Bicycle based electrical generators

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reikiman
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Bicycle based electrical generators

I wandered into an interesting idea yesterday. It would be really simple to build an electric generator starting from a bicycle and an appropriate generator/motor. Remember that electric motors can also be generators with a little reconfiguration.

I've done some yahoogling and found several websites and videos showing others who've had the same idea. Some of them are mechanical power systems rather than generating electrical power.

The information is linked here: http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

The most interesting thing is how these designs are kind of the opposite of what we typically do, and how the skills we have from electric bicycles could be repurposed.

Here's a few highlights:-

http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

http://www.7gen.com/website-categories/bicycle-pedal-generator

smace
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

Several years ago, after the jurricanes hit Fla, I checked out several systems that I found on the web. One was a purpose built system with the drive wheel made of wood ( easy build, good traction on the belt) and one was a system that allowed you to use your standard bike in a rack as the drive system. Both worked well and both said an average person cound generate 100 watts for a long time and up to 300 in spurts. Both systems also had PTO's so you could power pumps and other systems. I suppose a good power assist bike could be retasked into a generator too. Thanks for the links

dogman
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

The best one I ever saw was a guy who hooked up the tv to a bike generator. The kids want to watch all day, go ahead! Realisticly, to watch an hour show, the whole family had to participate.

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deronmoped
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

What would be the reason for using Human power to run something? Sure it might be a fun way to get some exercise, but beyond that there must be way better ways of powering things.

Deron.

smace
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

What would be the reason for using Human power to run something? Sure it might be a fun way to get some exercise, but beyond that there must be way better ways of powering things.

Deron.

Yes, there are, but there might not be depending on where/when you are. Most of the systems I saw were for mchanical power taps to run saws pumps ect in locatins where the bicycle is perhaps the news technology that is widly spread in an area.

My particular use was as a back up to my emergncy solar power back up system. Solar does ot work at night nor in storms. Can not run a generator because we were in an appartment at the time. After the last hurricane we were with out grid power for 10 days. The solar backup system kept what I needed going, but there were no storms that 10 days and it was sunny and good weather. A simple rack that we could put the bike in and generate some power looked like a good idea. Never followed up, but still looks like a good idea.

dogman
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

Exactly, other than getting the kids to watch less tv, the ideal use is for off grid living. Even if you have a good photovoltaic setup, you could find yourself wanting just a bit more power than the battery bank holds due to breakdown or clouds. It's clean energy, unless you count the enviromental impact of human food.

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Crystal
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

What would be the reason for using Human power to run something? Sure it might be a fun way to get some exercise, but beyond that there must be way better ways of powering things.

Deron.

I find this really fascinating and I hope that is more is posted about either making or purchasing a way to harness the power made by a bicycle this way. During the winter, I ride my bicycle on a trainer nearly every day. So my reasoning to use something like this is not necessarily to use as a primary way to create power, but because since I'm riding in place on a daily basis anyway, I might as well create and save some power from it.

dogman
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

I got a good laugh the other day watching Living With Ed. The basic show is that Ed Begleys wife goes crazy trying to adjust to Ed's new green living devices that arrive about daily. Since he peadles for excercise anyway, he won't run the toaster till he peadles enough watts into his house to run the toaster. Made sense to me, but his wife thinks he's gone around the bend. Lots of us can't afford to renewable power the whole house, but the toaster is a good start.

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nasukaren
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

What irks me is how come pedaling hard on the dynamo only gives us 100 watts and a really good sweat, but when we put a motor on our e-bikes, we have to do 500 watts just to get up to speed?

Where are the 5:1 inefficiencies?

I mean.... I found an article that sez even Lance Armstrong can only do 500 watts:

Armstrong can ride up the mountains in France generating about 500 watts of power for 20 minutes, something a typical 25-year-old could do for only 30 seconds. A professional hockey player might last three minutes and then throw up.

*

But I'd bet a 500 watt hub motor couldn't keep up with him!

Karen

* Lance Armstrong: How does he do it?

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dogman
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Re: Bicycle based electrical generators

Don't forget that Lance rides about a 16 pound bike. My ebike starts out at about 35, then add 15 for the hub and 15 more for lithium batteries,and maybe 50 more for my weight... How fast would Lance be with a ninety pound sack of cement stuck in the pockets of his Jersey. When I ride my ebike I feel like I'm on a tandem with Lance on the back seat.

Be the pack leader.
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