Dynamo /. alternator generation back up

[Mortblanc]

Been a long time since I built a system from scratch. Been a long time since I built a system without simply throwing more money at the problem. When using money the choices are which system will generate more and cost less. When working from scratch the question is often "what can I make work?"

If starting from scratch on the system using a stationary bicycle is possible, and the easiest method would be to chose a bike with an exposed wheel. Hook a bike generator directly to the wheel and charge the battery with that. If only 6V generators are available wire two in series.

I have read of people that hooked an auto alternator directly to the bike and worked with that. Getting the thing to charge seems a bit tricky but they apparently made it work.

I am not much on the bike system at my age and condition. I ride daily but any sickness or interference in my schedule might result in no power being generated days on end. Better to have a constant flow of juice from the outside by wind, water, or solar.

Your access to water is convenient and is often an ignored power source on a homestead. The system is just as easy to build from scratch as a wind powered system.

If using water power you may need a large pulley at the power source to get mechanical advantage and the correct pulley ratio. I have had success making over-sized pulley wheels for these low impact situations using three layers of plywood sandwiched together.

Cut two circles the same size and a third circle 12-20 mm smaller and fasten them together securely with the small circle inside the larger two and centered. After your glue has set and all the screws and fasteners are secure run a roughter with a 45% cutter, or even an oglive cutter, down the parameter inside the groove to keep the belt centered.

Pulley belts are available in any size you require at any shop that services riding mowers. I have one belt on a mower deck that is almost 5 feet in diameter to catch the power wheel and the three blade spinning pulleys.

Making the pulley wheel yourself allows you to go as big as you need without spending time and money hunting down a wheel that does not exist. I have used these plywood wheels on several gas powered contraptions and never had one fail, but I was not pushing them hard, 500-700rpm at the most.

I imagine the pulley ratio of a one meter overshot paddle wheel against an 8cm alternator wheel would get one a good spin.