Ben's Pedal Pump - A bit of easter fun :)

[gotwind2]

Water pumping seemed like the next step for my pedal generator, I had a cheap £1 ($2) drill powered pump lying around - I think you can get better quality versions.

As the video demonstrates, it works, as long as the pump is gravity fed,(the black rain water tank in the picture).The pump was not self priming - I'm not quite sure what that means?

The pump requires 2000-3000 rpm to operate, the 26" Dia bike wheel driving a 1" Dia roller at a pedal rate of 100 rpm gave me just that.

Just an experiment, but might be of use to someone somewhere in the world

Youtube Video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9V0LBxbZRA

[TomW]

Ben;

In simple terms "self priming" would mean the pump can suck fluid through the feed tube with air in it to start.

IE: toss hose in tank and power the pump it can draw water to itself thru the tube.

Non self priming requires you to fill the tube at least partially with fluid to get pumping action.

Lots of old farm well pumps of the piston type required repriming if it sat long between uses. Usually dump water in a small reservoir on the pump head.

Hope that explains it in basic terms.

Cheers.

TomW

[tecker]

I got ya water the lawn or the garden  from a rain barrel. Good idea.

[Norm]

What speed did you have the bike in ?

        ( :>) Norm.

[gotwind2]

Thanks for the comments.

I believe Bikes have a gear ratio span of between 1:1 to 3:1 - well my 18 speed does anyway.

I was in 8th gear on the video, so around 3000 rpm, similar to a mains powered drill.

Ben