Complete design and construction details here:
http://www.otherpower.com/hamster.html
Skippy the Hamster is Otherpower.com's newest employee. His job is to run a nightlight so DanF doesn't stumble on the way to the bathroom at midnight. We outfitted his exercise wheel with a custom, low-rpm permanent magnet alternator and a data acquisition system based on a bicycle computer. We will be tracking watt/hours per hamster/mile (wH/hM) and posting the data on the board as it comes in.
We have already noticed that Skippy increases his power output dramatically when DanF's dog and cats are glaring at him through the cage bars. His average speed is about 2-3 mph, but he's hit 4 mph while being watched by hungry dogs and cats.
And of course this project would make a great student science fair alternator, and could work with wind or hydro power. It's designed for the 40-70 rpm range.
Cheers!
DANF
PS -- looking at the large dog herd that mills around the Otherpower.com HQ, we are considering a dog alternator now too!