Home generator?

[Night Train]

Cycle generators - who can match the three to four hundred watts energy output of folk like Lance Armstrong on a stage of the TdF before the inefficient conversion to electricity for more than half an hour?

Shouldn't have to.
Just produce enough over a few hours to top up a battery and then he should be able to surf CC for 10 minutes.

 

[Night Train]

I was at a cycle event last year where there was a stage, a band and a bike auction. The sound system was powered by three bikes on generator set ups. There was no battery back up and so if we stopped pedaling the music stopped.
Three riders, taking turns to spin so only 1 or 2 were actually working, was enough to keep the whole show going.
There were two adult bikes and one child sized one.
I even had a go on my own for a while on an adult sized bike and when helping out I was sat backwards on the child's bike, on the handle bars and pedaling backwards for my contribution.

 

[Arch]

Of course, if you're going to generate cycle power, a recumbent set up would be even better. A comfortable seat means you can keep turning the pedals until your legs give out, rather than until your back/shoulders/bum start to hurt. Plus, you're already in a the perfect position to watch telly, relax, surf on a laptop (given a little shelf over your tummy to put it on...)

Of course for some applications of electricity (for example things using a rotary motion), then cutting out the electric altogether might be better. A rotary whisk works as well as an electric one, it's just a little more effort. Many drilling jobs could be done with a hand drill, and so on. (says she, who got a Dremel for Christmas)

I've always hankered after a pedal powered washing machine. This one is geared to provide a wash cycle and a faster spin cycle. As above, a recumbent position would be nicer. Read a book, while you do the laundry, and keep fit!

 

[col]

If you want batteries look for pre used submarine and UPS back up batteries. You will need several tons of them and a good charger and inverter. Lots of money.
It would then make sense to use a wind turbine and solar PV though you still wouldn't get much back or much saving.

This seems a way to go, as caravan turbines provide enough energy to the batteries to power lights and telly, and the batteries are just heavy duty car types.

 

[col]

Col, abandon all notions of burning things to generate steam. Unless you are going to adopt extremely expensive fluidised bed combustion technology the efficiency of your electricity generation devices fall at the first hurdle. Steam generation is incredibly inefficient on a small domestic scale. Even on a larger scale i.e. train sized it's not a viable proposition. Have you not asked yourself why we don't see a new generation of steam traction on the railways and roads?

BTW - how long do you think the peat reserves will last?

Im just throwing ideas out, to see, thats all. Its not my goal to replace my energy supplies with these, unless its an easy one that actually saves that is. As the peat reserves are already in the red, my intention was to suggest other ingredients in blocks, but mentioned peat blocks as an example to identify with. I think the start of possible real ideas comes from as many people as possible thinking/talking on this subject. So lets see what we can come up with, you never know we might get that eureka idea?

 

[col]

Of course, if you're going to generate cycle power, a recumbent set up would be even better. A comfortable seat means you can keep turning the pedals until your legs give out, rather than until your back/shoulders/bum start to hurt. Plus, you're already in a the perfect position to watch telly, relax, surf on a laptop (given a little shelf over your tummy to put it on...)

Of course for some applications of electricity (for example things using a rotary motion), then cutting out the electric altogether might be better. A rotary whisk works as well as an electric one, it's just a little more effort. Many drilling jobs could be done with a hand drill, and so on. (says she, who got a Dremel for Christmas)

I've always hankered after a pedal powered washing machine. This one is geared to provide a wash cycle and a faster spin cycle. As above, a recumbent position would be nicer. Read a book, while you do the laundry, and keep fit!

Great idea, but I cant help imagining the arguments as we come in from our hard 20 miles. " your turn for the washing" " No its not gasp puff" " yes it is, now get pedalling"

 

[vernon]

So lets see what we can come up with, you never know we might get that eureka idea?

Perpetual motion machine?

 

[col]

Perpetual motion machine?

Not sure about that one? Havnt the best inventors in history been tackling this for ever?

 

[vernon]

Not sure about that one? Havnt the best inventors in history been tackling this for ever?

Not any more. They are more concerned with real solutions to future energy needs.

Just thought I'd have a pre-emptive strike.

 

[col]

Not any more. They are more concerned with real solutions to future energy needs.

Just thought I'd have a pre-emptive strike.

Good strategy.

 

[Arch]

Great idea, but I cant help imagining the arguments as we come in from our hard 20 miles. " your turn for the washing" " No its not gasp puff" " yes it is, now get pedalling"

Well yes. Or, save laundry for rainy days*, and get your 20 miles in, in the comfort of your own home, reading a book (or if very efficient, doing sewing or similar at the same time).

*and yes, I see the drawback here if you rely on line drying. Not having an outdoors for a line, mine all dries over the bath anyway.

 

[Night Train]

Great idea, but I cant help imagining the arguments as we come in from our hard 20 miles. " your turn for the washing" " No its not gasp puff" " yes it is, now get pedalling"

The bigger problem would be washing your cycling clothes.

Come back from a sweaty ride and put smelly stuff in the machine. Put on fresh cycling clothes to run machine. Laundry done take out clean clothes, undress and put smelly ones in the machine. Put on fresh clothes to run machine. Laundry done take out clean clothes, undress and put smelly ones in the machine....

 

[Cheradenine]

The only really workable self sufficient set up I have seen or would bother with for dependable power is the diesel electric submarine style battery room in a barn or outhouse hooked up to large wind turbine or hydro electric source.

In the UK with the cold anything less is just pissing in the wind if you want to do more than just charge up a phone or run a single lightbulb.

I can see in future years old water mills becoming rather desireable property and not just for the twee real ale drinker attraction of living in an old mill.

 

[Arch]

The bigger problem would be washing your cycling clothes.

Come back from a sweaty ride and put smelly stuff in the machine. Put on fresh cycling clothes to run machine. Laundry done take out clean clothes, undress and put smelly ones in the machine. Put on fresh clothes to run machine. Laundry done take out clean clothes, undress and put smelly ones in the machine....

Or, cycle the laundry naked.... Very liberating! Only, if you go for a mesh seat, you'll end up a bit textured...

 

[Night Train]

Or, cycle the laundry naked.... Very liberating! Only, if you go for a mesh seat, you'll end up a bit textured...

Or do the polite naturist thing and take a small towel to sit on.