Electric power generating bicycle

• Autor(es): Brito, Nuno ; Ribeiro, Luís ; Esteves, João Sena
• Data: 2006
• Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/6056
• Origem: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Assunto(s): Electrical power generation; Alternators; Alternating current; Direct current
• Tipo de Documento: Documento de conferência
• Idioma: Inglês

Descrição

It is manifest the growing interest in both personal health and environmental issues. The device described on this paper contemplates both aspects: generating environment-friendly electric power while keeping fit. A car alternator excited through a 12V battery is coupled to a mountain bicycle, and this arrangement enables the lighting of six halogen lamps, if a cyclist pedals fast enough. Such a machine gives rise to the thought of a self-powered gymnasium. Considerable physical effort is required in order to make the lamps glow, which is pedagogical since it shows clearly that spending energy is much easier than generating it.