Pedal-Powered Generators - Omaha Maker Group

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Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:11:08 -0600
Message-ID: <CALtq6Zz+iWVQ-Oe-ZzTXqdaG-4D7xYeQ95-e==1L2bLeh1p...@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [OMG] Pedal-Powered Generators
From: Stephen Beck <e15289...@gmail.com>
To: omaha-maker-group@googlegroups.com
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What will the bikes be powering? Is the intent to use the bikes in
conjunction with another power source for un-interrupted service?
On Nov 13, 2012 2:39 PM, "Eric Kaplan" <ekapla...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Well... this installation WILL be across the sidewalk from the Corona Beer
> Garden, but I don't think our patrons will appreciate the shocks....
>
> I'm by no means an electrical/electronics expert, but I would assume that
> having the batteries would allow for the variation in power input
> (especially when only 1-2 people are pedaling, or when there is a whole
> group of 10-12).
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 2:24 PM, Stephen Beck <e15289...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I think the biggest loss is in converting back and forth between A/C and
>> D/C power. If we were able to maintain a bicycle such that you could
>> generate 60HZ A/C then you could directly power some small household
>> appliances without a lot of effort, but slowing speed would be the
>> equivalent of a brown out...I'm imagining a control system that maintains
>> speed by shocking the rider or dangling beer in front of them when the
>> speed gets too slow :)
>> On Nov 13, 2012 1:22 PM, "Kevin Fusselman" <ke...@fusselman.org> wrote:
>>
>>> How many things could be run on bike-power directly? All that conversion
>>> seems lossy...
>>> On Nov 13, 2012 12:39 PM, "Eric J. Kaplan" <ekapla...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I assume that any output is going to go into a bank of batteries, and
>>>> then through an inverter to standard AC power. If that helps any.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from Eric's iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Nov 13, 2012, at 12:18 PM, Ben Hutcheson <hutcheson....@gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The only problem I can see with hobby brushless motors is that you're
>>>> going to generate 3-phase AC.  I'm not sure how much effort it would be to
>>>> make that usable.  What about brushed motors?  That'd give a nice DC output.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 10:54 AM, Kevin Fusselman <ke...@fusselman.org>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Automotive alternators might be overkill, as an average cyclist can
>>>>> only make around 1/4 hp (200w). I wonder if there are efficiencies to be
>>>>> had, using a smaller generator, closer to its limits... Hobby-grade
>>>>> brushless motors come to mind...
>>>>>  On Nov 13, 2012 10:23 AM, "Stephen Beck" <e15289...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I have a lot of experience with both power generation (its my job)
>>>>>> and bicycling (my second biggest hobby), but don't have a whole lot of time
>>>>>> to donate to such an effort.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Would such a device use something like automotive alternators or
>>>>>> something along those lines? We can get piles of them cheap from local
>>>>>> junkyards...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think it sounds like a cool project and would be willing to help...
>>>>>> On Nov 12, 2012 5:04 PM, "Eric Kaplan" <ekapla...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So, some of you know that I am still involved in an art and music
>>>>>>> festival in Atlanta each year.  I have been a volunteer for the Atlanta
>>>>>>> Dogwood Festival for over 8 years, including 4 years on the Board of
>>>>>>> Directors.  Presently, I am a member of the Advisory Board of Directors,
>>>>>>> and return each spring to Atlanta to be part of the event Staff.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The Dogwood Festival has an Internationally-recognized Green Program
>>>>>>> and Eco-Village, and is recognized as setting the standard for how large
>>>>>>> festivals should minimize their impact on the environment.  Previous and
>>>>>>> ongoing projects include recycling, use of biodegradable plates and
>>>>>>> plastic-ware, biodiesel-fueled generators, and outstanding community
>>>>>>> outreach by environmental organizations to the patrons attending the
>>>>>>> festival.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> One of our goals for the 2013 event is to establish an installation
>>>>>>> of stationary exercise bikes connected to generators to create power from
>>>>>>> human energy.  The power would be captured in some form of battery system,
>>>>>>> and would be used to supplement the biodiesel generators in a specific
>>>>>>> location, such as the main concert stage.  There are "commercial" versions
>>>>>>> of these pedal-powered generators available from sources such as:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://pedalpowergenerator.com/buy-bicycle-generator-assembled-pm-motor-pedal-power.htm
>>>>>>>           http://www.pedalpowernyc.org/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> However, we are hoping to avoid the cost associated with buying
>>>>>>> commercial products like this, as well as keeping as much of the
>>>>>>> development local to the festival.  To that end, I have reached out to
>>>>>>> Atlanta's Makerspace, Freeside Atlanta, to see if they have any interest in
>>>>>>> being a partner in this project.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't know what their capacity would be, but if it turns out they
>>>>>>> cannot participate, would anyone here be interested in developing the
>>>>>>> design of the system?  OMG could develop the plans, and the Dogwood
>>>>>>> Festival could take the plans and have the units produced locally.  I could
>>>>>>> probably arrange for at least one person to garner a free trip to Atlanta
>>>>>>> in April as a result.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I know there isn't much direct benefit to OMG, but if anyone is
>>>>>>> interested in seeing a project like this be developed, this would be a
>>>>>>> great opportunity.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Eric J. Kaplan                                        *
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>    - ekapla...@gmail.com
>>>>>>>    - www.ejk00.smugmug.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>
>
> --
>
> *Eric J. Kaplan                                        *
>
>    - ekapla...@gmail.com
>    - www.ejk00.smugmug.com
>
>
>

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<p>What will the bikes be powering? Is the intent to use the bikes in conju=
nction with another power source for un-interrupted service?</p>
<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Nov 13, 2012 2:39 PM, &quot;Eric Kaplan&quot;=
 &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ekapla...@gmail.com">ekapla...@gmail.com</a>&gt; wro=
te:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"marg=
in:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Well... this installation WILL be across the sidewalk from the Corona Beer =
Garden, but I don&#39;t think our patrons will appreciate the shocks....<di=
v><br></div><div>I&#39;m by no means an electrical/electronics expert, but =
I would assume that having the batteries would allow for the variation in p=
ower input (especially when only 1-2 people are pedaling, or when there is =
a whole group of 10-12).</div>

<div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 1=
3, 2012 at 2:24 PM, Stephen Beck <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:e1=
5289...@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">e15289...@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wro=
te:<br>

<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><p>I think the biggest loss is in converting=
 back and forth between A/C and D/C power. If we were able to maintain a bi=
cycle such that you could generate 60HZ A/C then you could directly power s=
ome small household appliances without a lot of effort, but slowing speed w=
ould be the equivalent of a brown out...I&#39;m imagining a control system =
that maintains speed by shocking the rider or dangling beer in front of the=
m when the speed gets too slow :)</p>



<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Nov 13, 2012 1:22 PM, &quot;Kevin Fusselman&q=
uot; &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ke...@fusselman.org" target=3D"_blank">kevin@fus=
selman.org</a>&gt; wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmai=
l_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left=
:1ex">


<p>How many things could be run on bike-power directly? All that conversion=
 seems lossy... </p>
<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Nov 13, 2012 12:39 PM, &quot;Eric J. Kaplan&q=
uot; &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ekapla...@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">ekaplan00=
@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmai=
l_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left=
:1ex">



<div dir=3D"auto"><div>I assume that any output is going to go into a bank =
of batteries, and then through an inverter to standard AC power. If that he=
lps any.=A0<br><br><div><span>Sent from Eric&#39;s iPhone</span></div></div=
>



<div><br>On Nov 13, 2012, at 12:18 PM, Ben Hutcheson &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:=
hutcheson....@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">hutcheson....@gmail.com</a>&gt; =
wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div>The only problem I can s=
ee with hobby brushless motors is that you&#39;re going to generate 3-phase=
 AC. =A0I&#39;m not sure how much effort it would be to make that usable. =
=A0What about brushed motors? =A0That&#39;d give a nice DC output.<div clas=
s=3D"gmail_extra">




<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 10:54 AM, Kevin =
Fusselman <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ke...@fusselman.org" targ=
et=3D"_blank">ke...@fusselman.org</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote clas=
s=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;pad=
ding-left:1ex">




<p>Automotive alternators might be overkill, as an average cyclist can only=
 make around 1/4 hp (200w). I wonder if there are efficiencies to be had, u=
sing a smaller generator, closer to its limits... Hobby-grade brushless mot=
ors come to mind... </p>




<div><div>

<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Nov 13, 2012 10:23 AM, &quot;Stephen Beck&quo=
t; &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:e15289...@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">e15289577@g=
mail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmail_=
quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1=
ex">





<p>I have a lot of experience with both power generation (its my job) and b=
icycling (my second biggest hobby), but don&#39;t have a whole lot of time =
to donate to such an effort. </p>
<p>Would such a device use something like automotive alternators or somethi=
ng along those lines? We can get piles of them cheap from local junkyards..=
. </p>
<p>I think it sounds like a cool project and would be willing to help...</p=
>
<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Nov 12, 2012 5:04 PM, &quot;Eric Kaplan&quot;=
 &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ekapla...@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">ekaplan00@gma=
il.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=3D"gmail_qu=
ote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex=
">






<font color=3D"#000000" face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" size=3D"3">So, some of=
 you know that I am still involved in an art and music festival in Atlanta =
each year. =A0I have been a volunteer for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival for =
over 8 years, including 4 years on the Board of Directors. =A0Presently, I =
am a member of the Advisory Board of Directors, and return each spring to A=
tlanta to be part of the event Staff.</font><br>







<div style=3D"line-height:22px;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-seri=
f"><br></div><div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-size:15px;font-family:Cali=
bri,sans-serif"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" size=3D"3" style=3D"line=
-height:normal">The Dogwood Festival has an Internationally-recognized Gree=
n Program and Eco-Village, and is recognized as setting the standard for ho=
w large festivals should minimize their impact on the environment. =A0Previ=
ous and ongoing projects include recycling, use of=A0</font><font face=3D"C=
alibri, sans-serif" style=3D"line-height:normal">biodegradable plates and p=
lastic-ware, biodiesel-fueled generators, and outstanding community outreac=
h by environmental organizations to the patrons attending the festival.</fo=
nt></div>







<div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-seri=
f"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" size=3D"3" style=3D"line-height:norma=
l"><br style=3D"line-height:22px"></font></div><div style=3D"line-height:21=
px;font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">







<font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" size=3D"3" style=3D"line-height:normal">=
One of our goals for the 2013 event is to establish an installation of stat=
ionary exercise bikes connected to generators to create power from human en=
ergy. =A0The power would be captured in some form of battery system, and wo=
uld be used to supplement the biodiesel generators in a specific location, =
such as the main concert stage. =A0There are &quot;commercial&quot; version=
s of these pedal-powered generators available from sources such as:</font><=
/div>







<div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-seri=
f"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" style=3D"line-height:normal">=A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0=A0<a href=3D"http://pedalpowergenerator.com/buy-bicycle-generat=
or-assembled-pm-motor-pedal-power.htm" target=3D"_blank">http://pedalpowerg=
enerator.com/buy-bicycle-generator-assembled-pm-motor-pedal-power.htm</a></=
font></div>







<div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-seri=
f"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" style=3D"line-height:normal">=A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0=A0<a href=3D"http://www.pedalpowernyc.org/" target=3D"_blank">h=
ttp://www.pedalpowernyc.org/</a></font></div>







<div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-seri=
f"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" style=3D"line-height:normal"><br styl=
e=3D"line-height:21px"></font></div><div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-siz=
e:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">







<font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" style=3D"line-height:normal">However, we=
 are hoping to avoid the cost associated with buying commercial products li=
ke this, as well as keeping as much of the development local to the festiva=
l. =A0To that end, I have reached out to Atlanta&#39;s Makerspace, Freeside=
 Atlanta, to see if they have any interest in being a partner in this proje=
ct.</font></div>







<div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-seri=
f"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" style=3D"line-height:normal"><br></fo=
nt></div><div style=3D"font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
I don&#39;t know what their capacity would be, but if it turns out they can=
not participate, would anyone here be interested in developing the design o=
f the system? =A0OMG could develop the plans, and the Dogwood Festival coul=
d take the plans and have the units produced locally. =A0I could probably a=
rrange for at least one person to garner a free trip to Atlanta in April as=
 a result.</div>







<div style=3D"line-height:21px;font-size:15px;font-family:Calibri,sans-seri=
f"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" style=3D"line-height:normal"><br styl=
e=3D"line-height:21px"></font></div><div style=3D"font-size:15px;font-famil=
y:Calibri,sans-serif">







I know there isn&#39;t much direct benefit to OMG, but if anyone is interes=
ted in seeing a project like this be developed, this would be a great oppor=
tunity.</div><span><font color=3D"#888888"><div><br></div>
-- <br><p align=3D"left"><font style=3D"font-size:12pt" color=3D"#000000" s=
ize=3D"3"><u><strong>Eric  J.  Kaplan                                      =
                          =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 </strong=
></u></font></p>







<ul dir=3D"ltr"><li><div style=3D"margin-right:0px" align=3D"left"><span><a=
 href=3D"mailto:ekapla...@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">ekapla...@gmail.com<=
/a> </span></div></li><li><div style=3D"margin-right:0px" align=3D"left"><s=
pan><a href=3D"http://www.ejk00.smugmug.com/" target=3D"_blank">www.ejk00.s=
mugmug.com</a></span></div>







</li></ul><br>
</font></span></blockquote></div><span><font color=3D"#888888">
</font></span></blockquote></div><span><font color=3D"#888888">
</font></span></div></div></blockquote></div><span><font color=3D"#888888">=
<br></font></span></div>
</div></blockquote></div></blockquote></div>
</blockquote></div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br><p align=3D"=
left"><font style=3D"font-size:12pt" color=3D"#000000" size=3D"3"><u><stron=
g>Eric  J.  Kaplan                                                         =
       =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 </strong></u></font></p>

<ul dir=3D"ltr"><li><div style=3D"margin-right:0px" align=3D"left"><span><a=
 href=3D"mailto:ekapla...@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">ekapla...@gmail.com<=
/a> </span></div></li><li><div style=3D"margin-right:0px" align=3D"left"><s=
pan><a href=3D"http://www.ejk00.smugmug.com/" target=3D"_blank">www.ejk00.s=
mugmug.com</a></span></div>

</li></ul><br>
</div>
</blockquote></div>

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