how would I go about building a a rear carrier mount bike generator?

Question

I am trying to build a device which would mount on the rear carrier of my 20 inch folding bike, which would generate and store electricity, for anything, within reason that can be plugged in (i.e lamp, computer, stereo etc).
I bike about 10-15 miles a day and I would like to generate some power and $ave on my elecricity bill (I already have solar panels) and create some green power.
So I want to create, in essence, a kinetically generated charger to mount on my bike, which, when I get home, I can plug appliances into.
If such a product already exists where can I get it. If I need to make it from scratch what is my first step?

Answer 1

There are generators made to attach to bicycles. They can be found in bike shops, and sometimes auto stores (Western Auto), hardware stores, and department stores. You'd have to use rectifier diodes if you hope to store the voltage.

Unlike another poster said, they put out a weird type of AC instead of DC. Yes, I've measured it. It required the AC setting on a multimeter to get a stable reading. I've even managed to get one of these generators to run as a motor using a transformer with AC output. It ran rough that way since it was not tuned for 60hz, but it did run, proving that it was an AC generator. It required manual starting for it to turn. It did not run at all on DC.

Answer 2

How fast can you pedal? Can you get at least 650 rpm off the outside diameter of your tires for a sustained period of time? If you can get the 650 rpm, you can build a Rube Goldberg type contraption, using an automobile alternator to ride the tire. Aligned to the tire so that it rides on the alternators pulley.
Since the alternator charges at speeds as low as idle speed in an automobile, they also have a cut-out speed at around 5000 rpm. So if you can hit sustained speeds with your bike that fall inside that range you can build it yourself. You can charge a battery and drain it through a power inverter. The power inverter should convert the DC current from the battery to AC current of your appliance.
You can even attach an automobile voltmeter to the battery and alternator to see how well it is charging. But this too requires a power drain from the contraption.
You should consider too the added weight that you will be carrying that will effect the efficiency of this Rube Goldberg contraption. And you may have to build a splash and rain guard for the alternator.

Have fun doing it yourself. The way I figure it, every penny I save building contraptions like this stays in my pocket. I hope to help save other folks the other green as well.

Answer 3

Well, start with the generator on the back of the bike, since
your bike is "rear" wheel drive.
Then you have to mount a battery to store the energy in the
front basket with all the wireing, and you'll need extra to fold
the bike. Don't forget the "ground" strap, so when you get struck by lightning, you may survive.
You will have to buy a big chain and lock, because with the price of scrap metal today.
You will want it insured in case someone does steal it, or you
get hit by a car. You may get a break on your insurance if you
are wearing your helmet.
If you get a computer chip installed on it so if it is stolen, it can
be found by the police with GPS.
Check your air pressure faithfully. With all that weight and
yours, them pot-holes are a real b***h.
How many miles will you have to peddle, just to break even
on your investment.
Biking fifteen miles a day, you'll need at least two bottles of
water, so you don't "dehydrate" in the sun.
If your cell phone rings, you will need one hand to answer it.
Have your pepper spray handy, because them loose dogs
like to chase the tires.
Don't forget your i-pod to listen to the music while peddling.
Save your money and invest in a new "Harley Davidson."

Answer 4

Small generators that would run a headlight on a bike were common on bikes 40 years ago - I don't know when or if they stopped making them. - I used one when I was a kid. They made it noticeably harder to peddle. Small generators would be less useful on a bike these days because headlights are now made with LEDs which make much more efficient use of batteries and the batteries can be rechargeable.

If you wanted to store energy with a bike generator, you would have to peddle even harder and carry around batteries to charge, which would add weight.

Answer 5

You won't save an awful lot on your electric bill. About the most power you can reasonably generate would be 75 watts, unless you're Lance Armstrong. If you ride one hour a day, that's 75 watt-hours. Electricity sells for something like 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, so you'll be lucky to generate 1 cent worth of power per day.

Answer 6

They do (or did) sell small DC generators that bolted to the frame and had a toothed wheel that would make contact with the tire and would usually power a small light on the front. Unfortunately for you, you would not be able to generate much electricity this way, and any storage device (battery) would be to heavy. (especially for a folding bike)

Answer 7

It's not that complicate as you can believe.
Find a dynamo / car electrical generator/ and fix it on your bike, set up transmission between rear wheel and dynamo / you can use either belt or chain. The heaviest problem is to find efficient and at the same time as light as possible accumulator. That will be your contribution to the environment.
Good luck!

Answer 8

Years ago I had 2 bikes with generators for headlight and tailight power. they worked fine. I would imagine a good bike shop would have one or would know where to get one.

If not, check out the following sites:

http://www.econvergence.net/electro.htm

http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen.html

http://www.scienceshareware.com/bike_gen.htm

http://www.freelights.co.uk/

Answer 9

You'd need something that would allow you to transfer energy from you to a battery, and the battery itself.

Incidentally, YES there is commercially available motors that will allow you to move the bike without pedalling. Shouldn't be too difficult to modify one of them. :D

Answer 10

consult a thermo nuclear physicist and if you can haul a car battery around on your bike then you got the problem solved ...