the bike. > > Seeing all you want to do is power some lights, I see no obstacles > stopping > > you do this especially if they are low watt lighting. You could go one > step > > further and use light concentration techniques to amplify low watt > lights. > > Good luck > >>>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 >plywood and then belt that > to a > >>>bicycle windtrainer and make myself >useful by charging a 12 V battery. > >>>I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to >light up the laundry corner > of > >>>the garage, and maybe some more. > >> Not practical. A ham-radio magazine ran an article on a > bicycle-cranked > >>generator a few years ago – and it takes a hell of a lot of effort for a > >>hell > >>of a little power (enough to power a mobile 2-meter radio, which is damn > >>little). > >> I’d get a deep-cycle gel cell instead – maybe one of the kind sold for > >>power-outage lights – and a low-output solar panel (with diode to avoid > >>reverse > >>charging at night) and an LED "lightbulb" for this one. > >><B>Dissident news – plus immigration, gun rights, weather, Internet Gun > >>Show > >><I><A HREF="http://www.alamanceind.com">ALAMANCE INDEPENDENT: > >>official newspaper of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy</A></b></i>
Response:
Is that US whore’s power or Imperial?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> 746 Watts = 1 Horse power > How many horses would you like to pull and for how long LOL : ) > It might "feel" easier though if he inclined the front of the Bike > downwards slightly (to give the effect of rolling down a Hill). > Ashley Clarke > > He’s lucky if he can generate more than 100 watts for any length of > > time. Pedal power is neat, but you really need multiple people taking > > turns, or run mutliple "cylinders" at a time. > > Steve Spence > > Dir., Green Trust > > http://www.green-trust.org > > > Not true GLC! > > > Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to > generate > > > electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator > connected > > > to the bike. > > > Seeing all you want to do is power some lights, I see no obstacles > stopping > > > you do this especially if they are low watt lighting. You could go one > step > > > further and use light concentration techniques to amplify low watt > lights. > > > Good luck > > >>>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 >plywood and then belt that > to a > > >>>bicycle windtrainer and make myself >useful by charging a 12 V > battery. > > >>>I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to >light up the laundry > corner > of > > >>>the garage, and maybe some more. > > >> Not practical. A ham-radio magazine ran an article on a > bicycle-cranked > > >>generator a few years ago – and it takes a hell of a lot of effort for > a > > >>hell > > >>of a little power (enough to power a mobile 2-meter radio, which is > damn > > >>little). > > >> I’d get a deep-cycle gel cell instead – maybe one of the kind sold > for > > >>power-outage lights – and a low-output solar panel (with diode to > avoid > > >>reverse > > >>charging at night) and an LED "lightbulb" for this one. > > >><B>Dissident news – plus immigration, gun rights, weather, Internet > Gun > > >>Show > > >><I><A HREF="http://www.alamanceind.com">ALAMANCE INDEPENDENT: > > >>official newspaper of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy</A></b></i>
Response:
>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 plywood and then belt that to a >bicycle windtrainer and make myself useful by charging a 12 V battery. >I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to light up the laundry corner of >the garage, and maybe some more. >A bicycle trainer holds the bike up by its rear axle and the rear tire >turns a roller that has either a fan of a magnetic resistance gizmo at the >end. Mine coincidentally could be easily used to drive a belt like an >auto fan belt.
last time I looked there was a design at the "Home Power" magazine website. it used a dc motor for a generator and was built around a training stand. You can probably power a flourscent light with your efforts.
Response:
> It might "feel" easier though if he inclined the front of the Bike > downwards slightly (to give the effect of rolling down a Hill).
That’s exactly what *I* did. There is a forty degree forward tilt to the bike. Excepting the price of the occasional chain, I now get the effect of free power. mike
Response:
…and tuck your trousers in your socks too (for added measure). Ashley Clarke
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It might "feel" easier though if he inclined the front of the Bike > downwards slightly (to give the effect of rolling down a Hill). > That’s exactly what *I* did. There is a forty degree forward tilt to the > bike. Excepting the price of the occasional chain, I now get the effect of > free power. > mike
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It might "feel" easier though if he inclined the front of the Bike > downwards slightly (to give the effect of rolling down a Hill). > That’s exactly what *I* did. There is a forty degree forward tilt to the > bike. Excepting the price of the occasional chain, I now get the effect of > free power. > mike
Response:
> Not true GLC! > Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to generate > electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator > connected to the bike.
I don’t really see how a nifty gear system (is nifty a trademark?) is going to increase the available power, but it’s true that you can generate plenty of electricity to light up one room. With modern low-wattage lighting, you can easily do that, given that I used to use very inefficiently designed generators on the wheels of my bicycle to power the headlight, and never ran into anything. — derek
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Not true GLC! >Using a nifty gear system could let you get a very high RPM to generate >electricity. You could even consider using more than one generator >connected to the bike. > I don’t really see how a nifty gear system (is nifty a trademark?) is going > to increase the available power, but it’s true that you can generate plenty > of electricity to light up one room. With modern low-wattage lighting, you > can easily do that, given that I used to use very inefficiently designed > generators on the wheels of my bicycle to power the headlight, and never > ran into anything.
Agreed, Derek. Basically: torque * RMS = power. Increase RPMs via gears and you reduce torque in the same proportion, but power does not change except it is reduced by gear friction. That is why, you must down-shift a bicycle to ride up a mountain, and may up-shift when riding down.
Response:
>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 plywood and then belt that to a >bicycle windtrainer and make myself useful by charging a 12 V battery.
It’s good to start with small goals when making one’s self useful. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to light up the laundry corner of >the garage, and maybe some more. >A bicycle trainer holds the bike up by its rear axle and the rear tire >turns a roller that has either a fan of a magnetic resistance gizmo at the >end. Mine coincidentally could be easily used to drive a belt like an >auto fan belt. >As you can see at http://users.erols.com/mshaver/bikegen.htm, this is >quite do-able. There, the guy describes his battery-charging attempts as >"great" compared with his endeavors to run various gizmos directly. He >rated the results of those from "good" down to "useless." >My current (no pun intended) obstacle is knowing what equipment I should >use. What generator? What type of battery? What fuses where? What kind >of ammeter where? (I’ll need that and a voltmeter to avoid overcharging, >etc., right?). I would love to have someone just tell me what the >optimum set of devices is and go from there. It seems to me that someone >with some fundamental knowledge of electricity could sketch this out on a >napkin in about a minute. >Please help me out with this.
This is an amusing idea, but can’t you do it on a scale where you do something more practical, like light a whole room versus just one corner of a room? >Thanks, >Kevin
(Forwarded to RAP so Chuckles can make himself useful for once as well.) Jade
Response:
<clip> > (Forwarded to RAP so Chuckles can make himself useful for once as > well.) > Jade
The obvious answer for Chuck would be to connect the positive wire to a conductive ring in his pierced ear, and the negative to a one inch steel band worn rather like a crown. Then, voila, electroshock therapy. A nearby smoke detector would indicate when the session is finished.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 plywood and then belt that to a >bicycle windtrainer and make myself useful by charging a 12 V battery. > It’s good to start with small goals when making one’s self useful. >I’m hoping to be able to charge enough to light up the laundry corner of >the garage, and maybe some more. >A bicycle trainer holds the bike up by its rear axle and the rear tire >turns a roller that has either a fan of a magnetic resistance gizmo at the >end. Mine coincidentally could be easily used to drive a belt like an >auto fan belt. >As you can see at http://users.erols.com/mshaver/bikegen.htm, this is >quite do-able. There, the guy describes his battery-charging attempts as >"great" compared with his endeavors to run various gizmos directly. He >rated the results of those from "good" down to "useless." >My current (no pun intended) obstacle is knowing what equipment I should >use. What generator? What type of battery? What fuses where? What kind >of ammeter where? (I’ll need that and a voltmeter to avoid overcharging, >etc., right?). I would love to have someone just tell me what the >optimum set of devices is and go from there. It seems to me that someone >with some fundamental knowledge of electricity could sketch this out on a >napkin in about a minute. >Please help me out with this. > This is an amusing idea, but can’t you do it on a scale where you do > something more practical, like light a whole room versus just one > corner of a room? >Thanks, >Kevin > (Forwarded to RAP so Chuckles can make himself useful for once as > well.) > Jade
It’s a shame to see a bicycle abused this way. Bicycles are made for riding, not for generating power. Consider solar and wind power. http://chucklysaght.envy.nu/MyDailyRant.html
Response:
nothing. I’ve found me a STALKER. mike
Response:
>My plan is to bolt a generator to a 4 x 8 plywood and then belt that to a >bicycle windtrainer and make myself useful by charging a 12 V battery.
People have been doing this for years. Plenty on the web. If you are good biker you will be able to generate 100 watts for at least an hour.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > nothing. I’ve found me a STALKER. > mike
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > nothing. I’ve found me a STALKER. > mike
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