Radio Preppers

General Category => Technical Corner => Topic started by: cockpitbob on February 27, 2015, 05:06:02 AM

Title: Water Power for Post SHTF
Post by: cockpitbob on February 27, 2015, 05:06:02 AM
This is an interesting video where a guy guts a washing machine, adds a eBay paddle wheel and makes a hydro generator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0ieFZI4-6K8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0ieFZI4-6K8)

I never really gave hydro power any thought before now.  Flat-landers like Gil are probably out of luck, but anyone that can run a pipe down hill from a water source so it has some pressure can make power.

eBay is full of useful stuff.  You can get the Pelton wheel  (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xpelton.TRS0&_nkw=pelton+wheel&ghostText=&_sacat=0)for around $50. 

Here's a wheel and 12V-36V, 1KW generator (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Micro-Hydro-PMA-Generator-Pelton-Wheel-1k-3k-Watts-12-36-VDC-Motenergy-ME1016-/191154591960?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c81b398d8) for $211.  Needs a housing, plumbing and controller.

Here's a cute little 12V, 10W generator (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PC-DC-12V-DC-generator-10W-micro-hydro-water-turbine-generator-water-10W-12V/291369208897?_trksid=p2045573.c100034.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D28797%26meid%3Dd2cfff593d7744d4af3f0449a91faca3%26pid%3D100034%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D191502954520) for $13.49 with threaded pipe connections.  Even something like this running 24/7 could run your LEDs, radio and provide a little time on the computer each day.

Though eastern Massachusetts is very bumpy, the tallest hill within 25 miles of me is probably only 300' so I don't have much to work with.  Still, this warrants some thought.