Practical Guide to Pedal-Powered Electrical Generators
1 min read
Summary
Humans can generate about 100W of mechanical power through cycling, and T.K. Hareendran suggests ways to convert rotary motion into usable electrical power.
A simple example is the bicycle dynamo, often used to power bike lights, which uses a basic generator to produce 3W at 6VAC.
More powerful results can be achieved with a more sophisticated generator, which could be a brushed or brushless DC motor, potentially with a flywheel.
A commercial solution such as the K-Tor Power Box 50 offers over 50W and 12VDC output for emergency generators, but Hareendran suggests that a DIY approach could be more cost-effective.
The idea is not new, as previous Hackaday articles have covered using bikes and gym equipment to generate power.
