Cycle Power

(Page 3 of 3)

January/February 1981
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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Though the various projects that you may want to undertake with your cyclepower system will require different RPM to operate correctly, the vast majority will need more rotational speed than you'll be able to develop at the crank. Therefore, we mounted our cycle's primary chain permanently on the largest front and smallest rear sprockets. The ratio achieved by that procedure, combined with the additional step-up supplied by going from the largest rear sprocket to the 14-tooth spur on the pulley, increases the speed by a factor of about six.

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The remaining components necessary for a complete cycle-power system are a willing pedaler and a tool to operate. As we mentioned earlier, there are a number of different implements that can be powered with a pedaled setup. What we particularly needed, though, was some way to pump water—for heat storage—to a remote solar greenhouse . . . so we'll give you a brief description of our liquidlifting cycle.

At the rotational speeds that we're able to generate with our bike, a piston-type pump was found to be the best choice. Though new piston pumps tend to be relatively expensive, you should be able to find a serviceable used unit. (A good example is the Sears and Roebuck shallowwater pump, for which the company maintains a good stock of repair kits.) We managed to acquire a used Everready that was rebuilt and suitable for service—along with a 20-gallon pressure tank—for $20.

Once our pressed-back-into-service water mover has been primed, it's able to push liquid up as high as 25 feet and deliver around 120 gallons per hour . . . depending upon the enthusiasm of the operator. And when the water has filled the black solar storage drums and the greenhouse's seeds have begun to grow, our "solar-powered" water pump is nearing a complete energy cycle: We can nibble on a few of the greenhouse plants . . . to get the energy to pump a little more water . . . to grow some more of those delicious vegetables!

EDITOR'S NOTE: See "Mother's Homemade Tubing Roller"

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