Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm wondering if a system could be run off a car battery charged by bicycle power? I'm clueless on electrical things (but working on fixing that).

I was looking at this link:
http://www.scienceshareware.com/bicycle-generator-faq.htm#Why%20run%20your%20power%20through%20an%20AC%20inverter

What do you think?

Sonia

I don't know, as I don't have the electrical background either, but few things to consider:

Inverters are not 100% efficient, so you're going to lose some power in the conversion.

Will the number of calories you put into the system via the bike generator be lower than the calories you get out by eating the produce and fish? It might become a zero sum game very quickly. Having said that, the novelty factor may outweigh that, or just find a convenient fitness center to hook your AP system to...

The bicycle power is kinetic energy, being converted to electricity (there is a net loss of energy in the conversion), and then converting it back to kinetic energy to run the pumps and heater, etc. A lot of energy could be saved if you run the pumps directly from the bike and mcgyver a heater from the friction, and perhaps while doing this a portion of the energy is saved in the battery for later.

Just an idea, as I thought of the same thing. I also thought instead of human power charging the battery, animal power.

later,
jeff c

I just had a image of lots of hamsters powering a big water wheel

LOL. We need more hamsters!!!!!!!

But seriously, it could be the aquaponics diet/exorcize program you are only allowed to eat aquaponic food from the system and you have to peddle the bike or turn the crank enough every day to provide the power to keep it going. Just think we could open Aquaponic diet/retreat centers all over the world to save the people from their food killing them.

I definitely need one

We'd need a few more staff around here to power things...

It would be cool to run a peristaltic pump or a paddlewheel pump off of a bicycle and use it to pump water into a raised tank till it's full, then just let it run the system for a while by draining back out.

They make a 300w generator that you hook up to a stationary bike. Last I figured it with my tiny system it would take 1 hour a day at peak performance to provide enough for my system for a day (assuming little loss in the battery and electrical). My system is very tiny though, so a normal system would probably need 8 hours or so of riding, or a more powerful generator and rider.

Now as a backup system for when you run out of gas, batteries, and you can't buy either it could run a small air pump for an entire day off more like 15-30 minutes of riding.

Hmmmm, Lots of altinators, Lots of gears..... and lots of carbs to burn off

I guess if you spend 1h a day on your excersice bike, Along with some solar panels, and small wind generator and an efficent Pump & system.... its possible.

Possible... if you're Cadel Evans....

If only i could rig up a bike to a battery to power a computer, i would be so thin

How about connecting AP systems to gyms? There's always people on treadmills, bicycles or rowers. You could even get them to lift water to a head tank. It seems a shame that all that energy is going to waste.