[RE-wrenches] Off Grid Battery Charging

Thu Mar 23 15:19:39 PDT 2023

On the topic of producing energy by pedaling…

<https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S4O5voOCqAQ>
[maxresdefault.jpg]
Olympic Cyclist Vs. Toaster: Can He Power It?<https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S4O5voOCqAQ>
youtube.com<https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S4O5voOCqAQ>

Cheers,
Kienan

Green-Go Solar Distribution LLC

Maxfield Solar LLC (installation and consulting company)

maxfieldsolar at hotmail.com<https://maxfieldsolar@hotmail.com/>

(801) 631-5584(Cell)

www.distribution.solar

On Mar 16, 2023, at 4:50 PM, jay via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

 HI Brad,

I was just about to hit send on those exact wattages, yes completely agree.

As a sort of joke,  the self discharge of the batteries is probably more than what she could make in a day.

Jay

On Mar 16, 2023, at 4:29 PM, Bradley Bassett via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:

I tried this back in the 1970's with an exercise bike and a high efficiency generator (still have this if anyone wants it). If I pushed hard I could get it up to 200W, but only sustain about 100W. The only time I used it is when my battery was depleted and I wanted to watch TV. I had a 12VDC 5" B&W TV (so cute), so I would pedal like crazy during the commercials and it would just make it to the next commercial. It was way too loud to do it while watching. I eventually got a generator setup from Backwoods.

Brad

On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 3:11 PM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
As I recall from pushing the "wayback" button, Backwoods and Real Goods
used to sell something like that in the 90s.  I would only see a
pyschological benefit, based on the system size. I recall that the
charge rate was less than 50 watts, so its really not going to be worth
wiring into the system.  Maybe she could do what several folks have
done: power a TV while you pedal.  Anyway, here is device that might do
it:   https://www.econvergence.net/

Ray Walters
Remote Solar

On 3/16/2023 3:58 PM, Larry Brown via RE-wrenches wrote:
> Wrenches
>
> I have a client that we did an off grid system for about 4 years ago
> The system is performing well
> The client would like to keep charged her batteries in the winter with her stationary bicycle operating a small generator
> Right now she uses a grid connection that was available and she turns on a breaker if needed to charge the batteries in the winter through the inverter
> When the batteries are fully charged she turns the breaker back off
> No need for any back up other times of year
> That is the only use of the grid
>
> Her request was to be off grid
> This set up eliminated the need for her to have a generator for winter low light conditions
> So far all is working as designed
> But there is talk of adding a gas generator so that if the grid is down, there is a back up available
>
> The system has 16- AGM Concorde SunXtener Batteries configured in 2 strings of 8 batteries per string
> They are PVX 3050T 6 volt batteries operating at 48VDC
> They are charged from the PV Array by 2- Schneider Conext MPPT 80 600 Charge Controllers
> The system has a Schneider Conext XW+ 5548 Single Inverter
>
> Any thoughts or ideas of what equipment can be matched with a stationary bicycle that might give a trickle charge to the battery bank
> Anyone ever played with setting this up?
> She wants to try this out and see what is possible
> Get some winter exercise and perhaps keep the batteries as close to full without using the grid or a back up gas generator
>
> All suggestions welcome
>
> Thanks
> Larry
>
> Larry Brown
> Sun Mountain
>
>
>
>
>
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