Ram Pump Micro Hydro - Concept

[@BalintNandori]

The problem is that computer fans have a driving ciurcit in them that doesen't allow current to flow back from the motor.

[@drmed92]

I can confirm as well,, I was once able to bypass it by shorting the diode in the tiny circuit around it, but even then it still wasn't as good as a brushed motor. That was like +10 years ago.

[@dogefort8410]

Thumbs up for U-siphon + high reservoir idea.

[@jllaine]

That's a cool idea to use the overflow from your water tanks to run a small turbine. With low head pressure, perhaps a 'swirl' type? sort of a small paddle wheel on its side in an old kitchen sink from the scrapyard? As the water swirls down the drain it spins the paddles, and a 20:1 or greater belt drive then spins your small motor. An intermediate holding barrel/bucket with an autosiphon to give it enough periodic volume sounds like a great plan. I'm looking forward to the next video.

[@loucinci3922]

Interesting. Micro-hydro to run your Christmas light. Cool. Thanks for sharing

[@LandtoHouse]

I have had people ask for ram pump micro hydro at least 6 years now. Thought it was time to actually give the people what they want haha.

[@educatedoaf]

Those PC fans need to be altered to produce any energy, the coils need to be put in series. Also the circuit that powers them needs to be removed. It's tricky work to get all the coils done, but you'll get a few volts that way, though still barely any actual current.

[@darthgbc363]

I believe those CPU fans have brushless motors, which involves a tiny speed controller.

[@LandtoHouse]

Yes. To be honest the rain was on its way and I did not take the time to remove the fan and connect to the 12v motor. A proper motor and the right fan or pelton wheel should actually give us some usable output.

[@ericprater4017]

Years ago there was a guy that put a micro hydro hooked up to computer fan, he was producing milliamps, but it was 24/7so it added up, just put the fan in the creek!

[@uyscuti3590]

These computer fans have an inbuilt speed control circuit board inside with a hall effect sensor. You need to remove the tiny circuit from it and have a direct connection to the brushless motor.

[@johngodwin7902]

Heck yea. Keep it coming. You got my interest

[@rogerrabbit6522]

The cooling fans are designed to use minimum power to run so they aren't going to generate much power either. Maybe look at a fan that has a bigger output?

[@jackykoning]

Computer fans are a stationary coil with a moving magnet. This makes them AC. They have a circuit to turn the DC into a usable AC internally. You are not going to get a meaningful output unless you alter the fan internally to bypass the circuit. This output will be AC and so you will need to rectify it. Also that motor wont work unless you can spin it up to a high RPM. At 3500 RPM it might produce 12v. You are better off getting a 600 or even lower RPM motor. Another option is to get one that has a much higher voltage rating. Either way you want as low as possible RPM with as high as possible voltage without a gearbox on it.

[@daviddavids2884]

almost, but NOT QUITE. many of these fans have a bldc in them; along with the associated driver circuitry. so, NOT AC. in this case.

[@marynunn1708]

Nice job! Noticed a lot of your potential 1.5 watts was lost due to both the water jet missing a fan blade and that which did hit a blade wasn’t slowed to zero velocity. Once you arrive at the best high speed generator, maybe test a lower velocity, water wheel style approach to see which is more efficient?

[@DastardDek]

You'll have to rewire those fans to get anything out of them. They have a control circuit that will need to be removed. Robbert Murray smith just put a couple vids out here this week on doing just that for a wind-wall style wind turbine project.

[@bukidpinoy3563]

You gave me another idea dude!

[@patrickhoffmann8893]

Please buy yourself a Hub Dynamo for bicycles. These are very efficient in generating power at some Watts. They are also made for wet environment. A fan or a DC motor is not suited for generating power. That was already commented here.

[@LandtoHouse]

Yes. I just had the fans sitting around and thought I would give them a try. When I get around to actually working with this idea I will use different motors.

[@jasonshels9912]

Late to the party, but...... instead of those barb fittings for water spraying test, you can get a inline micron filter, think for a lawn system, and some quick connect tips for a pressure washer and you should be able to play with your psi some. "red" tip is what your looking for, if you like the idea theres a ton of different tips you can get that will just switch in and out, but you need at least a 50 micron filter in the line.

[@MrMrsedz]

Hey Seth ..What about An intermittent DC mini hydro set up, with two tanks [ one higher than the other ] feeding a small hydro generator ..bottom catch tank using large ram pumps below the hydro out flow to cycle the water back to the top tank with a float valve water release to restart the power cycle .

[@stephtronix1811]

This is a very very good ideal!!

[@MrNhenwood]

For a quick test, see if you can remove the fan blades from the computer fan, and put it on the small 12v motor that you had at the end. (Shaft sizes may not be correct, but see what you have around to make the 2 fit). It will be the best proof of concept that will be the 1W rating. That larger 12v motor will be too big for the overflow. (Also assuming your header tanks are at the highest point of your property, if not your loosing potential.)

[@vinnyareid]

Question. Your opinion on making a micro hydro closed system whereby using a pump powered by the alternator to pump water back up the hill. I don't have a river nearby only a spring about 2k feet away

[@LandtoHouse]

Sadly a closed system does not work. The PMA is 50% efficient so you already lose half the energy. Then as you pull power for use in your home you lose even more. The system would have all the water at the bottom and no power very fast.

[@Sylvan_dB]

Those computer fans are "electronically commutated" to be driven as motors, not generators. If you get rid of that circuit they might function as alternators, but some do not have permanent magnets, which means they need field current. Then of course, alternators require a rectifier to convert to D.C.

[@jclowe735]

Hello Seth when you revisit this idea try a single led to see if it produces enough power for the led to illuminate if it's to much add a resistor to prevent the led from burning out.

[@LandtoHouse]

From school I learned that you have to have a resistor with LED or they burn up. Yes I agree. I need to use an LED for the actual power test. Also these fan motors were not good for this test.

[@stephtronix1811]

MrMrsedz Says: Hey Seth ..What about An intermittent DC mini hydro set up, with two tanks [ one higher than the other ] feeding a small hydro generator... bottom catch tank using large ram pumps below the hydro out flow to cycle the water back to the top tank with a float valve water release to restart the power cycle. This is a very very good Ideal!!!

[@tinkeringwithmark1186]

You might think about the smart drive motor!

[@wildedgeknivesbytiagodemat3683]

How can I contact you to share an idea regarding thise subject?

[@qurenchannel]

Sangat bermanfaat

[@daviddavids2884]

at 10:30, not either/or. IF sufficient flow volume was there, so would pressure be.

[@Nikolay244]

For driving small electric motor need a few mA, but PC fan as generator can't produce it.

[@daviddavids2884]

do we assume that you did the Necessary mods, to these fans.?!?!?!

[@daviddavids2884]

at 8:01, yeah, based on thirty times the amount of scheduled energy.!

[@iloveplarisa]

Can the ram pump provide energy for electricity? I'm just wondering and doing a research study for it for school purposes. Your videos help me come up with this idea.

[@LandtoHouse]

If you store enough water in a tank on a hill it can supply some. As direct water to dynamo no it is not going to make much power.

[@iloveplarisa]

@@LandtoHouse does the air pump has something to do with the water flow rate? Does it increases the water flow rate or doesn't changes just like in an ordinary pipe?

[@anarres1400]

Hi is possible to put ram pump underwater in a swimmingpool to move perpetually circulation of heating water on the roof ?

[@daviddavids2884]

1) in order to drive a turbine runner, Volume is Required. the metric for volume is the per second flow rate.! 2) if you want to do more-than Guess, Estimate the pump output volume; by, first, estimating the supply flow rate* (volume, over time; then, divide be TEN. 3) do the site analysis, for This sub-project. flow rate x head x gravity x 1000 (to get watts watts). (head, is in meters; flow rate is in cu. meters per second.) 4) it may be possible to produce a volt, but no amps, making this is another pointless exercise. 5) * estimate the supply volume by measuring the waste water flow, and multiply it by 111 percent. divide by TEN. THAT is the ram pump's output rate/volume.

[@ST19859]

Not really the best motor for that sort of thing. looks like you have pretty good pressure coming out of it though. I d look into one of the tiny little pelton wheels attached to a PMG or something similar. That setup would be a whole lot more efficient

[@daviddavids2884]

at 9:50, 12 v motor.!!!!! get a three volt motor; that has MINIMAL cogging.

[@ThisRandomUsername]

As others have said, you'll need to bypass the driving circuit on the board. Robert Murray Smith recently made a set of videos about using computer fans. Here's where he explains how to bypass the circuit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYmqeaGllMlpgJI

[@josephdupont]

use tin can lids and make a tesla turbine.

[@LaagangDriver]

Second👋

[@tommartens3731]

You’re going to have to use a micro hydro generator like you already have in use. You weren’t using the optimal angle with the fans you used.

[@LandtoHouse]

I wonder if I can make a tiny pelton wheel.

[@jllaine]

@@LandtoHouse that sounds like a good excuse to get a 3d printer.

[@danieldragota2985]

....hi,...😊😊...

[@patrickhoffmann8893]

Your formula for calculating the power from flow and head height is wrong by nearly a factor of 2! From 1 gal/min and 15 feet of head you will get 2.8W (of course only if you would have 100% efficiency). The formula rather is Flow [in gal/min] × head [in feet] / 5.3 = Power [in Watt]

[@LandtoHouse]

I was including an efficiency of 50%. That is the calculation that I use on my main micro hydro system and it is spot on.

[@gobluejd]

Are you back with your wife? I see you are wearing your wedding ring….

[@LandtoHouse]

She ran off with another man. I am of the mindset that merrage is not only between two people but a covenant with God. Until I am legally divorced I will wear this ring.

[@OpenSourceLowTech]

Hey Seth, just posted the new siphon hydro video, would be good to see what you reckon. Do I have your email?

[@LandtoHouse]

Just finished watching. Nice test! Looks like you have plenty of water when it rains. If you ever have issues starting the siphon a shopvac works really well. You and I have emailed a couple times. landtohouse at g mail. I have purchased the hoverboard motor in anticipation of your step by step tutorial. In the spring when I start back hydro videos I plan on making one like you have.

[@OpenSourceLowTech]

Yeah I was basically using a vacuum pump, sorta kinda, in Berlin as like yours it was coming up over a wall. This one tho the water just spills in and should self start without intervention. Ideally.. I'll start in on the tutorial soon as I've updated the one for the wind turbine, which I'm finishing off as we speak.

[@CraniumSlows]

I love that y'all know each other! Big fan of y'all both.