[RE-wrenches] Off Grid Battery Charging

Sat Mar 25 09:35:24 PDT 2023

I noticed none have addressed the question of what is the minimum energy
needs.  Is the house all dc or is it AC/DC or all AC?
During critical periods what really needs power?  Can any of these
super-critical loads be powered not on electricity?  in 1992 I presented a
paper that said in Mpls MN,  during a ten-year period, the longest
no-see-sun was 7 days. Can the super-critical loads have a separate battery
on a 7-day clock?   How is the water heated?   How is the house heated?
Several years ago, perhaps 30 yrs. 3-M corp had a Pelter-Seebeck  device
that could power a 1/4 hp motor off a furnace flame.

On Sat, Mar 25, 2023 at 9:21 AM Drake Chamberlin via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> That quantifies it. With 746 W being 1 horsepower, a top cyclist can
> produce a bit less than 1 horsepower for several minutes before exhaustion.
>
> This demonstrates how much power a solar array produces. A moderate array
> produces more power than is expended in a bicycle race with a team of
> seasoned athletes, even more power than a team of work horses.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Drake
>
>
> *Drake Chamberlin*
>
> *Athens Electric LLC*
>
> *Ohio Electrical Contractor’s License 44810*
>
> *CO Master Electrician’s License 4526*
>
> *NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional*
> ---
>
>
>
> On 2023-03-23 18:19, Kienan Maxfield via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> On the topic of producing energy by pedaling...
>
> [image: 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> 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> 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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