Off the Grid: Step Charged Laptop

[yoshihawv]

you must have bought the last one. they seem to be discontinued everywhere.

[biped19]

Is there a "how to" for converting your exercise bike into a generator? Thanks.

[jellofast]

hellll yeah!!!!!!

thanks for the video there needs to be more on youtube about this.. i was wondering if it could power up a refrigerator in emergencies but that might take too much power

[roidroid]

just doing some reading... it seems like it would take somewhere between 2 HOURS and 8 HOURS to fully charge the FreeCharge WEZA's internal battery.

It would take only 2 hours to produce 80 Watthours (the capacity of the internal battery). But the manual says that when plugged into the wall socket it takes 8 hours to fully charge.

So i'm confused.

Maybe it can generate power (40watts) faster than it can store it (10watts max) ?

[agungk]

that's because the batteries must be charged at a lower current than it's specified capacity. usually 1/10C. so if it's stated capacity 20AH, then it can only be safely charged at 2A.

[roidroid]

if this had a pedal on both sides, you could charge it twice as fast (80watts) - using it as a stepper exerciser.

[miguelsotoseudonimo]

The 'bike'-pedals generator (of the Powerplus Gazelle type) are not much more than a toy that in real life will go up in heat and dust in no-time. It can not be used as a stepper, you need to actually sit and find the perfect distance between your seat and the generator to be able to charge it. But if were you I'd google freeplay-freecharge-weza and buy a reliable power supply (like the one in the video).

[roidroid]

if the Weza were redesigned to have 2 steps, then re-optimising the ergonomics of it so as to better facilitate using both steps at once - would be part of the redesign.

Stepper exercise machines are very popular. Surely this will work.

[miguelsotoseudonimo]

Yes they are very popular for the time being, but will they be of any use when the shit hits the fan?. The Weza has an integrated heavy duty 'wheel' that keeps spinning and charging after you stepped once (see video). This is a big bonus that pedal generators don't have. You have to keep pedaling nonstop and you just won't cope (even if the machine didn't break). Go to a good survival shop and ask them, if you do not wish to believe it. But just in case I would make up my mind - right now.

[roidroid]

My reference to the popularity of stepper exercisers was to show that the concept works, and is intuitively quite similar to the current single-stepper Weza configuration.

As such, it would use a flywheel just as the Weza does. It's honestly almost identical to the Weza. The only differences being that it has 2 steppers instead of one, and it would need to be more stable and easy to ballance on - as BOTH feet are required to be on the device at once.

Pedals? No pedals here.

[roidroid]

oh i see the source of confusion now. In my original message i referred to the Weza's "pedal".

I should have said "stepper", this is what i meant.

[miguelsotoseudonimo]

BRAND NEW INFO: I just found out from GAMMA TRADING INDUSTRIES (Pty) Ltd in South Africa that distribute Freeplay Products (and among them the Weza), that the part is No Longer Available (and none in stock).

Dave Floyd however who heads up Freeplay Europe will be able to assist from his UK office. He may be contacted telephonically on + 44 20 7935 5226.

[roidroid]

oh you are suggesting i contact Freeplay about my idea? It's not that amazing an idea is it?  I'm not that ambitious.

[miguelsotoseudonimo]

Dear roidroid. I was posting for everybody, and like biped19 I am thinking a bit further and outside the box. Global changes, economic breakdown etc.. Therefore please please stop replying to my messages with your domestic sarcasm. Yes, I should not have clicked on reply (to your message), and for that reason I am sorry. Bye.

[roidroid]

no sarcasm, i honestly thought your reply to me was a reply to me.

anyway, peace

[biped19]

Tech like this is awesome. I really need to get one since the U.S. is about to collapse. Looks like great exercise too. Your legs will become like steel.

[paddythetinker]

pal where did you get the adaptor?, please answer my questions i need one.

[paddythetinker]

great, i just bought a weza for the very purpose of feeding my laptop, how good of a machine is it dude? and does it charge the laptop well?

[jedus1]

Does the charger recommend you dress like your waiting for a flood? or did you do that so the charger wouldnt scuff your cuffs?

[omniblast]

That's a lot of work to charge your laptop :\