Energy Generators

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by zahbe, Jan 31, 2017.


  1. zahbe

    zahbe I Am The Magnetic Master

    Hello all! So i am just starting out and i am looking for some type of green generator. i need a generator that i can spin an axle or something and generate power. either wind/ water/ hand maybe bike? powered. My goal is to have a generator that i can get spinning with something(wind/water/hand) that will work at low speeds (hand/bike) or really fast speeds (wind) or anything in between (water). i then want to be able to tie it into my house when i need more power. or the power has gone out. Anybody know any type of generators that can do something like this... or am i making it out of a car alternator or something? Thanks for the help and you time!
     
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  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    First, welcome aboard. Second, there is no such thing as a tool that will do everything. Sounds like you need to do a bit of focusing on a progression of goals rather than do it all at once. The knowledge on this forum will help, just do some reading to start, then ask questions. Someone will know.
     
  3. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Forget Bicycle Generation.... It is a Fools Errand.... You need a good Permanent Magnet DC Generator/Motor.... They used to be very available in the Old 8" and 12" Hard Platter Disc Drives of 15-25 years ago.... Now, look at the motors from an Excursive Machine/TreadMill... a Car Alternator is really NOT very efficient, for such Generation. An Old 1940's era Vehicle Generator, isn't to bad, if you have a source big enough to spin it.
     
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  4. zahbe

    zahbe I Am The Magnetic Master

    Hey thanks for looking at this!
    i guess i can forget most of the effort of looking for something like that....
    Permanent Magnet DC Generator sounds like something i could use. I have the ability to get something to spin the "drive shaft" of the generator just need to know one of the better ones that can do this for me? looking for one that is small in form but can change up an average non-energy efficient house battery bank in a day or less
     
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  5. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    If it was that simple, everyone would have one, and they would be marketed at Harbor Tools. Basically unless you have a creek with a elevation drop of at least 10', a water driven mill generator is out, a bicycle with a good rider will put out 100 watts/hour, wind and solar is where you need to look, but it is not cheap.

    Rancher
     
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  6. zahbe

    zahbe I Am The Magnetic Master

    Solar takes up a bit of a foot print so much land ill need.. wind will be a smaller foot print and give me a good bang for its size.

    lol now to build one out of parts or to buy?.. im cheap as hell so i think ill try and build one.

    im thinking having some type of blades horizontal and then run the rotation to something down lower near the ground. that way i can access the generator if something goes wrong. looking some info up it looks like there are a few generators that can work with lower RPMs.
     
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  7. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Don't waste your time and money on small wind turbines.
    Best bet is solar.
     
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  8. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    If you have wind , wind mill generators are brushless permanent magnet units . Mine works just fine
    I use both wind and solar, and battery .
    Primarily it is a battery system , using the grid, solar and wind. if the grid goes down ,I have plenty of power including diesel generator and Gas driven generators as well for running high demand appliances.
    Also have Gas engine driven air compressors as well, because it is not a good idea to run air compressors on generators. Amperage issues. Most of my lights are LED through out the house and the shop and barn.
    Be advised through if there is an EMP LED will go first. Have spares put away in faraday box. incandescent lights will have they place for a while till all the EMPs are over. Yes I expect more than just one.
    That said , I believe it is a good idea to have more than one of anything, spare parts and such held in faraday security, not just in case of EMP, but the simple fact spare parts are always a good idea.
     
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  9. zahbe

    zahbe I Am The Magnetic Master

    wow, have not even looked into that kinda prep yet lol but i will get there!!! your faraday system is it large? im thinking like a garage sized room with the cage all around the walls? lets u keep lots of spare parts. secured, EMP protected and easy to fortify.
     
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  10. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Marginally effective emp shielding a room is very expensive.
    The cheap/free shielding tricks likely won't provide any protection at all but will give you a false sense of security.
     
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  11. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    There significant resources here on the Monkey, concerning EMP Protection, and how to do it... Do a search ... you will be enlightened...
     
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  12. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    First, welcome! Second, emp shielding a room isn't just pricey, it's also a pain in the neck. I always lean in on Tevin on these things. His website, offgridham, will give you a ton of ideas and reasons these things are and aren't generally done. I haven't had the time to do much more investigation than Tevin and AD, but a starting place for research is always a good thing. Is Wind Energy A Good Fit For You? - Off Grid Ham
     
  13. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Wind isn't a waste of time and moneyfor everyone, just almost everyone.
    Then if you succeed in building one now you have a giant lightning rod and the problems associated with getting repeated lightning strikes to electronic gear.
     
  14. chimo

    chimo the few, the proud, the jarhead monkey crowd

    I don't agree. The key to making bicycle generation useful is gearing...turning a number of RPMs that is sustainable by the rider into X more RPMs at the generator. Standard road bike gearing won't do the trick, so you gotta get creative.

    If a lever is the only means you have to lift or move an object, but the lever isn't long enough to give you the leverage you need to do the job, do you abandon the project as a fool's errand...or do you find a bigger lever? ;)

    Never surrender....adapt, improvise, overcome, conquer.
     
  15. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    The limitation on man powered generation is not the speed of the generator, but the physical ability of the peddler. Makes little difference the gearing other than to move the generator speed to the range of most efficient peddling effort.
     
  16. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    A bike generator is a good idea if you only need a relatively small amount of power and want to get a lot of stationary bike exercise.
     
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  17. chimo

    chimo the few, the proud, the jarhead monkey crowd

    the physical limitations of the man are reduced by using gearing...just like they can be with levers, pullies, etc.
     
  18. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    It doesn't matter what gearing, generator or alternator type you use. Unless the rider is a trained professional athlete then you are not going to be able to make more than about 250 watts for extended periods of time.
     
    ghrit likes this.
  19. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Look up Savonius rotor wind mills. There are others with vertical shafts as well. When it comes to wind, high is what you need mostly.
     
  20. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Exactly.... A lot of research was put into this area, when the folks were going for the Human Flight Prize.... Energy is Energy, and that research found that even the BEST Athletes could only generate about 200 Watts of Energy for over an hour, period of time, and the average Human, was clear down at 100 Watts, during the same period of time... Human Powder Electrical Generation is a PIPE-DREAM, that no rational person, would consider.... Mechanical Energy output, by humans, over extended Periods of time, just isn't practical, and even if it was, when you get Off the Machine, you are DEAD Tired, and exhausted...
     
    TnAndy likes this.
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