Turn calories into electricity?

[Don C L]

So until that other thread was closed I was hoping to see if anyone had some working human powered generators in action on their boats and how they are working out. We are probably talking about the pocket cruiser crowd, but there may be others?

[Cotemar]

It's the future and oil resources have run out. A scientist has suggested using personal fart power to meet our individual power needs.

World governments are seriously considering this. They have identified a strain of genetically-modified bean that is easy to grow and results in an incredible degree of flatulence. Additionally they are developing some 'friendly' bacteria that show signs of being able to fartify pretty much every kind of foodstuff. Crucially it doesn't produce smelly farts - just very voluminous and flammable ones.

A study is in progress whereby volunteers are wearing fart-packs strapped to their rear ends whilst driving, and these are connected to their car engines. At the moment the fart gas is being used to supplement the conventional fuel. However the scientists hope eventually to power cars entirely by the farts of the driver and passengers. Other applications are in the pipeline.

How workable is this? How would society react? Bearing in mind that, with the new bacteria, the smell is negligible and also that the equipment is designed not to let the farts escape into the atmosphere, what would be the downsides?

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Don C L

...I was hoping to see if anyone had some working human powered generators in action on their boats...

I'm also curious. I'd like to see the math on this.

I recall pedalling a demo bicycle hooked up to a generator, and a few light bulbs. You had to pedal like crazy just to get a couple of them to show more than a dim glow.

From this totally unscientific experiment I concluded that it's probably not worth it. I would love to be proven wrong.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Don C L

So until that other thread was closed I was hoping to see if anyone had some working human powered generators in action on their boats and how they are working out. We are probably talking about the pocket cruiser crowd, but there may be others?

Do you mean something like this:

Human Power Generator | | Windstream Power LLC

or

http://www.econvergence.net/The-Peda...and-s/1820.htm

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Do you mean something like this:

Human Power Generator | | Windstream Power LLC

Yes indeed that is the kind of thing, but the question was how do you use it on a boat?

What are the installation challenges?
How do you maintain a powerful riding position?
Does it need a permanent installation to be effective?
Can it fit in the cockpit, where you'd really want it?
Can you use it underway while on watch?
Does it need to be gimballed for effective use?
How easy is it to store while not in use?
How many Ah do you empirically get after a couple of hours workout?

These are the questions I'm interested in ... real world usage on a boat.

I'd love to have a device like this to keep my cycling muscles in shape while onboard and as a bonus do something useful with the energy expended.
but at the moment I don't see how it could be done sensibly on a small boat like mine ... would love to see an example of someone doing it.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Do you mean something like this:

Human Power Generator | | Windstream Power LLC

or

The Pedal-A-Watt Bicycle Generator Stand Buy one or build with detailed plans.

That's a good start! Now marinize it!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Do you mean something like this:

Human Power Generator | | Windstream Power LLC

or

The Pedal-A-Watt Bicycle Generator Stand Buy one or build with detailed plans.

But at 5ah thats a lot of peddling .
And the second one is about 10 ah .
Just a out the same as my air x400 does .

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Kelkara

Yes indeed that is the kind of thing, but the question was how do you use it on a boat?… I'd love to have a device like this to keep my cycling muscles in shape while onboard and as a bonus do something useful with the energy expended.
but at the moment I don't see how it could be done sensibly on a small boat like mine ... would love to see an example of someone doing it.

I’ve never heard of any such installation. I came across this stuff early on in my pre-cruising life, and still have it bookmarked. Like you, I thought it sounded like a good idea, but also like you, I have never found a reasonable way to incorporate it into our boat life.

I remain interested.

[Cotemar]

Work Work Work it.
.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVrwxhUI7pE

[Bill Seal]

The average rider will produce between 125 and 300 watts using the Pedal-a-Watt. While this may not seem like much power, many pieces of equipment draw very little power and can be powered for long spans of time with small amounts of power. For example, a laptop only draws 50 watts so one 20 minute workout could run the laptop for well over an hour.





The Easy Pedal-A-Watt Package is a great way to provide power during power outages. During Hurricane Sandy many of our customers were able to provide power for heating, microwaves, mobile devices and high efficiency lighting during the nearly two weeks that some were without power. Adding a solar panel option will increase the energy available.

If you believe this BS, I've got a beautiful old bridge in New York for sale cheap.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

If you believe this BS, I've got a beautiful old bridge in New York for sale cheap.

Agreed.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Work Work Work it.
.

Here's the math
120 volts DC at 20 watts which is about .16 ah I see lots of pedaling in someone's future to charge a battery to use a microwave off an inverter to heat a cup of coffee better to rub your hands on the cup

[tkeithlu]

The US military had a hand crank HF radio in the early 1950s. Strangely, it had a seat, but was powered by hand, not by our much more powerful feet.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Here's the math
120 volts DC at 20 watts which is about .16 ah I see lots of pedaling in someone's future to charge a battery to use a microwave off an inverter to heat a cup of coffee better to rub your hands on the cup

Your Brilliant.

I like the way you think.

Pedal Power has an exponential X 10 SUCK factor to it.
Not only that. They are Flipping Loud.
Sounds like someone is drilling in your ear with a Dremel.

[newhaul]

You would be better off by far to use a dynamo for pedal power
300W Generator Dynamo Permanent Magnet - Pedal Power Generators