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groingo
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# Posted: 16 Jun 2012 10:37am - Edited by: groingo
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Well, I got an offer I couldn't refuse so I sold my entire solar 1000 watt setup and will be building a new creek power generation system which will operate consistently 24/7 regardless of weather.
The guy offered more than I had into it and in my location even though nearly tripple my need, consistently under performed mainly due to more overcast than planned for so I am temporarily back on grid till I get the water generator up and running which could be by this fall.
The water generator will be a long planned surface water contact generator using a simple car alternator and transmitted 750 feet.
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larry
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# Posted: 16 Jun 2012 09:43pm
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that sounds cool. id like to see the plans. how do you plan on getting the alternator spinning at over 500 rpm?
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2012 10:11am - Edited by: groingo
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It's all about foot pounds of torque, with torque you can run anything so I am planning to use a gearbox to step up the r.p.m. on the alternator which will likely be from a Geo Metro or Smart car as the power requirement is only 6 to 10 amps at 12 volts, just needs to keep batteries charged as my power requirement averages .25 to .47 Kwh a day.
The beauty of water power is you can always run a series of smaller generators to get the job done as well, but with me the first thing I look for rather than making more power is how to eliminate it from the equation all together, THAT is the most cost effective and trouble free method!
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TomChum
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2012 02:56pm
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Interesting.... Are you using AC to go the 750 feet? Do you have the cable yet?
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2012 05:21pm - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Good point Tom. If you eliminate the rectifier/regulator in the alternator, you will have 3 phase AC and if you need transformers, they work perfect with AC, while DC requires some sort of switch to turn it on and off etc. You could convert it to DC at the cabin by using a full wave rectifier. Then regulate or control it from there. 750 feet is a long ways, you will have lots of line loss, unless you use transformers.
Gringo, a DC generator would have better output at slower speeds, but it is DC.
JUst rooting around under water wheel generators and found this:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/behrens16.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRCZGGVXDsE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_turbine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=_IemePHbqQ0
A large wheel, lots of mass will spin an alternator with ease.
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groingo
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2012 09:58pm
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The generator is the easy part, it will be an under flow mounted on pontoons so it can rise and fall with changing water conditions. The power transmission over 750 feet is going to take a bit more thought but I am looking more in line with DC but the car alternators can do both AC or DC.
I know I will need a step or bump transformer...or two and as always the budget will dictate what actually happens or if I opt for plan B.
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exsailor
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2012 12:28pm
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What amperage do you expect? Just a thought, DC will have a lot of line loss for 750 feet. You will also have to use heavier cabling, which will be expensive in price and weight. AC would require lighter wire from the generation site to the cabin. Once the power reaches the cabin, then do the rectification to get DC.
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