Exercise bike generator uses car alternator

Understandably, this is not going to save the planet or signifigantly reduce your electric bill but it will give you really intense workout. It just seemed to make good sense that an alternator would work well since it is already voltage-regulated and cheap & easy to obtain.

It is important to get the alternator spinning before you energize the rotating field or it will be very hard to get it up to speed. The amount of power you can get depends on how strong your legs are and the size of the inverter you use. I doubt the alternator could be maxed out with human power. Of course, you could modify the alternator if you wanted to. I've gotten 160 amps before out of a modified Delcotron. This one puts out 35 amps.

Now, I realize some people would ask whats the point of all this. Well, whats the point of a stationary bike anyways? You expend energy for nothing as it goes nowhere. At least you could run a TV, stereo, lights, or whatever while you're at your exercise routine.

Some of you auto electric experts might want to point out the seemingly high voltage and say "Hey, it should be no more than 13.8 volts" but this is a $3.50 volt meter!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• exercise
• bike
• stationary
• bicycle
• alternator
• human
• powered
• generator
• tinker
• project
• electric
• workout
• pedal
• power

[SpockOfRock]

I've gained a whole new appreciation for solar panels...

[FlamingHomelessDude]

Thats a good way to get epileptic kids fat.

[presziggy]

HELP?!

i finally tried to build one... i got a delco remy alternator from a 92 grandam, and hooked it up...

however, nothing is happening...

i'm sure i am not wiring it correctly... and i've scoured the internet in search of wiring instructions.

any ideas please?

[Pacman99uk]

i think theres something wrong with the regulator on that alternator, pretty sure you dont want to go above 14.5volts max as it can damage the battery.

[SuperKazmierski]

Could a more effecant bike be built?

I'd love there to be millions of these bikes around America, and pay people to generate electricity. People will get work, people will lose weight, and we'll be a little more green.

[charmjov]

Please send me the procedure on how to make this. I really need it for my science project before next week. Also include a circuit diagram if you have my e mail is jovani_g_tablezo@yahoo.com

[McBurger69x420]

@alwaysTheScout247 Wait for it.... wait for it.... you mean, like a bicycle?

XD

[AE6ZW]

I have heard pedaling even to generate 40 watts is lot of works.

550 foot-pounds per second = 750 watts , so even 40 watts is 30 ft-lbs / second.

cranking 1 ft radius pedal, with force of 30 lbs every second.

probably it may be more practical to build large round rotating swing bar , attach horse or cow in the end and use it to generate power. I suppose 1 horse can generate 750 watts ?

[goldenjamesy]

lol you were puffing after like 20 seconds. are you like 300lbs??

[supersonicsnow]

16V is gonna kill your SLA really quick. Even flooded lead acid shouldn't go over 14.4v, with the very occasional 15V equilisation charge.

For longevity of your SLA battery u should not go over 13.8V charging voltage.

[callkevincool]

how do you hook your alternator?

[Duckykirby]

Hook this up to a laptop charger, get a joypad for PC, and play some emulated street fighter, powered by your own workout.

Video games then = excercise?