Does anybody have any plans for building a bike generator to charge some batteries. Obvious you need a bike, someone to pedal but what else would you need? And where would you get it? I saw a book from Jade Mountian on doing this but are there any free sources of info?

Thanks Tom

-- tomas (timbereyes@usa.net), December 10, 1999

Answers

746 watts = 1 horsepower. If you rotate a GM alternator with a belt around your bicycle rim, I believe you will tire quickly. A small Briggs engine (4 hp) with a 6 inch pulley would be a better choice.

-- Jim (waiting@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

Thhere was an article on G Norths' website about a month ago, on plans to build your own "bikegen" out of Radio Shack parts ($8) and a standard bicycle generator for your bike headlamp. The subject was also rasied on the prep forum at the ame time. Murphy was the name of the "inventor" of this gizmo. I ordered the plans ($6 as I recall) and have picked up the materials but will use this as a real Boyscout project for my 8 yr old if the lights go out. Haven;t assembled it yet. I'll check for the website and repost tomorrow.

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-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 10, 1999.

A friend of mine (whose name is actually Murphy!) tried the bicycle power generator idea a few years back.

He was living in the bush with no connection to the grid and getting his minimal power requirements met by hauling his car battery up to the house to run the 12volt TV at night

The bicycle generator seemed like a great idea but after a few days of exhaustive charging sessions he conceded it was just far too much work for the very little power gained.My friend is a fit man,he was used to hard work but the resistance that is created when trying to drive an alternator/generator is huge

my 0.2

-- matt (whome@somewhere.nz), December 10, 1999.

I think that there is a link through Home Power magazine (www.homepower.com) that is someone's personal homepage that discusses bicycle/generators. I have friends that at one time had a bicycle generator hooked up so if the kids wanted to watch TV they had to pedal. Don't recall the details.

Jim

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), December 10, 1999.

All you need is an exercise bike with heavy counter balance wheel, GM alt (with built in reg.) 400 lb. sex kitten, And pork chop tied on the end of a 6 ft. stick. Presto all the power you need!!.

-- King of the castle (mystic@mind.com), December 11, 1999.

King, you are on the right track. I suggest that the bike be a recumbent operated by a sturdy, beautiful woman. Many women do wonderful work recumbent.

-- RT (Rngfr49@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.