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  1. 29th April 2007, 07:37 PM #1
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    namtrak
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    Default Making a pedal powered television

    Okay.

    I am not a fan of the box, and would happily live without it (notwithstanding Wilfred, Spicks and Specks and any Rugby match). And so as a part of our renovations I am considering putting an exercise bike in our "TV" room and then hooking it up, so you need to ride the bike to power the box.

    I have googled this stuff, but all I come up with is mad scientists stuff, which looks half baked.

    Do you think it would be possible to power a TV off an exercise bike?

    What would the basic principles be?

    What would the components be?

    Cheers
    and TIA
    There was a young boy called Wyatt
    Who was awfully quiet
    And then one day
    He faded away
    Because he overused White

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  2. 29th April 2007, 07:53 PM #2
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    Default

    Movie and links to plans here

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvEK4I5HGz4
    http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen.html

    Cheers,

    P
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  3. 29th April 2007, 07:59 PM #3
    ozwinner
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bitingmidge View Post
    Movie and links to plans here

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvEK4I5HGz4
    http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen.html

    Cheers,

    P

    Pedal faster Midge, owwwwwh....arhhhh...puuuf......pant.
    A relpy is.....puuuuuf ........neeedddedddd....ooooowhhhhh, must pedal faster.......

    Al
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  4. 29th April 2007, 08:14 PM #4
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    And when you start to look like Arny you can run a home theatre
    Stupidity kills. Absolute stupidity kills absolutely.
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  5. 29th April 2007, 09:09 PM #5
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    Default

    Run the TV off a 12 volt battery, via an inverter. Rig a generator to the bike, to charge up the battery.
    Chris
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    Life isn't always fair

    ....................but it's better than the alternative.
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  6. 29th April 2007, 10:08 PM #6
    Jedo_03
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    Default inverter

    Quote Originally Posted by chrisb691 View Post
    Run the TV off a 12 volt battery, via an inverter. Rig a generator to the bike, to charge up the battery.
    Yer - I was gonna sergest that...
    friend of ours bought a 12v starter booster from Fleabay - it also has an inverter and an inflator...
    they took it bush - ran the TV and DVD and 2x60W lights off it via the inverter and had enough power to fry the bacon in the elec frypan the next morning...
    amazing
    Jedo
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  7. 30th April 2007, 04:45 AM #7
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    Hmmm pedal powered table saw... its all in the gearing!
    ....................................................................
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  8. 30th April 2007, 10:39 AM #8
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    Default

    Thanks guys.

    I was actually thinking along the lines of direct power, rather than battery and inverter.

    With all due respect, I don't want it looking like a cow shed from Nimbin, I was hoping that whatever I come up with doesn't have a big foot print.

    One of the links Midge sent refers to a thing called Ultracapacitors. These seem to be the type of thing I am after, they smooth out the voltage in someway.
    There was a young boy called Wyatt
    Who was awfully quiet
    And then one day
    He faded away
    Because he overused White

    Floorsanding in Canberra and Albury.....
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  9. 30th April 2007, 10:48 AM #9
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    Default

    Doesn't have to be a huge elecrical mess if it's only a small TV that can be run directly off 12 Volts. The battery just means that if you stop for a beer the TV keeps going. It also provides some regulation incase you dont pedal at a steady speed. A little lead acid battery (fire alarm or computer UPS) can be had for about $20, charge that from your bike powered generator. The battery should run the TV for a couple of hours if you pedal real hard and get it fully charged.

    Cheers

    Ian
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