How to Generate Power in a Post-Apocolyptic World

I think you mean torque. HP is a measure of acceleration. Torque is a measurement of force taken to rotate the object.

Originally posted by ignorant_ape
PS - i would NOT want to fight with a ` knee brace generator ` strapped to my leg

There seemed to be different modes for the knee brace - full swing where all movement is used for generating... Or just the end of the swing where your muscles are actually working to against the momentum built up in you leg - bit like electric cars charge when they are breaking, taking some of the effort of the break pads... Conceivably it could even take out a percentage of the effort you put into running, maybe it could help you run further. (only thing that can get me running faster and further is a large angry dog!)

Could be adapted for use on horses! Ge Ge's with headlights and a stereo!

Originally posted by citizen smith
reply to post by Agent Styx

 

I've posted a video from this site before on the survival forum, and is definately worth looking at if you want to buy plans to build the two-cylinder steam engine

I really like this idea, and may get the plans to make one. In any case, I would have a way to produce power incase I forget to pay my bill.

Well, a steam engine is nice to have, but they are dangerous to manage. Instead you can build a simple Stirling machine from scrap metal, wood, thin wire, which runs on warm water, or sunlight. You can also take fruits to produce electric energy by using different metalls to build a simple battery from. Don't forget Windmills, or the power of your muscles. If you want unexpensive, DIY solar cells, you can build your own from white colour. As they are quite cheap, you can produce them in large units.

en.wikipedia.org...

[edit on 27-2-2008 by qwertz]

A solar-thermal design unsing recycled fridge components


(unfortunately I can't remember the original source for the image but will cite a credit where due when I can)

The thermal-capacity could also be increased by fixing a series of cheap plastic fresnel lenses onto the glass sheet to focus hotspots onto the water-pipes

[edit on 27-2-2008 by citizen smith]

That one seemsreally interesting, and something that I could build at home. If you find a detailed build instructions, let me know. Again, anything to get free power is awesome!

reply to post by Agent Styx


Here's a few comprehensive alternate power-system sites with assorted plans and free schematics

www.otherpower.com

solar/wind/hydro power patents database

tesla-turbine and steam-power articles and projects

Whats wrong with a simple wind turbine. They are fairly easy to buy and no one will get to suspicious if you buy one.

Originally posted by belsam
Whats wrong with a simple wind turbine...They are fairly easy to buy

If you just go out and buy a wind-turbine and the blades/gearbox/dynamo break will you know how to make repairs? You could also build multiple wind turbines for the same cost as a single off-the-shelf unit

The advantage in building your own out of recycled parts, and making many attempts before you get your chosen system running right, is that you will know it like the back of your hand and able to make any repairs if anything breaks, not to mention that you'll learn a very valuable and tradeable skill that could make all the difference to a community allowing you to join them and share their resources

I would like to interject...


You may be interested in a 55 gallon drum savonius wind turbine
www.youtube.com...

or

wood gasifier -> diesel engine -> alternator
www.youtube.com...

Sri Oracle

Originally posted by citizen smith
A solar-thermal design unsing recycled fridge components

I have built two similar systems. U2U if you are serious and need technical help.

thermosiphon,

Sri Oracle

why not use a foot powered generator?

foot powered

im thinking these kinda items will be best, seeing how alot of the others require a base camp an You to protect it, this lil device can be taken with u

Originally posted by Trance Optic
alot of the others require a base camp an You to protect it

Very good point!

I found this helix-based wind-turbine whilst watching the video you posted and had had an idea for a small-scale concealed system...

here's the helical-blade generator...




...I wondered if it was possible to make a small hydro-power system that could be using the same helical principle but contained in a concealable tube set into a riverbank?

[edit on 27-2-2008 by citizen smith]

Ahhhh now your talkin, Hidden power batteries?

Im sure you can conceal anything, just a matter of it working porperly still an I think submerging would be great just would need to run the power lines under some moss or rocks.... make sure that doesnt float away an you can have various stations hidden thruout the landscape, an just make sure you have marked down this camp...

You could have multiple hidden encampments, with hidden power supplies just pretty sure you would run into maintance problems, but hey if you can get it to work without much extra help then this would create some serious value to your survival methods.

Batteries that are powered up would probably be a hot commodity for traiding.

What about a charcoal gas generator.

These were used to power cars during the war when petrol was unavailable and they can power conventional engines for power generation plus the heat produced in the burner can be used for other purposes as well. All you need is a supply of waste wood to fuel it and the gas can be stored in a variety of ways like a bag or an inverted drum floating in a container of water which provides some delivery pressure for reticulation.

Wood Gas

If you want power and portability, then take a look at >www.cheniere.org

reply to post by Agent Styx


interesting post....theres a book called "steam: its generation and use" i think it was written around the turn of the centruy ive heard its an interesting read, havent gotten a copy yet

This, is exactly what you'd need:

Portable Hand-Crank Generator



[edit on 5/7/2008 by Choronzon]

reply to post by qwertz


Do you have anymore info on how to build the solar panels?