Poll

Do you have an exercise machine hooked up to a generator?

Yes a pedal generator
5 (14.3%)
Yes but Eliptical or combinatation hand and foot
0 (0%)
Yes and I use it regularly
3 (8.6%)
Yes but I don't use it regularly
4 (11.4%)
Would you like to be in a group to help inspire you to exercise regularly?
1 (2.9%)
No, but I want an excercise generator
12 (34.3%)
No, I don't plan on having an excercise generator
10 (28.6%)

Total Members Voted: 28

Author Topic: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator  (Read 36388 times)

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Norm

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Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« on: October 23, 2010, 08:52:04 PM »
I noticied that the subject of PedGen exercise that I posted recently didn't
get too many replies but had quite a few viewers.....
C'mon guys and gals....I believe there are a lot of you out there that
would really like a good steady exercise that would improve your health
and sense of well being if only you would try it for even a week.
It doesn't have to be all at once, I started out at 10 minutes in the morning
and 10 minutes in the afternoon with a small generator and done about 5 watt/hrs
in 20 minutes.
For the past year or so I have been pedaling a slow  virtual 5mph according to
the digital speedometer/odometer covering 5 miles a day.....that's a mere easy
150 miles a month !  I don't consider myself in that good of a shape, I do a mile
at a time and takes long breaks takes me all day and at 8:45 PM I have less than
2 miles to go for my daily 5 miles.

So Please participate in this ....it may help you more than you realize...
sincerely,
Norm.

Tritium

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2010, 09:52:10 PM »
Hi Norm,

It might be fun but with 2400 acres to farm and ranch exercise is not lacking on any day I get out of bed.  ;D

I should build one for my 80 year mother though.  ::)

Thurmond

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2010, 09:55:14 PM »
its a great Idea Norm.

Im keeping my eye out or a old exercise bike or machine.

Sounds like a great energy burner, if you have it to spare.  ;D

I think Ill make it for the wife.  :)

Have fun.

Fused

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2010, 11:25:20 PM »
Hi Norm,

It might be fun but with 2400 acres to farm and ranch exercise is not lacking on any day I get out of bed.  ;D

I should build one for my 80 year mother though.  ::)

Thurmond
Same age as my wife, but my wife only wants a small one
that she can sit on the couch and pedal.
2400 acres....about 2399.8 more than I have

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2010, 11:35:39 PM »
its a great Idea Norm.

Im keeping my eye out or a old exercise bike or machine.

Sounds like a great energy burner, if you have it to spare.  ;D

I think Ill make it for the wife.  :)

Have fun.

Fused
They are easy to build, great energy burner. great fat burner too if you have some to spare.....LOL !
(40 pounds in 2 or 3 yrs. in my case) less weight more energy in moderation of course !

wooferhound

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2010, 01:03:37 AM »
I wanted to vote on your Poll but I couldn't since you did not include any "no" answers. I hope you don't mind that I added a couple more options.

Boss

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2010, 10:44:39 AM »
Also might consider a box for [yes]  I built one for the wife and she says it is too hard to pedal.
I kinda thought that was the whole point
http://outfitnm.com/alt-energy/exercise-bike-alternator
Brian Rodgers
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HiddenMountain

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2010, 01:05:27 PM »
Norm, Like Thurmond, I have a huge amount of work to do around here! Between  building projects, a constant war against encroaching underbrush, a new orchard, a vineyard , a 1700 acre mineral claim, road maintenance, and now a logging truck load of firewood to cut split and stack, and a wife who can dream up all kinds of back breaking tortures jobs, I look forward to going to work to get some rest!!

But, one of my first alternative energy projects was hooking up an exercise bike to a waterwheel. Does that count?  ::)  ;D

 
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birdhouse

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2010, 01:15:15 PM »
i really like the idea of a ped-gen, but like many others, i get really busy.  just took a job taking care of 300,000 sq ft of old commercial buildings.  it whoops me!

is there a reason i don't tend to see many 3-phase servo motors as the power plant for ped-gens? 

adam

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2010, 03:24:16 PM »
Also might consider a box for [yes]  I built one for the wife and she says it is too hard to pedal.
I kinda thought that was the whole point
http://outfitnm.com/alt-energy/exercise-bike-alternator
Your article was interesting but left me with a few questions, what was the voltage when you were
pedaling when you got out of breath? How many watts were you making? I don't have a wattup meter
and I'm not sure how many amps I'm making at 28 volts (charging 2 - 12 volt batteries in series)
as in digital ammeter mode the amps jump very erradically from 1.8 amps to 3 and then 4.2 so I
figure an average of 2 amps or about a 55-60 watt rate at a pedal speed of 60 and the ECM conversion
is spinning at about 520 rpm.
Pedaling this is quite an experience just trying to increase the speed to 65 crank rpm is like hitting the
bottom of a steep hill ! You don't seem to be going much faster but it gets really hard to pedal and
it's possible that you are pumping out over a 100 watts.....but I can only pedal about 30 seconds at
this rate. The ECM conversion is very efficient.
BTW what size is the deep cycle battery?
Thanks for the link.
Norm.

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2010, 03:40:23 PM »
Norm, Like Thurmond, I have a huge amount of work to do around here! Between  building projects, a constant war against encroaching underbrush, a new orchard, a vineyard , a 1700 acre mineral claim, road maintenance, and now a logging truck load of firewood to cut split and stack, and a wife who can dream up all kinds of back breaking tortures jobs, I look forward to going to work to get some rest!!

But, one of my first alternative energy projects was hooking up an exercise bike to a waterwheel. Does that count?  ::)  ;D

 
A little bit of exercise actually limbers me up .....Know what you mean about cutting and spliting firewood used to
help my uncles out on their farms....ah just for the fun of it ! not steady and not recently !

Ah....the exercise bike turned the waterwheel ?
Norm.



ghurd

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2010, 04:42:36 PM »
My vote is "No, but I want an excercise generator".
All the parts are here.  Exercize bike, ECMs, etc.
Just need a bit of motivation, and about twice as much time.

I figure I'll pedal it about 10 minutes before its up for sale!  :o
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dave ames

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2010, 04:53:26 PM »

hi norm,

 a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 some bright guy once said "A body in motion tends to stay in motion" i think you are proving that..with all your projects and your exercise routine you just don't have time to spend getting old!

 i answered "yes but not regularly" most of my time on the machine is in demonstration mode. showing folks how to use the power output controls and read the instrument cluster, maybe five or ten minutes here and there a few times a week. (about 5 or 10 watt hours).

 now if i can just find a way to give up these cigarettes i may be able to stay on the pedgen for more time!

 keep up the great work!

 dave

HiddenMountain

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #13 on: October 24, 2010, 04:58:56 PM »
Ah....the exercise bike turned the waterwheel ?

Yep, got legs the size of tree trunks from trying to get that water to go back up the mountain!  ;D ;D ;D ;)

Seriously, (I can do that), I tried to run an alternator on a exercise bike and like Boss said, it was way to hard to pedal, like the tension-er was set on 10. I suppose with a smaller generator with permanent magnets, you could get some exercise and power. You need to work up a sweat though, otherwise your just spinnin yer wheels..... ;D
Energy Systems & Design Stream Engine, 30A @ 24V, 750W 
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4 450AH Rolls Surrette
2 Xantrex 60A Charge controllers
Power, by God!

I hope they never find a cure for Eleutheromania

ghurd

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #14 on: October 24, 2010, 05:18:09 PM »
I tried to run an alternator on a exercise bike ...
I suppose with a smaller generator with permanent magnets, you could get some exercise and power.

Yes.  Something with magnets is a requirement.

Like Norm said, Something efficient makes the difference between 'somewhat works' for Lance Armstrong, and "works well for everyone else".
Alternators are nowhere near efficient at this kind of input:output.
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Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #15 on: October 25, 2010, 02:17:20 PM »

hi norm,

 a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 some bright guy once said "A body in motion tends to stay in motion" i think you are proving that..with all your projects and your exercise routine you just don't have time to spend getting old!

 i answered "yes but not regularly" most of my time on the machine is in demonstration mode. showing folks how to use the power output controls and read the instrument cluster, maybe five or ten minutes here and there a few times a week. (about 5 or 10 watt hours).

 now if i can just find a way to give up these cigarettes i may be able to stay on the pedgen for more time!

 keep up the great work!

 dave
Thanks Dave......
now if i can just find a way to give up these cigarettes
OMG ! 16 years ago I would have said the same thing.
.....after 45 years of smoking I quit it was that easy !
.....well almost but each day it got easier....I had a case
of too much smokeless air to breathe.....

Norm.

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #16 on: October 28, 2010, 09:58:53 AM »
I started my daily 5 mile 50 watt/hr exercise this morning
at 7:45 finished 4 miles of it at 8:45.
Charged 2-2.6 amp/hr. battery paks at a time, takes a
couple of minutes to switch batteries.
....and help give Nellie (the dog) her insulin shot. etc.
Now I have the rest of the day to do that extra mile.
So now  to work on the hand powered machine which
since you can pedal faster by hand will have an Ametek
but will turn faster to cut in at 14 volts.
Thoughts of using a brake disk on the Ametek shaft
with additional bearing to support the weight.
I notice that quite a few are viewing but hardly anyone is
voting.
So I'm waiting.....

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #17 on: November 10, 2010, 11:39:41 PM »
[quote 
   I built one for the wife and she says it is too hard to pedal 
I kinda thought that was the whole point
[/quote]
Maybe you should lower the ratio a little what rpm of the
generator to put out 14 or 15 volts into battery.
or at least at the ratio you have....have you tried charging
2 -12 volt batteries in series?
My ratio is much too hiigh for my ECM ( 34 inch diameter to 4 inch on the ECM)
and that is what I have to do ....even at that trying to pedal at more than 70
rpm is a real bear!....and at 75 is like pedaling up a mountain....
very sharp upward curve after 65 rpm !
Norm.

Norm

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My exercise machine built from 2x4s
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2011, 08:53:24 AM »
After fiddling around with pedgen built with 2x4s I managed to
make a primative machine that works easy pedaling....too easy
only 20 W/hrs. and it takes two and a half hours to get my goal
of 50 Wh/hrs. daily .....must make a better one with a nice heavy
flywheel and higher ratio to the ECM.  but we have an ice storm
today and door to the shed is probably going to be difficult to open.
  So have plenty of time to just pedal away till I get my goal.
.....thoughts of even if we have a power outage will have enough
to keep the grandkids laptop computer and x-box going...
( No school today so we're babysitting Grandkids...)
 Fun fun fun !

Norm.

Bruce S

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2011, 09:38:04 AM »
Norm, just think of the FUN the parents will have once you give them back totally spoiled  ;D
How's the RPMs? a nice heavy flywheel would work for the grandkids too  ;).
We seemed to have dodged the deep snow here couple inches on ice/ sleet versus 12inches 30mins north.
Have FUN!!
Bruce S
 
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Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2011, 05:23:17 PM »
kind of a sludgy crust blocking the shed door was easy to scoop up but
stuck to the scoop like clay....fixing up my little wood lathe so I can make some pulleys
I think I'll try and get this:
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_9990000059997711P#reviewsWrap
I like the idea of arms and legs working together where you would have smoother
power.
Notice some of the reviews....what is the matter with these people that can't
improve on something as trivial as bearings....that seems to be the main complaint.
for the stupid nylon belt for resistance....I could care less the EMC will be My resistance
I like the digital bike computer that I put on the PedGen mostly the one time spent
actually pedaling for right now 6.5 mph (pretty steady pedaling) gives me 5 watt/hrs in 15
minutes regardless I try for a steady 15 minutes per session
having fun here in spite of the weather ....about 2100 ( 2 kwh ....course you knew that )....
and it'll be spring !
Norm.

Norm

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Update on MyPedGen2
« Reply #21 on: February 24, 2011, 09:40:29 AM »
    Yes this is MyPedGen2, the first one was like a pile of 2x4's and a belt
drive....sometimes I have a bunch of stuff and just because I had a couple
of serpentine belts, I thought I'd make a belt drive.....not working out for
me.

    So this is a standard exercise bike 1:2 ratio chain drive and a 4 inch Razor scooter wheel on
the ECM alternator..... an overall ratio of 1:10
    At first I believed that the ratio was too high but after almost a month,
I'm getting used to it. here is the Data that seems to work for me:
 .  30 RPM crankspeed spins the ECM at 300 RPM.

 .  50 medium easy turns takes 100 seconds and produces about 1 watt/hr.

 .   Peak watts.....about 50 (not average.....just a surge from the power stroke
of each pedal, can get about 90 this way but wheel slips on solid rubber tire
and makes black rubber powder)


* Trying to pedal this faster than 35RPM will tire most people out after 10 minutes.

  About 1000 watt/hrs. @50 per day this month....equivalent to 1000 calories and I've lost
about 5 more pounds.

 
 
  Thanks everyone for taking my poll looking forward to more replies and questions.

Norm. :)



ghurd

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #22 on: February 24, 2011, 09:53:09 AM »
Any idea how fast it is turning when it starts charging a 12V battery?
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Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #23 on: February 24, 2011, 12:37:17 PM »
Any idea how fast it is turning when it starts charging a 12V battery?
G-
   As slow as I can turn it about 12 RPM would be spinning the ECM about 120 rpm .....
the WattsUp meter says (4.7 Wp)
Norm

WindriderNM

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #24 on: February 26, 2011, 11:23:37 AM »
I'm taking  a lesson from nature. The lion is the king of the jungle. When i see lions on the nature shows they are laying in the shade saving there energy or out killing something. So my theory on exercise is to lay in the shade saving my energy until i need it. You need to learn from nature. lol
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TomW

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #25 on: February 26, 2011, 11:47:18 AM »
I'm taking  a lesson from nature. The lion is the king of the jungle. When i see lions on the nature shows they are laying in the shade saving there energy or out killing something. So my theory on exercise is to lay in the shade saving my energy until i need it. You need to learn from nature. lol

Topic drift follows...

Ever notice the males send the females out to do the work then dive in first on any kills.

Just my observations on Discovery and the like  ;D

Tom

zap

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #26 on: February 26, 2011, 12:26:32 PM »
Ever notice the males send the females out to do the work then dive in first on any kills.

Chaaa... I've tried to base my whole life on that trait.

Turns out... in reality... and hindsight... it doesn't work so well for the human male :P
« Last Edit: February 26, 2011, 12:30:24 PM by zap »

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #27 on: March 14, 2011, 11:32:47 PM »
It is interesting to see that this poll hasn't died completely.
I'm so used to exercising on that bike everyday that when
something changes I feel kinda out of it....

Today I decided to modify the PedGen a little bit and only
did about 25 watt/hrs. and spent the rest of the time making
a change with the mounting of the alternator....also plan on
making a better more comfortable seat.

This summer I plan on making an unstationary bike...one that
transports me a couple of miles uptown at a pace about as fast
as walking...charging a battery as I go ...just a little bit of charging
traveling slow will charge the battery with little effort and give me a change
of scenery as I exercise....maybe make a few people aware of
what can be done.

Having tons of fun here in Conneaut, Ohio !
Norm



zap

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #28 on: March 15, 2011, 12:16:24 AM »

This summer I plan on making an unstationary bike...one that
transports me a couple of miles uptown at a pace about as fast
as walking...charging a battery as I go ...just a little bit of charging
traveling slow will charge the battery with little effort and give me a change
of scenery as I exercise....maybe make a few people aware of
what can be done.

Since it doesn't have to be "fast"... how about a trike?  And instead of pedaling...

... use your legs and your arms!
(http://www.vogabike.com/english/VogaTrike.html)

I'm sure you whip something like that up before summer Norm.  The design alone would attract a lot of attention but using both arms and legs I would think you could make more "spare" power.

Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #29 on: March 17, 2011, 01:46:01 PM »
Yes a lot more power especially if the stroke from your arms
are at 90 degrees to the stroke of your legs....it's like a 4 cylinder
compared to a 2 cylinder.
 Norm.

WindriderNM

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #30 on: March 21, 2011, 04:35:57 PM »
I saw a bike setup at a fair to demonstrate power usage. It had a switch to connect it to incandescent, compact florescent, and LED lights.
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Norm

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #31 on: March 23, 2011, 04:11:29 PM »
I saw a bike setup at a fair to demonstrate power usage. It had a switch to connect it to incandescent, compact florescent, and LED lights.
My most impressive lighting is a 20 LED light run by a very small stepper motor....pedal power could easily run about 10 of these
....would light up a room about as much as an 18 watt CFL (just guessing)
Norm.

hiker

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Re: Exercise machines hooked up to a generator or alternator
« Reply #32 on: March 23, 2011, 06:53:02 PM »
heres a link to some of my old pedgen adventures...........
lost my youtube password????????--username??..not really on the  pc that much anymore.......
glad to see your still crankin out the amps  NORM...........
   http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hiker71453&aq=f

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