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How to build your own alternative energy power generator system.

Free Bike Generator Plans HERE

Building your own alternative energy generator solutions requires effort in mechanical design and electrical design.  The two combined allow you to harness energy and convert it from one state to another.  Remember, energy can't be created or destroyed, just changed from one form to another.   Key design points that should be at the top of your list are:

  1. Efficiency of your power generator.  (Determined by  power out / power in x 100)     Note that if you get a value over 100% then you should patent your invention and get ready to spend Millions of $ because no one has done this yet. 
  2. How to mount the generator to a solid structure so it will not move during power generation?
  3. How to store energy from your generator  (Battery, Capacitor, compressed air, water pumped to a high up tank, high speed flywheel)
  4. How to use the energy from your generator (What voltages and currents and wire / fuse sizes)
  5. How to dissipate heat from your generator windings
  6. Picking a generator that will last as long as possible.  (Brush vs. Brushless, ball bearing vs. brash bushing bearing)
  7. Making a generator that will not be annoying to look at or listen too, safe, no pinch points for hand & fingers & clothes to get caught and damaged. 
 

MOST COMMON QUESTIONS FAQ ON HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN GENERATOR SYSTEM

"Why can't I save energy to a battery and have it feed back to a motor to drive my generator? "

  ANSWER:

If you want to learn more about this topic use the search term: "History of perpetual motion machines".   Long story short, each time energy converts from one state to another, some of it gets lost during the process of transformation.  In this case, the generator has resistance inside its windings that get warm when operating.  You can loose as much as 20% of your energy due to this effect.  As energy travels from your generator into your battery you have two more sources of lost power.  More resistance losses in connectors and wiring, and heat loss in the battery you are charging.   As much as 3 to 15% of your energy can get lost during the battery charging step.  The next set of energy losses would occur between your battery and your electric motor that is driving the generator.   Again you have heat related losses in the wiring to the electric motor that can amount to 1% to 5% .  And then the windings in the electric motor also experience energy loss due to resistance in the wire coils.

 

 

 

"How much power & Amps can I generate using my body " 

ANSWER:  

The generator output data in this table is only based on loose approximations

  Hand Crank Generator

Bicycle

Cross Trainer Airdyne

Rowing Machine
AGE        
Pre-School

2 to 5 Watts

.1 to .4 Amps @ 12V

10 to 20 Watts

.8 to 1.6 Amps @ 12V

N/A

N/A
Grade School

5 to 10 Watts

.4 to .8 Amps @ 12V

10 to 25 Watts

.8 to 2 Amps @ 12V

15 to 35 Watts

1.2 to 3 Amps @ 12V

5 to 25 Watts

.4 to 2 Amps @ 12V

 
Middle School

10 to 25 Watts

.8 to 2 Amps @ 12V

35 to70 Watts

2.9 to 5.8 Amps @ 12V

45 to 95 Watts

3.7 to 8 Amps @ 12V

25 to 50 Watts

2 to 4 Amps @ 12V
High School / Adults

25 to 50 Watts

2 to 4 Amps @ 12V

75 to 400 Watts

6.2 to 33 Amps @ 12V

100 to 450 Watts

8.3 to 37.5 Amps @12V

65 to 300 Watts

5.4 to 25 Amps @ 12V

 

 

"Can I make it cheap?"  

ANSWER:  

Yes,  find used permanent magnet DC motors online, ebay, craigslist, surplus web sites.  Permanent magnet DC motors can be used as a generator.