Cycle Power, Part II: Power your Home with a Bicycle Generator

(Page 3 of 3)

March/April 1981
By the Mother Earth News Editors 
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Parents—such as the folks mentioned in this issue's Energy Flashes column—who wish to limit their children's television time by making the youngsters produce the electricity for the tube should know that our unit will require roughly a minute's pedaling for every two minutes of watching a small 25-watt, 12-volt TV. (Note: The generating must be done beforehand and the electricity stored in the battery, since the power surges that are produced by erratic pedaling will disturb the television's picture and can be damaging to its electronic components.)

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A wide variety of 12-volt appliances (we used auto cigarette lighter plugs to avoid mixing low voltage and AC devices) can be served by the bicycle generator and battery setup. And the storage capacity of the cells will actually allow you to operate equipment—for limited periods—that draws more than you're able to produce. But remember, every watt that's removed from the battery will eventually have to be replaced, and the use of a power-hungry 1,200-watt tool or appliance for one hour will necessitate at least 20 total hours of pedaling to restore the battery's charge.

Despite its limitations, a bicycle generator can be a practical addition to an energy-conserving household. After all, it's not uncommon for people to spend hours pedaling an exercise bicycle that produces nothing but heat through friction ... why not have your workout and generate usable electricity at the same time?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information on ordering back issues — including MOTHER NO. 67. which featured the instructions for building our cycle-power chassis — appears on page 148.

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