Bike Generator

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Objective

To design and build a series of human-powered generators, making use of conventional bicycles and some sustainable leg-power. Our eventual goal is to have an array of up to twenty generators that can be pedaled simultaneously to power any type of electrical device.

The generators will be used for various initiatives, including:

Demonstrations and fund raising

pledge drives (pedal away a ton of CO2)

pancake cook-offs (power some electrical griddles)

Canada day events (power the sound system for a concert)

Sustainable movie night, etc...

Contents
1 Objective
2 The Plan - Spring 2011
3 Updates - project status and updates from each meeting
4 Documentation - documents and information on our components, product specification sheets and other work
5 Requirements:
6 Images:

The Plan - Spring 2011

Updates - project status and updates from each meeting

Documentation - documents and information on our components, product specification sheets and other work

Requirements:

reproducible

chea

available materials

mountain bike frame?

steel (easier to weld, if necessary)

easily available, cheap

multiple bikes to power something for demonstration (want to draw a crowd)

music for live band?

amp for electric guitar and microphone

bouncy castle

basically a fan... might allow variable input

http://www.kwjumpythings.com/

requires a "regular 15A outlet"

portable?

Images:

Links:

David Butcher's Pedaled Power Generator

This guy says it all when it comes to both being realistic and reaching for the top when it comes to bicycle generators:

classic design, uses a belt and vehicle alternator with built in rectifier

How to Make a Cycle Powered Generator

Practical design guide, not step-by-step directions

The Pedal-A-Watt Stationary Bike Power Generator

Bike generator retailer, has some useful stats
DIY plans for ~$50 (no welding required, just wrench, screwdriver and drill, includes suppliers parts list)