<div dir="ltr"><div>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. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Brad<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 3:11\u202fPM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">As I recall from pushing the "wayback" button, Backwoods and Real Goods <br>
used to sell something like that in the 90s. I would only see a <br>
pyschological benefit, based on the system size. I recall that the <br>
charge rate was less than 50 watts, so its really not going to be worth <br>
wiring into the system. Maybe she could do what several folks have <br>
done: power a TV while you pedal. Anyway, here is device that might do <br>
it: <a href="https://www.econvergence.net/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.econvergence.net/</a><br>
<br>
Ray Walters<br>
Remote Solar<br>
<br>
On 3/16/2023 3:58 PM, Larry Brown via RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
> Wrenches<br>
><br>
> I have a client that we did an off grid system for about 4 years ago<br>
> The system is performing well<br>
> The client would like to keep charged her batteries in the winter with her stationary bicycle operating a small generator<br>
> 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<br>
> When the batteries are fully charged she turns the breaker back off<br>
> No need for any back up other times of year<br>
> That is the only use of the grid<br>
><br>
> Her request was to be off grid<br>
> This set up eliminated the need for her to have a generator for winter low light conditions<br>
> So far all is working as designed<br>
> But there is talk of adding a gas generator so that if the grid is down, there is a back up available<br>
> <br>
> The system has 16- AGM Concorde SunXtener Batteries configured in 2 strings of 8 batteries per string<br>
> They are PVX 3050T 6 volt batteries operating at 48VDC<br>
> They are charged from the PV Array by 2- Schneider Conext MPPT 80 600 Charge Controllers<br>
> The system has a Schneider Conext XW+ 5548 Single Inverter<br>
><br>
> Any thoughts or ideas of what equipment can be matched with a stationary bicycle that might give a trickle charge to the battery bank<br>
> Anyone ever played with setting this up?<br>
> She wants to try this out and see what is possible<br>
> Get some winter exercise and perhaps keep the batteries as close to full without using the grid or a back up gas generator<br>
><br>
> All suggestions welcome<br>
><br>
> Thanks<br>
> Larry<br>
><br>
> Larry Brown<br>
> Sun Mountain<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance<br>
><br>
> Pay optional member dues here: <a href="http://re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://re-wrenches.org</a><br>
><br>
> List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
><br>
> Change listserver email address & settings:<br>
> <a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br>
><br>
> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:<br>
> <a href="https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/</a><br>
> <a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br>
><br>
> List rules & etiquette:<br>
> <a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br>
><br>
> Check out or update participant bios:<br>
> <a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance<br>
<br>
Pay optional member dues here: <a href="http://re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
Change listserver email address & settings:<br>
<a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:<br>
<a href="https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
List rules & etiquette:<br>
<a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br>
<br>
Check out or update participant bios:<br>
<a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div>