2000 kw a month gen

[(unknown)]

Hi,

I just found a 2.0 hp treadmill motor that has 5650 rpm, 14.3 amps and says 2.0 hp at 130 VDC, also ran across a free a/c delco alternator.  My home uses around 1800 to 2000 kw hours a month.  I am not an electric whiz my any means, but I am wanting to make a system that will produce as close to that as possible.  I am pretty handy, but just have limited electrical exp.  I would not mind getting some solar panels to help out as well.

As I mentioned I am not a electric whiz and have not idea on all the calculations, any help is appreciated.  As I am sure everyone is, I just want to design the most efficent cheapest system possible.    

P.S.  I ran across someone talking about using a 1/4 to 1/2 horsepower 110v AC induction motor.  Are these any good, if so where would you get one?  

Thanks,

JCameron

[freejuice]

I dont think you will even get close to 2000 KW a month, with what you are referring too. You really need to look at those Monster machines in the 17-20 foot range they show being built on this web site, if you are wwanting significant power like that each month.

 Wind and Solar together would be you best bet, but be prepared to be dedicated to its success and not seeing any form of ROI for the next 10 years...

 However this site is probably one of the best places on the internet to get you started...there are some very knowlegable folks haunting this site, they were and still are an immense help to me!

 Good Luck

 Gavin

[divemaster1963]

Check with Sun Electronics.com they have a solar calculator you can use. I have used it. and i use apx 2400 kwh per month. wife is always HOT ( time of life thing). you will be shocked at the system needed to meet that amount of power. 11000 to 12000 watt system if you want to go off grid. most just want to dent their electric bill like 20-40 percent. best to try and reduce with alternative lighting and maybe getting a power use audit from local power company. most will come out and show you how to reduce your consumption for free.

Good luck

[jcswaim]

Thanks for the responses.  I have also been looking at some of the youtube videos on stirling engines.  One guy is getting over 1900 rpms  The link is below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll598PVTHAw&feature=related.  These seem like very versitile engines being able to run on all types of fuels including solar.

  My question is would it be possible to attach rare earth magnets to the flywheel and then create the coils as a stationary unit that is close to the flywheel and not touching to create electricity?

It seems like you could make one almost any size and at 1900 rpms it seems you could make alot of juice.

Any thoughts?

[TomW]

First off:

2,000 KWH a month is an insane amount of power use for a residence if it is a residence I suggest conservation.

Second:

RPM means nothing. At least without some torque figures.

Don't expect a sterling to provide even a fraction of that insane amount of power.

2,000 KWH is about 4 horsepower 24/7 all month. Not including losses and inefficiency.

I suggest you do some self education on power and conservation.

Most folks have no true concept of power, either use or generation.

Just some thoughts.

Tom

[jcswaim]

We do our best at conservation, it is our heating and a/c unit that is the power hog.  Winters are expensive.  All electric.

I am trying to learn as much as fast as I can, but tend to get info. overload.  Anyway, as for RPM's I thought the faster a flywheel with adequate sized and number of powerful magnets paired with properly made coils the more electricity it will produce.  Is that not correct?

[TomW]

Just another point that is very important:

2,000 KW a month is not an indicator of power use over time [month]. 2,000 KW is an instantaneous power value. Electricity is billed and measured as KWH [Kilo Watt Hours]. This is a very common mistake and I missed it in your initial post or would have mentioned it in the first comment I posted.

Just another gotcha often seen here.

Good Luck sorting out power use and generation.

It is not rocket science but it does require specific knowledge and correct terms to discuss accurately.

Tom

[jcswaim]

sorry.  yes kwh per month.

[DamonHD]

2000kWh is more than my family of 4 (and my home office) uses all year.

Even if we threw in all our heating as (horribly wasteful) electrical resistance heating (we use gas) then we'd still only be at a total of about 8000kWh/year, but if we used that electricity for heating sensibly with heat pumps the total for us for a year would be more like 4000kWh per year.

Before we started conservation our total raw energy consumption was a little closer to yours (10000kWh electricity plus 9000kWh gas), but we've managed to chop electricity use by 5x and gas by a less-spectacular 30% in the face of the most severe local winter for 30 years so it can be done.

http://www.earth.org.uk/saving-electricity.html

Switching to heat pumps should cut that element of your consumption by at least a factor or 2 or 3, should be much much cheaper than attempting to generate it, and even counts as a 'renewable' these days.

(By the end of this year I expect to be generating enough excess from our solar PV that if we switched from gas to electric heat-pump we'd still being net neutral on consumption and carbon emissions.  Currently stalled waiting for £800-worth of inverter!)

Rgds

Damon

[Ekij]

A 10 foot Wind gen experiencing a constant 12.6 mph can be expected to generate a mere 143kWh in a month

A 17 foot a mere 400kWh

You would need a huge 38 footer to generate 2000kWh a month (and that's still assuming oyu get a good constant 12.6mph windspeed)!

[taylorp035]

My house uses about 3,000 kwh a month on average, sometimes as high as 6,000, once close to 8,000 ( when the geothermal quit working and we had to use straight electric ).  As for you 2k number, you should have fun making a small experiment first, like a mini hydro set up or windmill and you will learn everything in good time