Pedal Powered Television

[kaizercharles]

Very nice and neat setup here.

Charging power caps gives to fill the power needed like a buffer tank.

You can use your cap to run and energize and run an alternator for more power.

[destry3346]

I would love to see these manufactured. I think if different gears and pulleys were used it could be made to be much easier to pedal (e.g. like the gears on a ten-speed bike). What do you think?

[HolySpiritSentMe]

How do you store the power generated? 5*****s

[destry3346]

Beautiful Idea. These should be mass produced at an affordable price, say.... about $300-$1,000.  These could reduce childhood and adult obesity, diabetes and a whole lot of other obesity related diseases. Come on President and Mrs. Obama. This is something they should create a task force to design and produce.

[sunharvester]

great video! thanks for sharing

[Cradle2Venus]

i remember soemthing similar being marketed on TV, you just had to plug the TV into the base of a certain stationary bike... The reason it didn't take off is because most that could afford such a gizmo would rather sit on the couch and relax than have a workout...

However, I do think this would be a good way for fitness centers to generate a portion of their facility energy needs (if set up correctly).

[Harwkins39]

53 Farads is a lot of stored energy. How many amp-hrs can you get out this? It must be equivalent to some amount of amp-hrs in a battery.

[BasementBen]

Very Very nice!

[gavincurtis]

Hmm... If I were pedaling to watch TV (not a bad idea by the way); would have to be an OLED TV or at least an LCD until OLED was readily available.

[ag72]

do you have to have a capasitor? what is it for? cant you just run directly to the 400 watt 12v inverter? great vid!

[mjnesbitt]

To run TVs with degaussing circuits, yes, you need either a battery or a capacitor. You don't need a 58 Farad capacitor, but you need something. The degauss circuit draws more power than you can pedal, so the voltage drops and the inverter cuts out when it kicks in.

Flat panel TVs don't have this problem (no degaussing circuit).

[mjnesbitt]

Plasma = more power. Perhaps you mean LCD.

[mjnesbitt]

1)correct

2)they are 165mm

3)????

4)gearing wastes power

5)watch again. The generator is pivoting down under it's own weight and into the drive flywheel.

[shaddi1978]

thats a 27 inch tv

[bluedevils22766]

That's a sweet idea, but that guy was pedaling pretty fast and could not keep the capacitor charged. We saw it drop about 2 volts in about 40 seconds. I'm sure that that inverter will shutdown when the voltage gets to about 10 or 11 volts. How long can someone keep the TV on?

[mjnesbitt]

Hi,

The roller drive roller was slipping. Sustaining 120 watts is a workout, but on a properly adjusted PPPM it can be done. I generate at that page for 45-60 Watt-hours every morning. That would more than keep up with that TV.

[gabydewilde]

Very much exercise. Bit to much for me. lol

[completelyinoneside]

I am building one with 21 gears and 70A charge of 12vdc Lead battery for my boat. Hope to have it up and spinning in january.

Did I see gears on yours?

[mjnesbitt]

No gears. It's like riding on level ground. You will use maybe 2-3 of the 21 gears. I set all mine up as "one-speeds" and it works quite well.

[KennethNishimoto]

What a beautiful device.

[apgujeong]

a great idea. loving it.

[BladeDC5]

How about using a 30-40" LCD or OLED television so you can watch longer :D Great idea, better than sitting on a couch.

[fairtradetrousers]

is that a car alternator for generator? thanks

[mjnesbitt]

It's a mermanent magnet scooter motor. Car alternators are lots less efficient. This is pretty efficient. You can spin the flywheel up with the motor not on it and it takes several minutes to stop.

[fairtradetrousers]

permanent magnet? is it a starter motor?

Thanks!

[fairtradetrousers]

fabulous, I love it! Would a geared wheel and belt not be more efficient? wouldn't you get more revolutions of generator per crank revolution?

[mashedpatat]

I LOVE your idea- I have been saying for years that I would be in much better shape if I had to ride an exercise bike to power my tv....VERY COOL to see it in action!

[amigaknight]

thats cool

[yuandrew]

A 32" TV draws around 150 watts. Most people could generate around 75 watts continously (13" TV) and maybe 150 watts for an hour or two (People in better shape or a professional cyclist could go longer)

Try timeing how long it takes until the rider gets exhausted.

[mjnesbitt]

You are guessing rather than stating facts. The facts are: I have measured that TV extensively using a WATTS-UP, and it draws between 60 watts (dark scene) and 95 watts (white screen). I have pedaled that generator every morning for 9 months, and I can sustain 80 watt output for 30 minutes without becoming "exhausted." I am 52 years old. I have no doubt that a 60-year old would need a smaller TV ;-) but I am certain my 28-year old son, who was pedaling, could watch TV as long as he wished.