Bicycle System for Charging

Trickle Charge
Trickle Charge Solar Expert Posts: 28 ✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Any recommendations?

Cheers
TC
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #2
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    You mean you want to peddle on a fixed bicycle and collect the energy (charge battery bank)?

    Roughly if you are very good, there is about 100 Watts you can supply for 20 minutes+ at a time (reasonably hard pedaling).

    And, a typical generator system is ~50% efficient (chain/gear box/bearings/etc.).

    Vs getting a 250 Watt solar panel for ~$250 and it will generate for ~4-6 hours per day.

    Usually, a bicycle generator is only useful for science fair type exhibits.

    Your thoughts?

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • oil pan 4
    oil pan 4 Solar Expert Posts: 767 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    I think it would be a useful demonstration as to how much work a kilowatt hour really is.

    Solar hybrid gasoline generator, 7kw gas, 180 watts of solar, Morningstar 15 amp MPPT, group 31 AGM, 900 watt kisae inverter.

    Solar roof top GMC suburban, a normal 3/4 ton suburban with 180 watts of panels on the roof and 10 amp genasun MPPT, 2000w samlex pure sine wave inverter, 12v gast and ARB air compressors.

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  • waynefromnscanada
    waynefromnscanada Solar Expert Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging
    oil pan 4 wrote: »
    I think it would be a useful demonstration as to how much work a kilowatt hour really is.

    Agree. If everyone could take part in this demo, maybe people would complain a lot less about the cost of electricity and more about the cost of phone service. :D
    I remember my late father, many years ago complaining about the relatively high cost of phone service that does very little for us, compared to the cost of electricity that does so much.
    My cell plan for example charges me 50 cents a minute if I go over the limit. People accept that, but go off the deep end if their electricity costs 1/3 that if running an electric heater for an hour. Go figure.
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  • Trickle Charge
    Trickle Charge Solar Expert Posts: 28 ✭
    #5
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    Hi,

    I know it isn't efficient but the bike sits on a trainer all winter long right next to the batteries. True I can use every watt but it's really because my better half has been on me to get this done for two years now sooooo...

    I don't want to build one from scratch but I'd rather use my own bicycle so if anyone has one they've used and recommend that can be ordered online that would be great.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #6
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    For a turn key solution, found these guys through a search:

    http://www.thegreenmicrogym.com/electricity-generating-equipment/

    But even a generator retrofit kit is $750 (if I read it right).

    Otherwise, DC servo motor, belt+pully+rectifier+charge controller+battery -- Look up any DIY wind turbine site and just modify the hardware to a bike installation.

    http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_wind.html

    Look for a 100-200 Watt system design...

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • Hill_Country
    Hill_Country Solar Expert Posts: 96 ✭✭
    #7
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    My wife and I looked into the "Pedal-A-Watt" (see: http://www.econvergence.net/The-Pedal-A-Watt-Bicycle-Generator-Stand-s/1820.htm ). I can't comment on it, since I don't own one, nor do I know anyone that has one...but it turned up when we were doing research for off-grid living. The Pedal-A-Watt was a little too expensive for us, but we were considering using bike-generated energy to take care of individual loads...say, to do a laundry cycle, or provide enough power to watch a movie; that sort of thing. It gives those activities meaning when you have to pedal for what you want to do. Ultimately we never pursued the pedal-power thing, but may consider it in the future. Hope this helps!
    100% Off-grid with: 8 Solarworld 275 Watt Panels, 8 Concorde SunXtender 405aH 6v AGM Batteries, MS-4448PAE 48v Inverter, MidNite Solar Classic 200 Charge Controller, 10,000 gallon rainwater collection system, etc.
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  • AuricTech
    AuricTech Solar Expert Posts: 140 ✭✭
    #8
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    I'm not at home right now, but I have a couple of links to vendors on my home machine. I'll post them when I get home.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    save the bicycle and go straight to this for the washing...
    http://inhabitat.com/human-powered-giradora-washer-needs-no-electricity-and-costs-only-40/

    or this one with a dryer cycle..
    http://inhabitat.com/cyclean-bike-powered-washing-machine/

    direct drive is better than injecting electricity into a human powered dynamo...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • oil pan 4
    oil pan 4 Solar Expert Posts: 767 ✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    I have worked on higher end exercise bikes that use a car alternator and a load dump to give you a work out.

    Solar hybrid gasoline generator, 7kw gas, 180 watts of solar, Morningstar 15 amp MPPT, group 31 AGM, 900 watt kisae inverter.

    Solar roof top GMC suburban, a normal 3/4 ton suburban with 180 watts of panels on the roof and 10 amp genasun MPPT, 2000w samlex pure sine wave inverter, 12v gast and ARB air compressors.

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  • zoneblue
    zoneblue Solar Expert Posts: 1,220 ✭✭✭✭
    #11
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    For a good cheap low rpm generator you cant go past the motors from permannet magnet brushless washing machines. They are easy to get from junk yards here, because our leading washer manufacturer (F&P) uses them in their smart drive range of washers.
    1.8kWp CSUN, 10kWh AGM, Midnite Classic 150, Outback VFX3024E,
    http://zoneblue.org/cms/page.php?view=off-grid-solar


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  • AuricTech
    AuricTech Solar Expert Posts: 140 ✭✭
    #12
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    For a bicycle-based charger, Genarider offers four products: two are designed for stationary flywheel-based exercise bikes (one comes with the exercise bike, one without), and two are designed to use conventional bikes in a support stand (one uses a roller drive, while the other uses a belt drive).

    Unfortunately, the other link I had saved (Windstream Power) doesn't currently offer a turnkey bicycle-based charger. However, Windstream does sell a range of permanent-magnet DC generators that one could use in a DIY project. Windstream also sells the Flexcharge NC25A charge controller, which I assume Windstream views as appropriate for use with their generators.
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  • Trickle Charge
    Trickle Charge Solar Expert Posts: 28 ✭
    #13
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging
    AuricTech wrote: »
    For a bicycle-based charger, Genarider offers four products: two are designed for stationary flywheel-based exercise bikes (one comes with the exercise bike, one without), and two are designed to use conventional bikes in a support stand (one uses a roller drive, while the other uses a belt drive).

    Unfortunately, the other link I had saved (Windstream Power) doesn't currently offer a turnkey bicycle-based charger. However, Windstream does sell a range of permanent-magnet DC generators that one could use in a DIY project. Windstream also sells the Flexcharge NC25A charge controller, which I assume Windstream views as appropriate for use with their generators.

    Thanks. I was hoping for some feedback by anyone that had a chance to own one. I started getting parts for a DIY install but I can tell it isn't going to happen.
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,895 ✭✭✭✭
    #14
    Re: Bicycle System for Charging

    This would work. A salvage yard alternator is probably $25 from a common car. You could make a load dump for next to nothing with a little research. I forgot what little I knew though I seem to recall the concept of heating water. EDIT: Well...your "load dump" would be your battery bank.
    oil pan 4 wrote: »
    I have worked on higher end exercise bikes that use a car alternator and a load dump to give you a work out.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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