People pedal powered computer charger

The people pedal powered computer charger is a device that harvests human energy to charge a computer. The energy input comes from an ordinary bicycle in a stand that drives a generator. The energy output is the charging voltage of the computer.

Difficulté

Medium Moyen

Durée

2 day(s) jour(s)

Catégories

Énergie

Coût

200 EUR (€)

energy, bicycle, computer, autonomy People_pedal_powered_computer_charger_DSC05302.JPG en en Technique 0

Introduction

The project Vélo M2 plays with PPP (people pedal power) applications. In Brussels we're having PPP open-air cinéma projections, PPP mobile fablab workshops and PPP music scenes and DJ sets. [www.velom2.be www.velom2.be]

This projects takes the PPP to a smaller scale, where we will be charging a computer. In order to demonstrate the accessibility, we're construction the device in a remote town in Sweden, Torsby.

To find out more about People Pedal Power, visit our site https://ciklic.wordpress.com/2017/08/05/renewable-energy-what-can-you-expect/

Matériaux

- bicycle stand

- wood

- DC generator

- power display

- DC/DC converter

- cables, connectors and plugs

Outils

- woord or metalworking tools

- multimeter

Étape 1 - Bicycle : human energy to mechanical energy

The fist etape is the conversion of the human energy to slow-rotating mechanical energy. We are using an ordinary bicycle to harvest the energy.

Pay attention !

- your bike should have low-profile tires

When the profile is too important, as on the picture, there will be a large energy loss due to vibrations. You will also have more noise when pedaling.

- the fixation of the axis should be not of the fast-release type

The fast-release-type with flat end is often not compatible with the bike stands. You can easily change the axle with another (second hand) axle.

Étape 2 - Bicycle stand : human to mechanical energy

Étape 3 - Generator : mechanical to electric energy

Étape 4 - Conversion : messy DC power to flat DC voltage

Étape 5 - Charging : adapting to the computer voltage