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Post by ziggysdad on Oct 13, 2016 12:53:59 GMT 10
Has anyone researched the K-TOR Human Powered Generators? www.k-tor.com/I'm curious if anyone has experience with hand-crank or pedal generators in general. Their power box generates 20W. I know this isn't enough juice to charge a laptop, but I'm wondering if this might make sense coupled with an inverter and a 12v battery. Any thoughts? I've only got small solar panels and can't consider a roof mounted set-up in my leased home. |
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shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
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Post by shinester on Oct 13, 2016 17:55:28 GMT 10
I have some knowledge and thoughts there as I spent a bit of time looking at various options, this from the top of my head.
20W/h when you're hiding inside, possibly useful. You might not for instance want to show panels on the roof to remain hidden, or if you were in a bunker, they might be your only means of power. It's small, clunky, a little heavy to put in a pack, though will give you something. Canadian prepper [youtube] did a review on it a while back. The other side of it is a 10W panel will get you about 25Wh/day [winter], folding ones are cheap, one piece ones are cheaper. Depends on application.
Your average human can generate about 70W/hr and probably at about an hour of endurance for most, with a bit of time and/or fitness increase perhaps 6hrs a day could be done for about 250-400Wh/day. You'll get some losses in conversions though lets just go with that. You can hook up an exercise bike with a 200W 12V [well it could be any voltage but you need to match with the regulator and battery] scooter/bike motor with a sprocket, the speed should be about right for an exercise bike [make sure it has a chain], and if you can use a welder or even lots of screws/pop rivets you can attach it. The more suitable bike would be one with a flywheel such as 'circuit bike'. Use a MPPT solar regulator [$10] and you've got a 12V charger, charge a battery. Bulky, but if you have an exercise bike, you can make a bracket you hook it up with if you ever needed to. I have the kit ready, though I have not welded it up in case I sell the bike [which I'm contemplating], but the brackets, wire and regulator are all there ready to be installed. Do I think it would work, absolutely, do I think it's better than solar, nope. What it does do is give a stealthy way of making a useful amount of power and I'm a little challenged as to it's utility compared to solar due to the extra costs in food of about 3000kj/hr.
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Post by Peter on Oct 13, 2016 21:04:01 GMT 10
I'll need to look up the reference, but this reminds me of a wealthy chap in the last couple of centuries or so - he hooked up a revolving gate at the entrance to his property to a water pump, so every time anyone entered they would pump water from the well into a water tank.
Apologies for the vague lack of detail, but it's an interesting concept. What if human effort could be used to inadvertently provide power/water flow/etc?
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Post by Peter on Oct 13, 2016 21:05:22 GMT 10
Another thought - if a commercial gym hooked up generators to exercise bikes/stair climbers/treadmills, they could potentially harness a considerable amount of energy.
Or perhaps I just need an early night with lots of sleep...
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shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
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Email: shiny@ausprep.org
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Post by shinester on Oct 14, 2016 17:18:58 GMT 10
They had a prison program in which inmates in Brazil got reduced sentences for generating power. edition.cnn.com/2012/07/14/world/americas/brazil-alternative-sentence-reduction/Of course it's not a lot of power, though the idea of a daily win-win would indeed help them understand most of society better, rather than what most criminals know, aka win-loss [which usually comes from child abuse and I digress]. |
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Post by doglovingjim on Feb 9, 2018 21:37:04 GMT 10
Fascinating. I always wanted to build myself a human-powered generator of some sort with an old stationary bike but don't have the intellect to figure out how. Would be good though as it serves a purpose as well as keeping you fit and ready, I wonder if there are any guides on how it works and how to build one.
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