the Otherpower.com Discussion Board || DIY Water Wheel

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Rants & Opinion - Diaries - Our Products

DIY Water Wheel
By Pogster, Section Hydro Posted on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 01:12:54 PM MST
DIY Water Wheel

Hi,
Just finished my 1st revision of a DIY water wheel, the wheel delivers about 2A into my 12V battery pack. It is made entirely out of surplus pallets + an ametek tape drive motor....
Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7A_4VP6V80
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLvsixjlYIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z900AKfwC5Y
Pete.

DIY Water Wheel | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by ghurd on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 07:22:37 AM MST
(User Info)

Hey Pete, It looks good!

How big is it?

It will be interesting to me to hear suggestions for improvements.

I am wondering about that 'flap-flap-flap' sound. If the buckets were sharpened to catch more water a bit sooner and less turbulent, maybe the output would go up a bit?
I don't know.

Welcome!
G-

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by Pogster on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 02:51:45 PM MST
(User Info)

The wheel is about 2ft diameter and 2.5 feet width. Now the wheel is properly loaded (and spinning slower as a result) the noise output is much less.

I'll try and sharpen the edges to see if that improves things.

[ Parent ]

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by dudevato (dudevato@yahoo.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 08:32:04 AM MST
(User Info)

Pete, That thing is great! If it was mine I'd set there with a cup of coffee or a beer (depends what time of day) and watch it for an hour or so. Really Cool!

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by gotwind2 (ben[at]gotwind.org) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 09:21:27 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.gotwind.org/index.htm

Great work - and it would be running 24 hours a day I presume?
Nice alternate use for the Ametek motor - shame there aren't more of them about, especially in the U.K. :-(

Ben

www.gotwind.org

[ Parent ]

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by richhagen (richhagen (a t) Juno.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 10:25:36 AM MST
(User Info)

Looks great, nice videos. Have you had any problems with debris in the stream? 24 Watts, 24/7 that's nice. I wonder how long the pallet wood will hold up, did you coat them or protect them with anything? Rich
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by Pogster on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 02:41:34 PM MST
(User Info)

Rich,

Quite a lot of leaves but these don't seem to be a problem. We had a great deal of rain last week that raised the stream level above the wheel - this left a lot of debris on the wheel - branches etc.. once cleared it worked fine again.

The wheel slats are made from Indian Hardwood pallets (everyone in the UK seems to be using Indian stone for driveways!) and I have treated them and the plywood with Thompsons water seal.

Pete.

[ Parent ]

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by Titantornado on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 05:37:15 PM MST
(User Info)

I think I'd only have one suggestion to offer, since you mention the overflow due to high water. Why not build a swing-arm for it, with floatation? This way, it could "ride" the flow height as needed, and not get swamped and packed with debris.

Rod

[ Parent ]

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by dennisbuller (WildWaterPower@msn.com) on Wed Jan 31st, 2007 at 02:24:41 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.WildWaterPower.com

Greetings Pete,
What is the gear ratio for the wheel to generator?
What is the normal rotation per minute of the wheel?
Thanks!
Dennis

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by Pogster on Tue Feb 6th, 2007 at 01:19:51 PM MST
(User Info)

Hi,

The gearing is in two parts a 1:2 set of cogs and a 1:10 set of sprockets and chain giving me 1:20. The wheel spins at about 60rpm under no load. I've not measured it with the gears and motor connected but would estimate about 40-50rpm.

Pete.

[ Parent ]

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by GerryS on Sun Feb 11th, 2007 at 04:52:24 PM MST
(User Info)

That looks great. I have two treadmill motors I'm trying to do the same thing with. I want to bring one with me to this mountain stream my family goes camping at. What does the base of the wheel look like? I only see one board coming up to the motor?

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by Pogster on Mon Feb 19th, 2007 at 08:54:32 AM MST
(User Info)

Hi,

I made two L shaped brackets out of hardwood with a 45 degree insert to firm everything up. The whole lot is bolted together with M10 bolts.

Marine ply on the base and this is bolted down to bedrock.

Pete.

[ Parent ]

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by GerryS on Tue Feb 27th, 2007 at 02:41:02 PM MST
(User Info)

ooooo...bolted down to bedrock. I guess that's not going anywhwere!

[ Parent ]

Re: DIY Water Wheel (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by doug1232 (dcantor1232 at aol dot com) on Fri May 4th, 2007 at 11:27:16 AM MST
(User Info)

Hi Pete,

I'm a editor at Popular Science magazine in the U.S. and would be interested in hearing more about the water wheel--can you get in touch with me via e-mail?

Thanks a lot,
Doug

DIY Water Wheel | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 editorial)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board
� Old Otherpower Board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��222 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2003 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!