Banggood 20W Hand Crank Generator Part 2: Teardown & Analysis

We take a closer look at the innards of the "20W" muscle powered generator. I'll provide some insight on why it is so inefficient and how we might go about improving it. Also, some alternative projects that would be even cheaper, and yield better performance.

[@vaguedirector_7342]

"470" inductor marking means 47*10^0 (47uH). "471" would be 47*10^1 (470uH). It's similar to SMD resistor codes. A generator like this needs either a matched load or an MPPT converter feeding a battery in order to extract maximum power, similar to a solar panel. It's an inherently flawed device and not made to be anything more than a toy.

[@bluetrinityhaloseven7244]

Just got mine from the amazon locker pickup...so THIS video is going to be super valuable for me. Right off the hop you can see it needs some super basic mods...like with the crank shaft etc. obviously (loose). Was trying to think maybe it's a design intention, yet I KNOW it's more a flaw...probably also plastic cog wheels may need BACKUPS, or even a metal replacement for durability. Of coarse I just bought this for dual purposes, to learn more of tech by hands on, and also as a useful GOSO tool (which is the english name of the company that sells these as far as I know).

[@moconnell663]

I'm glad you're finding it useful. I enjoyed making the video. It's a shame I don't have more time to do this sort of thing.

[@tarstarkusz]

It would be a better improvement to figure out a jig you can put it in so you can power it with something other than your arm/shoulder. Turning that handle is an unfamiliar and unnatural movement. I would guess your arm and shoulder would be fatigued and sore within 15 minutes of turning it even at a low power output.

[@GamingAmbienceLive]

*Subscribed i love your rhetoric and details you go into, you should definitely make more videos, you will become a favorite in no time.* -Subscriber #9

[@moconnell663]

Why thank you! I certainly do want to make more videos in the future :)

[@Trebseig]

Hey thanks for making a part 2! I was wondering about its insides and if it can be improved. I am currently making 3 types of generators, and I find it difficult to get enough useful power out of them. One has too low a voltage to get a boost converter to work, and an other one I think has such irregular voltage that the buck converter doesn't know what to do. It will become a video also. We can learn from each other! What are the most efficient ways to generate electricity at home. Let's discover and share that.

[@moconnell663]

One thing I intended to do, but haven't gotten around to is making a buck-boost regulator, which I can do with the regulator I used in the breadboard power supply. I'm not sure that will work very well or not.

[@chadlion3832]

Hello buddy. Love your videos. You seem like you know what you doing. You should make a video of how to make electric generator with a bike. And show it step by step. Also what would be the easiest way and route for recharging a phone. Also I really would love to know how to make electricity out of a windmill. Thanks.

[@edge-of9hc]

"It's not just capable of delivering the output wattage that we expect with what its got." Thank you for saying that. I might break my arm cranking this device and not even deliver enough juice to the phone to make it usable in emergency situation.

[@alanbrown7155]

Yes i know what you mean. I bought this unit and filled it with 8/ 2.7v 100f super caps. I have also swapped out the circuit board and replaced it with a 4amp mppt regulation board. I can output what voltage and amps output that i want.

[@Ansis99]

Thanks! I make my own setup with this HCG motor. The same conclusions. Real crank power is 5W. This is it. No more.

[@driftwood5407]

The extra gears some suppliers supply are for applications use, Example wind turbine, water turbine, ect ect, they all call for different gear ratio's to maintain peek output at different rpm, to follow power curve of generator at a set rpm of the generator.

[@moconnell663]

Actually, what I was referring to were listings such as this one: a.co/d/cWLeyFr where the design must be so terrible that they feel the need to include extra identical gears so that the thing will work long enough for you to feel you haven't been ripped-off.

[@driftwood5407]

@@moconnell663 Sounds like a bad supplier, supplying Bad Goods , i have just seen the kit you are on about lol, its pants which in the UK means crap, scat, ect ect :)

[@rapazlatino-americano9421]

Yes, can confirm Banana Jacks in South America

[@offgrid2010]

I'm interested in a pedal generator that powers a super efficient e-bike motor. Would love to hear people's ideas on that...It's probably just one more fantasy to get enough power by pedaling that wouldn't wear me out but I'm thinking of putting it on my back wheel in addition to my 1000 watt front hub motor. Or maybe just use the pedal generator to boost the power going to the single front motor! Less weight and complexity.

[@adelsafa120]

what is the circuit used in the hand crank generator? If you could send a link it would be a great help. Thank you

[@cesastephenlouiseb9061]

hello can we know what type and model dynamo was used in the generator?? can you also suggest on the type of dynamo and its specs that would be great to use in a bike generator? thank you so much

[@slivver87]

do you think it is possible to replace the motor with a better one to increase the power? can you share the data sheet of the motor?

[@mikeezlove5006]

the secret is always in the pully system to more points engin starter is just a kicker you just want a yank cord instead of hand that means motor loop power enough to start the motor loops around to charge the outer moter but pull other charge makers just rip cord and go its a loop kicker ...

[@monmonmon4177]

change motor with large one to get more AMP but check if the regulator can handle more power, motors used for wind electricity generator are the best, one used here is a chiness low quality

[@Sochack]

Did you check the other negative and positive side because that one is unregulated

[@telefonumeu1074]

can you make a video , on how you whould da a crank generator for cheap and with comon parts?for 12v ?:)

[@RP-ls8pv]

This is very probably a stupid question but would simply hooking the unregulated output up to a 3.2v lithium iron phosphate battery be a good idea? I know you mentioned lead acid but the energy density is fairly terrible for portability.

[@moconnell663]

Sort of... To do a direct hookup to a single cell might be alright, provided that cell has a large enough capacity to accept the full output of the generator, while dragging the output voltage down to the

[@RP-ls8pv]

I was wondering if I could produce something like the nowlight (currently seeking funding on Indiegogo) for half the price.

[@moconnell663]

The "nowlight" is a very simple design, but without seeing one I would have to question the durability of the drive mechanism. Throughout the world for thousands of years people have used foot-treadle mechanisms to power things like textile equipment, bellows and so forth. You could make something similar from a small-engine pull start mechanism mounted on the wall, grabbing the handle with your toes. Couple that to a modest permanent-magnet motor (think kids electric scooter, which I see often-enough on the curb around here), with an ultracapacitor to even-out the bursts of current for battery charging. Depending on your level of scavenging skills, you could make something like that for less than $20.

[@willgilliam9053]

this video got you a sub...

[@M.L.764]

Hello. Can it be used to charge the Yaesu ft4x or Baofeng uv5 radio?

[@moconnell663]

Yes, both chargers for those radios appear to take DC from a typical barrel jack. Be warned that the owner's manual for both radios suggest that battery charging time would be 3.5 hours...

[@felipedeluz]

Hello bro, what if I put a Eolic propeller kind of thing on this engine? It would blow the system? What is the max RPM? I have one but never used as never needed.. thanks a lot

[@moconnell663]

You "can" do anything, however the gear train is plastic as are the bearings on the input side. It is not designed to handle any axial load, and putting blades on it to be driven by the wind would add substantial axial load. Also, due to the torque required under load the blades would have to be rather large, perhaps 1m long and that will definitely destroy this little thing.

[@felipedeluz]

@@moconnell663 thanks a lot, my only concern is putting the thing on fire and burning my land, where I live the fire risk is very high most of the year so... Atm the little thing worth nothing as I've tried like you and it's impossible to make it generate energy.

[@moconnell663]

@@felipedeluz you are very welcome. It will fail mechanically long before it would do anything that could start a fire.

[@maru-orochigaruyasha2532]

Hello good sir, those lithium cells you mentioned in the video here, they lithium ion batteries? Second question,would be curious to know where i can get myself those lithium batteries you got for free? Im looking around and been wanting to salvage for lithium ion or i guess rechargeable old laptop batteries,im interested in those batteries you got love to get myself some free also.

[@moconnell663]

Used lithium cells are probably not the best way to store power, but they are good for experimenting or applications which are not very important. The battery pack I show above came from a piece of medical equipment. One or two of the cells are bad, reducing the capacity enough to warrant replacement. Laptop batteries are good, by the time they reach the junk heap they may have more than one dead cell, the same goes for power-tools or anything else. I recommend you ask who maintains the equipment at your local hospital. Since hospital equipment is critical, batteries are often replaced on a time schedule rather than on when they actually need to be replaced. The used batteries are often simply disposed of.

[@illygotbeats]

Maybe someone here can help me. I bought this for emergencies. I tested it out the box due to a coincidental power outtage when it arrived. I wanted to charge my phone. I set it to 5 as it says everywhere to do. I cranked for 30mins desperate to charge my phone and all it did was continue to lose power. The phone said it was charging but just kept dying. I've tried it on several devices since then and it's the same story and there's like no info online about this issue. Any ideas? Or ideas for a fix?? Side note. On devices with more than 50% power there is more resistance, but its not consistent!! Sometimes it slips like it's charging a dead battery then goes back to stiff again.

[@bluetrinityhaloseven7244]

This thing is cranking it out at 4amps tho right? So doesn't that mean that to get FULL efficiency you have to pop TWO usb batteries into it? After all those things can only take 2amps far as I know...maybe THIS needs to factor into your earlier test from video 1, I will of coarse watch it to learn more. After all I have to get the best use of such tech I can, and knowledge is one of the keys.

[@Athrunwong]

It’s terrible already, but I am going to assumed it was used in places where no other source of energy is available and you need to power up something in a jiffy.

[@edifierbass7821]

Someone has already done it before he uses a spring type winder like the one used in Clocks or toys then add up a Dynamo motor to power up any electronic devices for decent time frame

[@wallyprichard7451]

I have the hyddnice manual hand crank generator and it looks exactly the same.

[@moconnell663]

There are several dozen different sellers marketing exactly the same product at wildly different price points. Take a look at the guts of yours and see if they've made any improvements :)

[@frankzappa6698]

would something like a bike generator with 3 motors running of 1 gear be good?

[@moconnell663]

You mean like the dynamo that runs off friction with the tire? High-power LEDs have basically made those obsolete. They never functioned well to begin with and now that power requirements are so low, batteries make much more sense in that application. The biggest challenge to making a generator that can be powered by hand is finding a motor that can be spun at a reasonable speed and still produce significant power output. I tested a power-tool motor just now, and spinning it full-chooch with my cordless drill only gave me 1.5V. I think the ideal powerplant would be the motor out of an electric bicycle or scooter.

[@joesmoe71]

I'd love it if someone would sell or release the schematic and foil pattern for a PCB to adapt old cordless drills to be crank generators, I see them used all the time at thrift stores etc going for next to nothing because the cost of buying new batteries isn't worth it, but some of them have pretty heavy duty motors and gear boxes in them that are probably superior to what's in that Banggood generator. Maybe have the kit designed to optimize the output and suppress the noise of a 12 or 18v drill motor and leave working out the mechanics of making it crankable to the person? If this kind of kit is available somewhere already someone please direct me to it. As far as suggested mods to the Banggood generator I'd attach pieces of angle iron to the sides to allow it to be clamped or screwed down and one inverted piece across the front to force it to stay flush with the edge of the table so you don't end up having it creep around and bash the handle and/or knuckles on the edge. The angle iron can be salvaged from an old bed frame for free if you grab one someone is throwing out, for the $30 I might get one of these generators just to see what kinds of mechanical enhancements I can come up with.

[@ScinnerNo1]

PLEASE messaure the output WATTAGES! Thx.

[@gianfrancopurpura8112]

For a few dollars more it would be better to replace the crank with an antique wind-up type mechanism that lasts at least an hour. Anyway congratulations!

[@GospodinJean]

Thanks for the review. ! i will not buy this generator anymore!

[@KamenPhilip]

For something stated "teardown" I somehow expected to see what's inside that gearbox...

[@rameshchintada2876]

how much does it take to recharge a mobile phone?

[@doubleooh7337]

If i made a 1,200w hand crank generator , would it be the most powerful in the world? Being this^ is only 20w

[@moconnell663]

That assumes you have arms like the Jolly Green Giant to crank it with. You cannot develop 1200w of motive force with human arm muscles.

[@doubleooh7337]

@@moconnell663 i see what you mean you struggle to produce 20w 🤣

[@frankzappa6698]

subscriber #115 here!

[@lafferman_sri8788]

Called banana plugs in the uk

[@ScinnerNo1]

If you want a crank generator you should first consider that with your legs, Lance Armstrong(7 times Tour de France winner) has an output of about 300Wh average in an hour(On steroids). So if Lance Armstrong was to sit on a "Bike cranked generator" he would avarage about 300W for an hour. A normal human being would do about 50% of that(If you are a fat guy maybe 20%) A 300W output is the same as 25Ah@12V. With your arms AND hands it will drop to about 60Wh(5Ah/h) and thats if you are a really strong man. Average man might do 50% of that(2,5Ah every hour @12V or 30Wh). This is NOT accounting the mechanical losses in the crank/gears to generator. In reality a normal human being would be able to avarage about 10W per hour with a portable hand crank generator which means you could charge the new iPhone X in an hour(if the phone where in OFF mode while cranking and the cranking mechanism was at 100% efficiancy). So please don´t kid yourselfe, you would more likely get carpal tunnel syndrome before charging your smart phone. Source: www.power-pedals.com/legends-of-cycling-power-output-watts/

[@GeezerDust]

I appreciate your real life deductions on possible Wh outputs. So ... how much power can I expect from my 84 year old granny if I feed her extra Wheaties and coffee?

[@ScinnerNo1]

Obviously it depends on what muscle group we are talking about and how fit your 84 year old granny is but I would guesstimate about 40Wh@legs and 5Wh@arms + 3-4% extra for the Wheaties and coffee ;) You would have to messaure it yourselfe though to get the exact amount!!!

[@charliegraft373]

how do i get a copy of instructions in english

[@moconnell663]

It doesn't come with instructions but it's fairly self-explanatory. You set the output voltage using the slider switch on the front. If you are intending to charge a USB device, you want to set it to 5V. Otherwise, set the voltage to match the device you intend to power, red is positive (+), and black is negative (-). The terminals on the left are regulated to the voltage selected by the switch, the terminals on the right are raw power directly from the generator.

[@rodsofgod6863]

When are you making the bike generator with the whole motor?😀

[@moconnell663]

If it continues to be hellishly cold around here, probably soon! :)

[@Booozy3050]

LaserSaber did an upgrade for this same unit to make it a Boost Pack with super capacitors. He did it internally, but my plan is to make an external pack. I have loads of USB lighting in my container shed that can charge off simple solar packs but I like to cover every base for the dark times. His vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/raLVgaJsh65lrpo

[@moconnell663]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing that.

[@tarstarkusz]

Why not use the enclosure and drive gearing and pair it to a different more appropriate motor and electronics? Unfortunately, even if you did that and put not only a more appropriate motor but a much higher quality one, your arm is really the limiting factor no matter what. This is an unfamiliar exercise for which you do not have good conditioning for performing for long periods of time. (you have probably never turned a handle in your life for a 1/2 hour straight) Even a very efficient set up is going to need at least 4-5 additional mechanical watts into the motor to end up with 20 watts at the load. Even charging an NIMH 2500mah AA battery is going to consume over 3 watt hours (they are not 100% efficient, especially at high current). Even if the battery could take 2500ma, which most cannot without damaging them, that would be an hour of turning this thing. I would not want to turn that handle for an hour straight even without an electrical load on it. Maybe a month of doing it every day for an hour might leave you with a build up of the right muscles and "muscle memory" to not become fatigued.

[@gijigadget]

I don't believe those diodes are there for polarity protection. I believe they are there to covert the generator AC voltage to dc.

[@moconnell663]

A brushless motor would produce AC output, however this is a brushed motor.

[@gijigadget]

@@moconnell663 Thank you for your reply. Yes, I was mistaken. I had thought since a dc motor has alternating magnets fields, NSNS, the result would be alternating current as the coil moves through alternating magnetic fields. Cheers

[@edge-of9hc]

A lot of reviewers of this device will only crank the lever a few times and when the phone lit up they will immediately conclude this this device works. No one has tried to use this device to a 0% charge phone. There's no real life practical testing of this device. How many turns and minutes of cranking the lever to gain 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100% of charge to the phone?

[@kolaivan9945]

Is the gear made of metal?

[@moconnell663]

No, they are made of nylon.

[@kolaivan9945]

@@moconnell663 ohh well maybe you know where I can find similar generator just with metal gear?

[@moconnell663]

@@kolaivan9945 Unfortunately I do not, though I would imagine that any product which DID have metal gears would probably advertise that fact in its description.

[@kolaivan9945]

@@moconnell663 I found one it got Brussels generator as well

[@kolaivan9945]

@@moconnell663 but it's pretty expensive

[@jerryta]

Please try to stretch the video longer..🤣

[@moconnell663]

You want a Part Three? :D

[@joaquinortega6623]

Unus Annus Unus Annus

[@moconnell663]

Yikes.

[@johnnaglic]

20 watts on such a tiny crank, I don't think so. Did you load test it using a resistive load and a real power meter? My generator that I made can at best do around maybe 10 watts. And good luck cranking after two watts by hand, the torque gets very in your face, not easy at all to maintain this kind of force over prolonged time. My thoughts is maybe fractional watt at best for that tiny motor. Power really needs torque to transfer energy in big numbers. Any way, it is compact overall, but I would not believe them specs. Any generator that produces some real amount of power, usually has some sort of gas engine driving it with real horse power to create realistic energy to do practical work, otherwise we are talking micro power under one watt of energy.

[@moconnell663]

I forget where in the video (and dont feel like finding it right now) but it does hold up 20W on the unregulated output through a resistive load. The real weak link in this product is the switching power supply, it is very inefficient. In Part 2 I succeed in getting it to light a 13W fluorescent lamp. Overall I still rate it as 'junk' though. Buy a 20W solar panel instead.

[@bensmith4563]

Thing looks super chintzy

[@maru-orochigaruyasha2532]

Batteries

[@truthbeknown8550]

Problem with Chinese motors is that materials like copper, magnets and other components are expensive and the purity of copper as well as thickness and number of windings with good quality magnets, is a pipe dream when it comes to Chinese motors. The ultimate problem is that stupid consumer should stop buying these crap until the manufacturers learn their lesson.

[@moconnell663]

The problem with your reasoning is that China has become the industrial powerhouse that it is as a result of standardizing components across multiple industries. The economies of scale have lead to an overall increase in quality. Manufacturers have no lesson to learn here, as they only make what retailers specify they should make. The exception to that are things bought directly from China, doing an end-around on retailers. An excellent example of this that I am familiar with is the oscillating fan. If you go to a US retailer and buy two fans, the cheapest one they have, and the fanciest one they have you will discover that they use EXACTLY the same motor. It is the same because of those economies of scale, it would simply cost more to make two different qualities of motors. The 'cheap' one is lubricated with corn oil, while the 'good' one is lubricated with a proper synthetic machine oil. The cheap one is the way it is because the retailer contracted with the manufacturer to produce a fan that breaks after one year. Retailers make far more money from you if you buy the crappy product. They are the enemy here, not manufacturers, and not an entire country.

[@pooorman-diy1104]

what ?? ..it uses brushed motor ?? ... stupid design ...

[@moconnell663]

I know, right?! :D

[@benedward673]

hey can u suggest the best motor type for the generator thing? what about a bldc motor?

[@truthbeknown8550]

Chinese crap, needs more gear ratio, needs stainless steel well lubed gears, doesn’t need long handle at all, since it is Chinese crap that doesn’t need any torque to turn it.

[@moconnell663]

Just the other day I took apart an Oster bread machine that someone had thrown away, and it had a rather nice belt-drive mechanism I was thinking about using for this, though the motor is 110V and wouldn't be suitable for this application.