12v POWER FROM BICYCLE

[stayalert]

Can I rig up an alternator to a bicycle on a stand and produce 12V? Seems like I should be able to......I have some solar panels (PV) and a battery bank - this PV system is tied to an inverter and to the grid via a net metering arrangement. Seems like I should be able to pedal 12v to the bank/net metering system....no differnet then using the PV panels....Anyone have any experience/guidance on this?

 

[e9999]

Can I rig up an alternator to a bicycle on a stand and produce 12V? Seems like I should be able to......I have some solar panels (PV) and a battery bank - this PV system is tied to an inverter and to the grid via a net metering arrangement. Seems like I should be able to pedal 12v to the bank/net metering system....no differnet then using the PV panels....Anyone have any experience/guidance on this?

seems like you'd need electronics and/or a real alternator, or the output voltage might vary depending on speed for the simpler rigs like little generators?

 

[FJ40_owner]

The Australian guy on the Science Channel did this successfully. But it was alot of work and he seems to be a very fit guy.

If you do persue this I suggest using as high a voltage alternator b as you can find.

I think you will have problems syncing to the 60 Hertz required by the utility company. In other words your output voltage and current will fluctuate and the utility interface will reject your input. This is just my opinion.

Why not pedal and store the energy in a battery?

And did you know the most efficient use of surplus electrical energy is to make hot water? Maybe rig something up along those lines.

Happy pedaling.

JB

 

[e9999]

a fit human will be able to generate something like 100W of mechanical power for not too extended periods of time. Not a lot...

 

[wobble]

these folks should have some useful information for you:

http://www.humboldt.edu/~ccat/pedalpower/


I seem to recall when I was at HSU, they had a multi rig pedal machine powering the sound equipment for a small concert.

 

[ToyotaDon]

Those guys have it all worked out, with a flywheel, diode, & everything.

I was going to say an important thing would be gearing, to make the generator spin fast enough.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

these folks should have some useful information for you:

CCAT - Pedal Power


I seem to recall when I was at HSU, they had a multi rig pedal machine powering the sound equipment for a small concert.

Those guys have it all worked out, with a flywheel, diode, & everything.

I was going to say an important thing would be gearing, to make the generator spin fast enough.

stayalert if you want to one up the guys in the link... get your hands on a depleted uranium flywheel.. very dense stuff... good luck getting some during a war though..

 

[D'Animal]

Is this to run your water pump for your pond?


Old school lights on old schools bicycles had a little wheel/gear that you flipped over and it rubbed the tire and made the light come on.


If it were me and I wanted to generate the kind of power you are looking at.


I would go find an old Starter/Generator (think a 12v Ford 9N tractor) and put a voltage regulator on it. They were designed to run at low RPMS and still put out some juice.

You could take your tire off and run a belt from the rim to the pulley on the generator.

 

[nat]

Just modify a bike trainer to run an alternator or generator. That way your bike stays intact.