Comments on: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY BIKE BICYCLE DC Generator Green Energy ELECTRIC BIKE DIY HYBRID

By: knowledgemonger

knowledgemonger — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:28:01 +0000

You don’t want to throw away any of the energy. The Zener idea is a very bad one because a 300W zener is a great big expensive thing. A flywheel with a large capacitor as short term storage would be a good start. A DC-DC converter as a regulator would be nice to keep the voltage more constant for the load.

The energy in the capacitor is:

E = (1/2) * V^2 * C

This means that a really big capacitor would be needed if you didn’t use the flywheel.

By: FearTurtles

FearTurtles — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:01:36 +0000

The reason I would allow the voltage to drop as far as 12v is to allow the motor to turn at a slower RPM. That way Denise can peddle longer. The load will be somewhat consistent and should not max out the watt rating on the motor. It takes more human energy to turn the motor faster and you will still be producing the same amount of energy. So what needs to be considered is to maximize the endurance of the human. A flywheel would help although it would put more load on the human energy.

By: knowledgemonger

knowledgemonger — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:53:54 +0000

Use a higher voltage generator or a bigger gear ratio. Denise’s optimum pedaling speed should be determined and the voltage made just a bit more than needed at that point.

DC-DC converters that both boost and buck are less efficient than ones that only buck. Since you don’t have to worry about polarity, I’d use a Cuk converter if I had to both boost and buck. For bucking, I would prefer to switch in the minus side.

At an output voltage of about 12V, a Schottky diode as the catch diode.

By: theLisaSolution

theLisaSolution — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:45:48 +0000

No computer. COMMUTER. You know getting to work… LOL (My eyes play mad-libs on me all the time too!) Thanks.

By: Frosttty

Frosttty — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:17:05 +0000

Get on the bike, Dan! You’re working Denise too much, lol!

By: FearTurtles

FearTurtles — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:44:43 +0000

I think the goal is to take what we have and use it as Efficient as possible by adding to it what is needed. Sure you can make a really efficient setup if you change the generator and figure the optimum gearing. In that case it would be better to start off with an AC generator instead. Adding a Flywheel would be easy enough and you can add in a Capacitor as well. Even adding a battery as Dan stated in the video would work and would serve to protect the equipement being used.

By: whotoinfinity

whotoinfinity — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:25:33 +0000

Great as always! Always like finding a new clip from you guys.

Sorry to hear about your woofer though, Sable was the name?

Peace

By: knowledgemonger

knowledgemonger — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:52:36 +0000

Yes to the flywheel and the capacitor both. It doesn’t take much flywheel to store the same energy as a huge capacitor.

By: havock89

havock89 — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:53:06 +0000

Well I learned about a feedback diode, which is necessary to stop “back-charging”. Enjoyable and informative. Looking forward to the next one!

By: hyperkid86

hyperkid86 — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:01:48 +0000

i like your wife