Converting An Excercise Bike To A Generator

[@thornhedge9639]

I have to ask Robert: Have you ever, in your entire life, been bored? Always such incredible stuff! Thanks!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - no mate - I don't get bored

[@chipheadnet]

Like he has time for that nonsense!

[@joohop]

@@ThinkingandTinkering You've Inspired Me About Making Two Stonehenge Permanent Magnet Wheels Close To Each Other To Overcome The Lag , They Might Even Contra- Rotate Bless Up

[@igloobearred]

...I was just talking about fly wheels!!! I love your channel, love to see how you're thinking, love that you also want to repurpose the things around you. We just started completely over in life... totally from scratch, we've very little resources (money) but the world throws away everything! There are so many free resources out there to be had. It'll be 3 more years before we have this place paid off and can build extra things from store bought materials (like a workshop), but in the mean time I'm harvesting from the abundance of junk. Can't wait to have a proper tinkering place. Cheers my friend.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

flywheels are awesome things that's for sure - glad you like the channel mate and good luck with getting set up

[@Buzzhumma]

I used a 48 v mid drive motor and could produce over 100 watts easily . The key was to use a higher voltage motor so as to produce 12 volts at 25% of the designed rpm !

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice one mate - thanks for the tip

[@cjackfly]

@@Buzzhumma did you just put a clamp on the end of each positive and negative wire and go directly to the battery? Or did you have to use some kind of charger in-between?

[@glennwebster1675]

I like the way you get people's creative juices flowing...Great video. Thanks.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@stevetobias4890]

It all comes down to the motor / generator configuration that you choose. You have proven proof of concept which is what you're all about. People need to remember that before they think that a couple of volts at a few milliamps is all that is possible. I have seen these setups produce 24 to 30 volts at almost 5 amps. Again, as Rob said, it's all about your set-up. Great video.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yep me too mate - I don't think is even proof of concept really - it just showing folks where to stick the motor if they didn't know and how to attach it to the flywheel - that's pretty much all this video is

[@DootDootShamoot]

This is great. I had a thought. What if you removed the motor and brake setup, and replaced the flywheel with a belt driver gear of the same size. That new belt drive then goes to your cheap wind generator with the magnets on the edge of it. Install a smaller belt drive gear on the bottom of it and you're good to go. I think that energy generation setup would be easier to peddle because of the low torque requirement. You could do it with either the wind blades still on, or just the bottom of it for less weight.

[@AdricM]

once again, for folks following along, if you bypass the trigger on an older cordless 14v drill you can drive the chuck and get a considrable gearing up, ive made cranks for drills and you can pretty easily crank out 12v at a few watts,. and even better if its being fed from the flywheel.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice one mate - cheers

[@Tore_Lund]

I've done the same thing: I used a 110V DC treadmill motor so the belt wheel from the flywheel on the bike was mounted on the motor axle directly as using such a high voltage motor, it only needs around 500 rpm to produce 12V at serious power levels. Secondly, I cut off the handlebar and saddle structure, so I can just place it in front of a chair, for a more comfortable seating position. Charging a cell phone with a "fast" USB car adaptor, 2.5A at 5V, I only need to lightly pedal at 30 rpm. At 100 rpm, with effort, I can produce 20A at 12V. I've paralleled a string of super caps on the output, and a diode, so constant rpm is less important, and also allows me to take shorts breaks charging only a cell phone.

[@jamesbrown2163]

Great idea!

[@tripleaaakollektiv870]

pls upload it! if it is still running

[@Tore_Lund]

@@tripleaaakollektiv870 I have it in a corner of my workshop. I still consider it worth keeping, in case of an emergency. I should probably make a video about it.

[@matakaw4287]

I tried a recumbent exercise bike that had a fancy display with multiple programs which simulated a course. It monitored heart rate and even displayed output power. I could easily produce 50 watts for half an hour at which time I got bored. I also want to mention a video I saw recently of a man who developed an Archimedes screw generator in Japan. I think they are being mass produced there. I'm wondering if you may have seen that, Mr. Murray-Smith. Great video as always, cheers.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yes mate I did - it was what inspired my own Archimedes screw stuff - I talk about the Japanese version in this vids

[@easy_s3351]

Imagine pro-cyclists like Froom can deliver about 400W during those 30 mins, producing over 6W per kg bodyweight. The green gym started using exercise machines that produce electricity back in their gym 2008, which must have been quite a success because nowadays they sell those machines.

[@cjackfly]

Smart ​@@easy_s3351

[@overunityresearchchannel]

Awesome idea Robert may I recommend that you use a treadmill motor as a generator instead of that one you will be very very pleased with the output I have tried this and promise it won't let you down :)

[@WallStreetinWallStreetLLC]

Hey, maestro, can I ask you if we can multiple the pawer with few extra car alternators connected with chain?

[@frederickbowdler8169]

Very nice neighbour and a great generating set.😊😊😊

[@paulbrouyere1735]

Thank you for the many times you made me thoroughly laugh. Even if stuff doesn’t work efficiently, you’re genius in reconnecting stuff in the minds of many of us I believe.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate because that I all I am interested in doing lol

[@rogerbarton497]

I've been thinking along these lines, but I'd use a spring to hold the dynamo pulley against the flywheel to compensate for highspots due to eccentricities in the two wheels. It looked like you were pedaling hard, so maybe the dynamo was placed too tightly against the flywheel, introducing friction.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yep - probably - build one with your refinements - it would be awesome to see

[@rogerbarton497]

@@ThinkingandTinkering I'm not able to do a proper job, but using an air-horn compressor (12volts, 15A, permanent magnet, DC motor) as a dynamo with a ratio of 6:1 between the bike flywheel and rubber wheel fitted to the motor, cranking by hand I was able to exceed 20 volts (no load) and a no-load current > 10 amps. Using a halogen headlamp bulb as a load it produced about half brightness. I reckon if I could increase the pulley ratio to 12:1 it would light the bulb to full brightness without breaking into a sweat pedalling.

[@richardharries5551]

I've been saving my exercise bike to do just that, but as I haven't got the oomph to peddle no more it also makes a good clothes holder...

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - indeed it does

[@joohop]

Challenge Yourself Earthling

[@shanealexander9952]

I pull the battery out of an old drill and tape the trigger down (that puts it in generator mode (if it has a diode blocking back current). Then chuck up anything, pullys, sandpaper disks (sidewase also) . The hard part is mounting the drill but automotive hose clamps with rubber inside work. Chuck in anything you like. I even went the extra step of taking apart the battery so I could have a quick connect for the wiring. Funny, only one of the batteries was bad as usual. Bypass the diode to run the drill, Hook the output to a 12v usb adaptor from a car (9-20v). Old weedeater drive shaft do well for driveshafts. Don't forget the diode if you are going to charge your car battery, in fact I double it just in case. I have also adapted a speed wrench for the chuck (really, the diodes).

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice tips mate - and I get the message about diodes lol

[@RoadRageLive]

Try a motor from an old cordless drill. I had a cordless set including circular saw, drill, jigsaw flashlight and reciprocal saw that I purchased in the 90s. The batteries are long dead but the motors are all good. I used the circular saw drive and motor on my first wind mill. It provides 7volts and 200 milliamps in normal conditions. The drill drive end would work well and it's transmission would help to increase the speed.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

thanks mate - I will

[@philipvernejules9926]

....a comparison between mesh gears and belt and pulley gears can be given here . Belt and pulley offer a simple clutch mechanism by the adjustment of belt tension. Also driven wheel has same spin direction as driver wheel ... It might be of interest to try a few different approaches you mentioned as ways to produce electricity from that exercise bike .

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice points mate - I like my vids to be clear and about one thing - but I wish I had said that now lol

[@zakkasprzycki]

Take apart that flywheel it has magnets inside as the breaking . Like the increase resistance

[@ryanlebeck259]

Is there a video on bearings and pulleys for the mechanical alphabet that I could reference?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

not yet mate - but I will make one for sure

[@joohop]

Should Power A Small TV / DVD Combo Bless Up Earthling

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

for sure

[@asabovesotabelow]

How does one research the "really go all out, ring coil + magnets" thing.

[@infinitelyuniversal2390]

I think Gym equipment should be sources of generating electricity, so when you pay for Gym membership you get a discount for the amount of energy you produce! This would be alot more motivating!! Nor will you be wasting your own energy on nothing besides trying to be fit!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

absolutely they could run a fair amount of lights on all that sweat

[@philipvernejules9926]

...there's the joke about those who drive to the gym to go onto the walking machine . if they walked to the gym then they'd realise they'd received their exercise at the entrance and could then turn around and walk back home. It's the social part for many folk and especially women , but we can't overlook some neighborhoods are unsafe .

[@infinitelyuniversal2390]

@@philipvernejules9926 and that is why i dont Drive, i believe in using my own energy all the way!

[@philipvernejules9926]

......it's always been in back of my mind that the quick fit rim driven bike dynamos required a lot of extra work to light up the 6 volt globes. Whereas I remembered being surprised at how little effort was required on a Raleigh with a hub dynamo .

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I loved the hub dynamo

[@creepingjesus5106]

Peloton+ bikey thing: £lots; power generation - 0.0W RMS JunkBike: £very little; power generation - how hard can you pedal and for how long? 😉👏 I quite fancy this myself, I must admit, it would keep me in some sort of shape over winter.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

those pelotons - crazy! Such a lot of money. Basically if you are going to use an exercise bike you might as well generate lol

[@Dirigibleful]

Love the video - only one criticism, you've got the fire door propped open 🤣

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it's the only door! we are too small to worry about preventing the spread of fire and if there is a fire our worry is escape in which case propping it open makes sense

[@Dirigibleful]

@@ThinkingandTinkering I was only joking anyway lol it just tickled me seeing it propped open was all :)

[@tebbi67]

It could be that the flywheel offers a better solution for generating electricity, if one places magnet there, a high rotation speed and mass inertia brings it with it. Thx for the Video your ideas are very cool!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - I am sorry I laugh mate - but the next video is just uploading and I do exactly that - seems we are on the same wavelength lol

[@bilibong0101]

Hi Robert have u tried a washing machine waste water motor as it's a parmanet motor and output nearly a 100volts

[@stevetobias4890]

They are one of the ideal motors for this project. Rob only uses what he has on hand to provide proof of concept.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I haven't mate - if I get hold of one I will try it for sure

[@pauljayschrenker8946]

If it's setup right, and you're not too out of shape, should be able to do about 1/3 HP for a good couple hours. Outside of efficiency losses, a person pedaling should be good to drive up to 250 watts of load. (One could peak somewhat more as if sprinting, but I'm talking more along the lines of sustained.) In some way or other an exercise bike is just taking a resistive load (usually mechanical friction, although some use a fan of sorts and push air) and converting it to heat, so making a modest generator out of that could put that same energy to better use.

[@prophecyrat2965]

You could even set up a system of pulleys to puñl weights wich then could increas the mecahnical power

[@breezer1788]

Funny. Thanks Robert.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@dkdyker]

Robert make a small to large gearing system to make to motor spin faster and give out more. Alternatively place a 24vdc generator from a car on it and charge a battery:) nice vid

[@Scott_C]

I really liked his add magnets to the fly wheel option. Would really take advantage of the "fly" part of the wheel.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@cjackfly]

Would the friction make pedaling impossible? I have a nice Schwinn exercise bike I'd love to try this with.

[@Z3n1tHL0rD]

I will use the one i am currently building to charge my lithium power bank in my van conversion while i am doing power hungry jobs like watching computer monitor 32 inch tv and powering computer too of course, so that will be 500watt output approximately, not much chance of getting bored either then

[@AndreaDingbatt]

THANK YOU! I need this!! :)X

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

You are so welcome!

[@pulesjet]

Well Damn. This one is going to look Store Purchased. LOL Another job for the lowly Hover Board Motor I think. Using a Hover Board motor you could friction drive it and be done. I would expect some 30v at like 10A.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yep - I would think that mate

[@vylbird8014]

I repeat what I told you before: Automotive alternator. It's cheap, it's easy. Needs a little current get started, then self-sustaining. Regulated to 13.5V output regardless of speed, and can be modified to alter this voltage.

[@captainprototype187]

VylBird. Interesting, Ill have to look unto that. sounds super useful for off grid living!

[@vylbird8014]

@@captainprototype187 The typical automotive alternator has a rather nice regulation system. The power is generated on the stator, with the field produced from an electromagnet on the rotor. That means the slip rings only need to carry the field coil current, which is much less than the generated current in the stator. The alternator also includes electronics, the FRM, that monitors the output voltage and adjusts the field coil current to maintain constant output voltage. Older alternators have a simple analog VRM hard-wred for the 13.5V needed to charge the battery. Newer ones are digital and tie into the ECU, which can make repurposing them trickier. But you can always remove the VRM (with a large hammer, sometimes) and build your own, which allows you to set any output voltage you want within reason. The field coil consumes some power to run, so the alternator won't actually start without a source of bootstrap power.

[@paulricelli5520]

🟥 Starts at 1:40

[@daniellow426]

You reminded me of some homesteaders that converted a washing machine to run off of a bicycle. It was a mechanical connection not electric. I had the thought that in effect they were, in replacing the motor and electrics, making a far more efficient use of their peddling. I don't know exactly how to say it but it seems to me that if we can replace that electric 'Work' with mech. 'Work' then we should be able to convert that peddling 'Work' into that same electrical energy. Shouldn't we? I see in this and other videos that this does not seem to be the case. I do not get why that is.

[@rishi3186]

Great Video Sir.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Glad you liked it!

[@Mailianb]

Now what if you slapped magnets all over it? Wouldnt it produce more?

[@loisquinn-ortiz8669]

Always fun to watch

[@BoB4jjjjs]

By the time you charged a battery you would be knackered! Yeah, I know it is just to demo the idea!

[@lnwolf41]

I do understand that all these videos are proof of concept projects, Would of been nice if you had built is so it could of got at least 5 watts out of this contraption, instead of 1/100th of a watt.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Mate this is not a proof of concept - it's really just a bicycle dynamo - Most folks who asked to see this where only interested in where to attach the dynamo - and that is pretty much what I did. To be honest and I don't mean to be rude here - so please forgive me if it comes across that way but, basically, if you want to have a 5 watt version - build one all I am showing is how easy it is to do just that - the rest is up to you really

[@reeread]

I love it, thank you

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I'm glad you like it

[@chipheadnet]

Your getting absolutely nowhere with that bike :P

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I had better pedal harder lol

[@CrownJewelzMusicGroup]

Do the coil version..pls

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

or you could

[@CrownJewelzMusicGroup]

@@ThinkingandTinkering i dont understand makin coils m8 ur the champion

[@fallknight5405]

Man you giggle a lot lol

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I find the world a funny place lol

[@111kenni]

get fit so you can watch eastenders - what a concept!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - indeed

[@olivierroy1301]

I would like to see a vesion of it with some axial motor if you have time, to improve the efficiency. If not then it's the simplest way to have a working geberator, nice. Only I wonder what it would be for someone who don't have access to a working motor. Maybe he would use an old bicycle and some copper coil he found in a tv, with microwave oven magnets. . That would be interesting. ***Edit*** I didn't watch until the end before I comment... But my point is it is not for everyone and the diy axial motor would be. And there's an electronic part that is interesting for someone who needs to do such a project.

[@stevetobias4890]

Putting the magnets in an alternating N S N S N etc around the flywheel and using small but heavily wound coils on a ring that sits a few millimetres from the magnets and connected in a 3 phase configuration before being rectified and capacitor smoothed (using a supercap). This is what I am working on using a coil wheel and magnet ring I got from a front loader washing machine.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

mate - you make a good point and have me thinking for sure

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

curses - I want one of those! - where did you get it?

[@twestgard2]

Wasn’t this a scene from Soylent Green?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I believe it was

[@twestgard2]

Robert Murray-Smith The good news is, if the power grid collapses, not only will we have something to eat, we’ll have power to cook it.

[@minutemanhomestead7214]

great work keep it up

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@dgpreston5593]

Twizzy: "Wash Me"

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol

[@JackLv.0]

I've thought about this,thank you for make it in action

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@blueschild61]

That looks like the most uncomfortable riding position I've ever seen.

[@ralphsammis7330]

Please be more inclusive/technical w/ battery projects. Very excited/motivated by zinc/bromine, asked you about sequestration = go look at previous video? Could not definitively find that video. Stuck!

[@dgpreston5593]

Ralph, I may be able to help. ZnI here, not ZnBr, but similar....

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

ok mate

[@cottonwoodcreative]

i would replace the tensioner with the generator fab an adjustable mount and be done it would look alot better than this

[@junglegymbali5136]

I gotta take a car generator

[@colleenforrest7936]

Ah... You're going to do with that bike what I think you're going to do with that bike, aren't you?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - well I guess that depends on what it is you think I am going to do lol

[@xspotbox4400]

All electric and fitness bicycles could be used for electricity generation, perhaps they can't power large batteries, but they sure could charge mobile devices. It's mentality of people and industry, manufacturers just don't want to bother with practical applications like that because there's a grid everywhere and electricity is very cheap. But this is not rational, pedaling like that should produce 100 watts, that's enough energy to power night lights for entire night or it's simply vested as heat.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

as a manufactured product that would be awesome - but they don't do it - so it is up to us I think

[@Scott_C]

It bothers me that power generation isn't an inherent option when purchasing one of these. The Peleton could power itself, don't use it and it won't work. 😄

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

absolutely mate - it would be a piece of cake to include it

[@Scott_C]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Especially since those Peleton bikes cost $2K USD . 🤑😕

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

@@Scott_C really - good lord!

[@colouroboros9993]

but you wouldn't be able to run a bike with that amount of energy

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

no you wouldn't lol

[@captainprototype187]

A Disappointing 1.5 volts. Never seen such an inefficient motor. there are matchbox sizes motor that deliver 12 to 24 v easily. I am holding on to a few bicycle dynamos when I happen to see them. Anybody know an interesting project for them, maybe connect them together in a wind project?

[@JackLv.0]

No energy wasted

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

for sure

[@hissst69]

Lol, great fun :)

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

for sure mate

[@samanthajayjones2645]

Almost as good as the one from 'Soylent Green'. Hey dont get no ideas about recycling people. You are not allowed to do that yet.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

curses they would make excellent batteries lol

[@tripleaaakollektiv870]

can i exchange you for my uncle

[@hirnlager]

lol fail xD

[@stevetobias4890]

No it is proof of concept. Rob only uses the motors he has on hand. As he said, magnets and coils would work also. There are motors that would work much better and more efficiently but Rob doesn't have them on hand as he has said in previous video's

[@hirnlager]

@@stevetobias4890 its fun ;)

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - I might see if I can get a better motor for sure