gotwind's DIY Pedal Generator

[gotwind2]

Interesting results, using my bike, a power trainer stand and the Ametek 30V DC motor, with a 4" diameter oak 'roller wheel'

Gear ratio from the tyre to motor is 26":4" or 6.5:1 - I also have about 3:1 additional gearing from the bike's 18 gears - It powered an inefficient 12v 50w bulb (4 amps), with reasonable effort, but surprised me how many rev's were needed as the current increases, even with the relatively low rpm Ametek 30, about 650 rpm to power the 50w bulb.

It certainly makes you appreciate how much power is available in the wind - I was tired after a 20 minute workout powering 50 watts.....

Is a lead acid battery the most efficient method of storing this hard earned power, or maybe one of the new super/ultra capacitors?

15 second Video of me powering a 12V,50w incandescent lamp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRFPpZGx8Y

Thanks

Ben

[hiker]

try a smaller roller wheel--it will increase your rpms--but will also make it harder to pedal--just have to expermint untill you find the right size for the load....

i have a few movies in my files about my exersize bike gens....

my old 8and6 12" dual rotor was the best of them--no movies for that one--it blew up when i was trying to power up a 400w 38v landing light--i was reaching past 32 volts when the mags broke loose on the rotor...scary

how much pressure do you have to have on the roller to keep it from slipping?

all kinds of fun.................later.

[Norm]

    Try charging a 12 volt battery or even two

12 volt batterys in series, instead of the low

volt high watt bulb.

    I believe the Ametek puts out too much

voltage in relation to the amps for what you

were using it for.

           ( :>) Norm.

[onefunkeedrummer]

I'm building the same style contraption.  I got a Ametek motor on ebay and it has three wires coming out of it: a white, black, and a brown wire.  What's what here?  I assume one is positive, one negative, and one is ground. Can you help me out with wiring this thing to charge a Marine battery?