DIY Bicycle Electrical Generator - $100 Build Cost! Up to 24 AMPS!!!

In this video I build an off-grid human powered bicycle based electrical generator for a good friend and avid cyclist. This is built using the latest 3 phase technology and all for under $100 including the new and used parts. This is truly the most efficient way a human can produce electric power.
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Instagram - @Downstater_ADV

[@RobertShrimpton]

Nice project! And useful information, particularly the availability of cheap hoverboard motors, and the final power output of this machine. So to summarize: "normal pace" was 4 to 6 Amps at around 13 Volts (from the display shown around 16:42), which is 50 to 80 Watts. That's around the "normal output" (not peak output) of a single 100 Watt solar panel. Using this setup, it would take about 20 hours of cycling to produce 1 kWh (Kilowatt=Hour) of energy. For reference, 1 kWh costs from 10 to 25 cents in the USA currently (August 2023). That 1 kWh could power a 1000 Watt microwave oven for 1 hour, a typical 100 Watt TV for 10 hours, or a single 20 Watt lightbulb for 50 hours.

[@brewdude5284]

how would you use this set up to charge a battery? would you have to convert it to dc using a rectifier, and then go through a charge controller? @RobertShrimpton

[@TrianglePants]

That and/or an inverter, probably. (not an electrician)

[@larrygormanslo]

Question 4 amps at what voltage? (12 or ?) If 12v then 48 watts (modest) Suggestion: Drive with a chain (chains are highly efficient). Friction = power loss (via generating heat). I’d bet half of you power is being lost to friction.

[@shmayazuggot8558]

This is what every parent needs. Children need to peddle charge their phones and Xbox’s to continue using them :)

[@ronaldclobes9340]

I picked up an exercise bike along the road yesterday with this same thought in mind. Plug the TV and tablets into this and then give them unlimited screen time! They may as well appreciate what a bargain grid power is.

[@Tjensen999]

Replace the front wheel with some sort of Fly Wheel, and you'll be golden.

[@brewdude5284]

How would you go about attaching this to a solar charge controller? I'm probably showing my ignorance on this one.

[@NoNonsenseKnowHow]

Awesome video man! That old Murry is bada**. 1.21 gigawatts lol

[@apistosig4173]

Concept - 100% - build, hmmm - fab idea - thanks for sharing. I would have mounted the generator "beneath" and at "rear" of the cycle wheel instead of in front.

[@arsenioegoytorogiguinat2826]

he mounted it in a exercise bike so thier is no rear cycle wheel

[@kalebproductions9316]

How long would you have to do this at a sustainable pace in order to fully charge a given battery and what can you do with that much?

[@erikbrage6441]

Springs are a bit scary should they snap, I was thinking of a mount that auto-tightens from the wheel motion kinda like these friction ebike motors but the other way around

[@adddude7524]

I assume anyone talking about amps instead of watts is just very immersed in 12V infrastructure. So that would be 4 to 6 amps at 12 volts you are talking about?

[@downstateradv]

Moreso it's just common verbiage that an audience can understand. I spent years designing mobile off grid systems for the military. Well versed to say the least but I have to cater to the audience to a degree. Yes 12v output to the battery after the cc does its job.

[@adddude7524]

@@downstateradv Yeah, that's what I meant - thanks!

[@TheKlink]

Always though a rowing machine made more sense

[@MyNathanking]

Amperage is totally irrelevant. What is totally relevant is the total power output expressed in watts.

[@mikkihintikka7273]

you can calculate it. 24amps in 12volt system is 288watts

[@RobertShrimpton]

A "normal pace" was 4 to 6 Amps at around 13 Volts (from the display shown around 16:42), which is 50 to 80 Watts.

[@jamespowell3056]

1:53 yea i dont think many people are willing to do the leg work and not many are in the know how let a lone good with there hands

[@faisalm2297]

Plz share results: how much watt/hr generated in a 20 minutes bicycle spin.

[@johnbudwick856]

If you put more than one motor will it double the power output?

[@bryanflores6747]

not likely, the resistance from a second motor would use up the rotational energy, so the total output might actually decrease from the extra energy needed to spin multiple motors

[@ConnieConnie824]

Hi, I was wondering if you had a parts list for this build?

[@downstateradv]

Hey Connie, I do not but the descriptions in the video will get you pretty close. Lots of brand options etc.

[@ConnieConnie824]

@DownstaterADV Thank you, I'll take a closer look at the description 👍🏻😊

[@camor4play]

Too much intro

[@arleatirfystack8832]

Best bike generator I've seen on youtube so far and only 8k views. I don't understand. Thanks a lot anyway.

[@downstateradv]

Haha neither do I. The algorithm is a fickle b|tch 😅

[@jasonday8334]

You had me up until you said weld a little bit. Great concept though but I won’t be buying a welder under $100. Cheers

[@DaveSmith-cp5kj]

You can buy a mini stick welder they plug into a regular wall socket and only cost about $100. It's well worth having due to how useful it is. If you want to be absolutely cheap you can make a stick welder from a microwave you find in the city dump.

[@miorieser3210]

Hi, Ihr Entwickler; 30 Watt > kontinuierlich, sind real! Das reicht für viele Anwendungen.

[@priyar5537]

I just can't understand that why hasn't this person add any phlywheel or flywheel to this concept

[@jessejoyner2520]

Based on the video he did it very cheaply and proved the concept. When you build one you can add as much weight to the wheel as you want for perpetual motion. Also this is a pretty light duty bike. Great build and I am sure that you can improve upon it vastly.

[@TheSpektacle]

brilliant! simple, easy to understand. I will use these ideas for a wind machine I'm working on. Will post when finished.

[@JesterJ920]

How did it go

[@TheSpektacle]

@@JesterJ920 The one I'm working on produces power, not sure how many watts right now. There still improvements to be made, of course.

[@JesterJ920]

@@TheSpektacle very interested to see results.

[@sweetsuccesstrading5097]

Would that work better if you modified a 10 speed bicycle with additional gearing, along with modifying the power wheel to be adapted to be Chain driven?

[@kevinhoney1385]

That grinder looks just like one i sold at a yard sale years ago in Va. Great vid bro.

[@1REspawnPLS]

this is amazing! makes me think i should do something with my "i'm sure i can use this later" pile of scraps lol

[@kensmall4725]

How do I purchase one from you

[@galaxyknuckles9000]

How many watts/h do you get?

[@studlygrish]

Why not use a 24 speed bicycle with the bigger gears the wheel will go faster won’t it

[@ondrejtyc7578]

Actually that solar charge controller is already build to extract max power from a source with a variable output. I dont think mechanical gear shift would help much when it already has 'electronic gear shift'. This seems to be really good combination of simple and efficient setup for bike generator.

[@RobertShrimpton]

It's true that gears would help to maintain a more comfortable pace, but gears don't create energy in any way, and to turn the wheel faster, with or without gears, will still require more power in, i.e. a greater pedaling force.