[Peripherals] Alternitive Power for Developing Countries

Arjun Sarwal arjunsarwal at gmail.com
Thu May 8 13:52:28 EDT 2008


On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 11:19 PM, Joshua Seal <josh at laptop.org> wrote:
> Arjun,
>
>  You right, we should explore every possible solution - otherwise we might
>  miss something really important. However, being that Peru has a requirement
>  for power generation right now, it would be good to try and focus on
>  solutions with a high chance of working and being scalable.
>

I completly agree Josh. We need to power laptops in Peru as soon as
possible! :-)

regards
Arjun


>  The personal Solar can be cheaper, 5W is $12, but I was basing all my cost
>  calculations on a 7.5W requirement (maybe not to charge but at least sustain
>  the laptops)
>
>  Nice to see the cows are willing and cheap!
>
>
>  Josh
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: Arjun Sarwal [mailto:arjunsarwal at gmail.com]
>  Sent: 08 May 2008 18:37
>  To: Joshua Seal
>  Cc: info at olpc-peru.info; Carla Gomez Monroy; peripherals at lists.laptop.org;
>  Holden Bonwit
>  Subject: Re: [Peripherals] Alternitive Power for Developing Countries
>
>  On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 7:38 PM, Joshua Seal <josh at laptop.org> wrote:
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > I've been thinking about power solutions for the XO for some time now
>  > and I've been following this email thread with great interest.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > I have always thought that a spinning wheel type contraction would be
>  > interesting to explore and it holds advantages over hand generation
>  > solution because you can work and generate power at the same time.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > However, when I imagined a classroom with 30+ of these machines in,
>  > with children pedalling away that's when I because a little suspect.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Should we really expect children to generate the power for the XO?
>  >
>
>  Perhaps not. However social considerations might govern this factor more
>  than others because parents have other things (mainly their full time job)
>  to take care of.
>  Also, a class of children charging their laptops might not be as bad as it
>  seems. Maybe in the evening  when classes are off kids can charge their
>  laptops...
>
>  >
>  >
>  > Personally, I think the power requirements for the XO is too high for
>  > children to charge them. Yes, I'm sure something can be created that
>  > children could operate - but is this scalable and long term? Do we
>  > think that children are going to want to do this everyday throughout
>  > their entire education?
>  >
>
>  I tend to agree with you. When I earlier mentioned on this site about
>  avoiding human power solutions I intended to convey that the power
>  requirement is not easily deliverable by a human, especially a kids.
>
>  However I, by no means want to discourage anyone from trying these
>  ideas(human power) out because most of these ideas are untested and untried
>  and we should really explore them to see which one might work out.
>
>  >
>  >
>  > Regardless of if its realistic or not here are some approximate costs
>  > (educated guesses);
>  >
>  >     * Personal Solar: $20 per XO (Variable effectiveness and difficult
>  > for a classroom environment)
>  >
>
>  I had the idea that these were slightly cheaper, perhaps $12-$15. But that
>  was just an offhand figure and I could no doubt be wrong.
>
>  >     * Classroom Solar: $35 per XO (Assuming peak efficiency - Roof
>  > solar with charge controllers and power distribution)
>  >
>  >     * Classroom Wind: $15 per XO (Assuming peak efficiency - Wind
>  > Turbine tower outside school - variable output - Wind power generates
>  > the cube of
>  > velocity)
>  >
>  >     * Hand Crank: $15 per XO
>  >
>  >     * Cow Power: $13.75 per XO (35A Alternator ($300) + Gearing ($150)
>  > + Batt ($100) = $550 for 40 XO?) (How much does a cow cost to 'fuel'?)
>  >
>
>  Hopefully cow wouldn't cost anything extra to fuel because they feed the cow
>  to do 8-10 hours of work all day in the field, hopefully within the same
>  energy it can spare an hour or two more for the XOs.
>
>
>
>  >     * Spinning Wheel: ???
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Feel free to modify these numbers.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > I think what is most important is to determine the sources of
>  > potential energy in areas that need it, then design technology to utilise
>  that.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Javier I think you have mentioned that both water, wind and sun are
>  > too variable to design a cost effective system around. Can you think
>  > of energy sources that are readily available in these areas that could be
>  utilised?
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > You don't happen to have an abundance of zinc ore in Peru do you?
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Kind regards,
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Josh
>  >
>
>  thanks for sharing your thoughts.
>
>  best regards
>  Arjun
>
>
>  >
>  >
>  > ==
>  >
>  > Joshua Seal
>  >
>  > josh at laptop.org
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >  ________________________________
>  >  From: peripherals-bounces at lists.laptop.org
>  > [mailto:peripherals-bounces at lists.laptop.org] On Behalf Of
>  > info at olpc-peru.info
>  > Sent: 06 May 2008 18:55
>  > To: arjunsarwal at gmail.com
>  > Cc: Carla Gomez Monroy; peripherals at lists.laptop.org; Holden Bonwit
>  >
>  >
>  > Subject: Re: [Peripherals] Alternitive Power for Developing Countries
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Hello Arjun et al,
>  >
>  > >* Cost of Alternators -- I agree they are expensive. Have you thought
>  > about taking car alternators?
>  >
>  > You need to choose those alternators that have low RPM (low
>  > Revolutions Per Minute).
>  >
>  > >They give 12V and usually have built in
>  > mechanisms for cut-off when the battery is fully charged, and also
>  > would be easily available.
>  >
>  > Yes, easilty available. In Peru that means that, but it doesnt mean
>  > that they have a low cost. The most popular car here is the Korean
>  > "Tico". Is everywhere, but... unlike we are... there is such demand
>  > that the alternator (new one) cost US$300 each one.
>  >
>  > It is not possible to think in a solution based on "second hand"
>  > alternators... they work.. but how we will get 250,000 used
>  > alternators for the 250,000 XOs that will be deployed in Peru ? We
>  > need to develop prototype, pilots that can be "sourced" in a secure,
>  stable, confident way.
>  > Wars have been lost due to the failure on the supplies chain.
>  >
>  > >In India I've found car alternators to cost
>  > ~$100. They give about 35A output.
>  >
>  > Maybe we will need to import them. But... who will finance this ? We
>  > can do the pilot/experiment/test/initial design. But... what then?
>  >
>  > >... I have come to realize
>  > that it is very difficult for a human to provide the mechanical power
>  > needed to charge an XO, whatever they may use - legs/hands etc. This
>  > was one of the reasons why we fundamentally wanted animals to drive
>  > our solution and not be human powered.
>  >
>  > That is because we are thinking in using ANY alternator. Normal car
>  > alternators (like a Toyota) need 3,000 RPM. Then you need to "pedal"
>  > (on the
>  > bike) very fast and very steady to reach those RPM that the alternator
>  > needs to start to generate energy. IF you use a LOW RMP alternator
>  > then you don't need so much mechanical movement. There are alternators
>  > (here in Peru) that works at very low RPM, just 200 RMP and they are
>  > generating huge energy, they are used for some mining equipment and they
>  cost around US$800 each.
>  > So, technically is possible to "break" the RMP barrier, but then money
>  > is an "impossible" wall to climb.
>  >
>  > There are many answers to this dilemma:
>  > a) Modify a car alternator: add more magnets, add more "cooper" coiled
>  > parts. Then you will need less RPM. You will need to do this with
>  > almost ALL the car alternators that you can find. If you get an
>  > alternator that is on the 600 RMP then you are VERY NEAR to what any
>  > human been (big or small, child, woman, man) can generate.
>  > b) Build your own alternator: import the magnets from China, very very
>  > (and
>  > very) cheap. Locally (at least in my country) we can add the cooper
>  > coils bobins. We need a good design and some testing. Add some
>  > circuits (very cheap too, any medium skilled tech here can build one)
>  > for doing the cut off, the rectification, and other electronic gadgets.
>  >
>  > More: the bike/leg combination is not usefull because you move THE
>  > WHOLE LEG. Too much waste. Then you transfer all that spend energy to
>  > a small "flywheel" that transfer (by the chain) the movement to the
>  > rotor (that is in the back of the bike). You need to do this because
>  > you need BIG torque (initial force). In the case of the "charging
>  > batteries" there is not need to move the weight of any person so no
>  > such a need torque is needed. So, IF you use a spinning wheel (that is
>  > what I have in mind) you move just one foot and that is good enough to
>  move a BIG wheel that will move the "rotor"
>  > on the alternator (or the pulley on the alternator). I have done the
>  > calculations and that "foot" movement can generate from 500 to 600 RPM
>  > with a very low and normal "pedaling" (treadling) rhythm. Since it is
>  > in the "border line" I think we would need to add some extra pulley
>  > system to add a little bit more RPMs.
>  >
>  > >*Rule of thumb -- Whatever you may design, remember, as a simple rule
>  > of thumb, that from the alternator you may use, you'd need to provide
>  > each XO laptop about 1.5A of current at 12V for about 2hours to charge
>  > the battery from empty to full.
>  >
>  > I am taking note. Question: how long can the XO work with a full
>  > charged battery ?
>  > (then we can calculate how many "alternator sets" we need for this or
>  > that
>  > school)
>  >
>  > >It would be my suggestion to plan out the
>  > power solution as much as in detail as possible before implementing
>  > it, it would save you problems that you might face later on!
>  >
>  > AMEN!!!! Base line is what we need.
>  >
>  > Javier Rodriguez
>  > Lima, Peru
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Arjun Sarwal wrote:
>  > Hi Javier, Caryl and others,
>  >
>  > A few thoughts.
>  >
>  > * Cost of Alternators -- I agree they are expensive. Have you thought
>  > about taking car alternators? They give 12V and usually have built in
>  > mechanisms for cut-off when the battery is fully charged, and also
>  > would be easily available. In India I've found car alternators to cost
>  > ~$100. They give about 35A output.
>  >
>  > * I would like to see more variations of human power being explored,
>  > like the one Caryl has mentioned. I think it is a very interesting
>  > idea. However, whatever experience I have had, I have come to realize
>  > that it is very difficult for a human to provide the mechanical power
>  > needed to charge an XO, whatever they may use - legs/hands etc. This
>  > was one of the reasons why we fundamentally wanted animals to drive
>  > our solution and not be human powered.
>  >
>  > * Bicycle - Holden Bonwit, cced here was recently working on Bicycle
>  > powered solution at a place near Delhi. I will fish for the link he
>  > sent me, but they concluded that it is difficult to get enough output
>  > from a single dynamo to be able charge XOs
>  >
>  > * Battery -- In terms of electrical design it'd be much better to
>  > charge, say a 12V car battery or something rather than directly
>  > charging the XOs. This would basically save us hassles of having to
>  > put a current limiting circuit, and also car batteries or other Lead
>  > Acid batteries can be charged with variable current, for example they
>  > can sometimes get charged much faster when higher current is
>  > available, but the range of current the XOs can take for charging is
>  > limited. But we can get to specifics about electrical design etc later
>  > on.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > *Rule of thumb -- Whatever you may design, remember, as a simple rule
>  > of thumb, that from the alternator you may use, you'd need to provide
>  > each XO laptop about 1.5A of current at 12V for about 2hours to charge
>  > the battery from empty to full.
>  >
>  >
>  > I hope these help in some way. Please let me know if I can provide any
>  > other useful information. It would be my suggestion to plan out the
>  > power solution as much as in detail as possible before implementing
>  > it, it would save you problems that you might face later on!
>  >
>  >
>  > best regards
>  > Arjun
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Message: 2
>  > Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 14:05:32 -0400
>  > From: "info at olpc-peru.info" <info at olpc-peru.info>
>  > Subject: Re: [Peripherals] [support-gang] Alternitive Power for
>  > Developing Countries
>  > To: Mel Chua <mel at melchua.com>
>  > Cc: Yama Ploskonka <yama at netoso.com>, peripherals at lists.laptop.org,
>  > "Community Support Volunteers -- who help respond to \"help AT
>  > laptop.org\"" <support-gang at lists.laptop.org>
>  > Message-ID: <481F4C6C.7010604 at olpc-peru.info>
>  > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>  >
>  > Hello Mel and all the people on the peripherals list,
>  >
>  > I have been discussing the issue of energy with other fellow on the OLPC.
>  >
>  > I am honest and I speak directly all the time: I think the solar
>  > energy is not a realistic posibilitie in Peru: there is 100% sunny
>  > days in the Andes JUST 6 months in a whole year. The worst moments are
>  > the 4 to 5 months were some villages (located over the 3,500 meters
>  > altitude) get 100% cloudy time, very cloudy, huge rainfall. According
>  > to all the investigation that I have done (I can send to anyone if you
>  > are
>  > interested) the solar devices can provide from 5% to 20% IF there is
>  > not a sunny day. That is a BIG problem.
>  >
>  > My best understanding, based on previous experience when I have work
>  > for a mining company is to build a mechanical device: human driven,
>  > leg driven. But not a bycecle. We have built it before but it was
>  > without "cost" restrictions. It is based on a spinning wheel (I have
>  > many here at my sight). But when I have put "cost" as a variable to
>  > take in account then I have got the next ideas:
>  >
>  > a) Using alternators, in Peru, is expensive. Each alternator cost
>  > US$300 aprox.
>  > b) We need to import some magnets and assembly the alternator by
>  > ourselves. The kids on the villages can do it as part of the
>  > "experience". We must provide the alternators, the copper wire, the
>  > circuit and components for the rectifier, and... the battery (battery
>  > is other hard issue... short live... expensive). Assembly this "home made"
>  > alternator, connecting to the spinning wheel (that can need a double
>  > wheel or a "pulley" chain) can be an improvement (according to the
>  > first results that we can get).
>  > c) Legs are the ones that will be used. Not in a bycecle but on a
>  > spinning wheel. It is totally possible generate enough energy for a
>  > regular laptor with the legs, it will be easier for the XOs. Providing
>  > energy for the XServers is a totally different issue, I don't agree
>  > with the use of XServers. I suggest that one of the XOs MUST behave as
>  > a Server (or the whole local XO network should behave as a "shared server"
>  > sharing processing power... but that is a bigger task).
>  > d) Need more energy? Put bigger magnets or "more" copper wire. Too
>  > heavy to move? Change design: move the copper wire around the magnets.
>  > Too heavy yet? Use concatenated pulleys.
>  > e) Cost?: import the magnets from Korea or other asian manufacturer.
>  >
>  > In this moment I don't have the time to develop this pilots (because I
>  > work independently, earning bread and butter for daily living, as
>  > anyone, and my spare time is not good enough to attack the problem in
>  > an efficient way). So I am passing this info to you (and I can discuss
>  > and help more if there is someone interested in develop this prototypes).
>  >
>  > If we don't get an asnwer for the energy problem then we will be
>  > delivering (we ARE delivering) XOs to the towns and villages that "look"
>  > poor in the eyes of the occidental culture but we are forgetting that
>  > in Peru the deep poverty is located in those 80,000 villages (5
>  > million
>  > people) with less than 100 families in each villages, without
>  > electricity, less than FIVE HUNDRED dollars as total ANNUAL income for
>  > the family (with the work of the father, mother and children from 6
>  > years old). The goverment can not reach them (they reach JUST the
>  > 5,000 other villages that contains the rest of the peruvian
>  > population, 23 million people). So IF we deliver XOs just to the towns
>  > that HAVE electricity then we are keeping a "STATUS QUO" that have
>  > kept the same since 1821 (our "independence day" from the old spaniards
>  conquerors).
>  > We need to be part of the solution and not be part of the problem.
>  >
>  > We will develop this "energy" gadget (this or other one!) and then ALL
>  > the responsible people will be more than happy to bring the XOs to
>  > those villages. Then we, all, be very happy. Until then the "One
>  > Laptop Per Children" will not be a dream.
>  >
>  > Best regards,
>  >
>  > Javier Rodriguez
>  > Lima, Peru
>  >
>  > (just for the record: my other two nightmares are: internet connection
>  > without any VSAT (or paying to the telephone company)... building
>  > something like UUCP or a UUCP revival... and content, content, content).
>  >
>  >
>  > Mel Chua wrote:
>  >
>  >
>  > Moving discussion to "peripherals" list (please reply to
>  > peripherals at lists.laptop.org - subscription info at
>  > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/peripherals)...
>  >
>  > Chris Carrick, one of the staff members for the grassroots office in
>  > Chicago this summer (our resident mechanical engineer & green guy),
>  > will be working on getting many "ideas with prototypes built and
>  > tested" as well as "simple instructions for replicating them made
>  > available to empower the folks to generate their own power." (More of
>  > a "here's how to design your *own* power solutions!" in the end, even
>  > more than a "copy ours!" resource.) So your wish will be granted,
>  > Caryl. :)
>  >
>  > -Mel
>  >
>  > Caryl Bigenho wrote:
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Yes, I thought of that too. But who would ride the bike? Where would
>  > they go? Would it be an exercise bike? Do these folks really need more
>  > exercise? If they, or someone in the family, will be riding around
>  > anyway, it would work. But if they are walking most places (as the
>  > folks in the Andes tend to do), the bicycle is not a luxury they have
>  > at hand. Still in some places it would probably be a great idea.
>  >
>  > I would love to see lots of ideas with prototypes built and tested and
>  > simple instructions for replicating them made available to empower the
>  > folks to generate their own power. Call it "Power Empowerment!"
>  >
>  >  > From: akonstam at sbcglobal.net
>  >  > To: support-gang at lists.laptop.org
>  >  > Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:40:55 -0500  > Subject: Re: [support-gang]
>  > Alternitive Power for Developing Countries  >  > On Sun, 2008-05-04 at
>  > 08:26 -0700, Caryl Bigenho wrote:
>  >  > > Hi...
>  >  > >
>  >  > > Yes, I've seen that weza treadle. The price is way to high for  >
>  > > developing countries...it costs more than the XO! I'm looking for a
>  > > > charger that can be made inexpensively from something that may be
>  > > > readily available. It might even be possible to retrofit one of
>  > the  > > sewing machines so it could sew and charge at the same time.
>  > That way  > > Mom could recharge Junior's XO while she was making
>  > clothes or  > > whatever!
>  >  > >
>  >  > > I wil take a look a the other list and move this idea there later
>  > this  > > morning.
>  >  > >
>  >  > > Caryl
>  >  > I am sure someone has thought of this but a bicycle would make an
>  > ideal  > charging device.
>  >  > --
>  >  >
>  > ======================================================================
>  > =  > Romance, like alcohol, should be enjoyed, but should not be
>  > allowed to  > become necessary. -- Edgar Friedenberg  >
>  > ======================================================================
>  > =  > Aaron Konstam telephone: (210) 656-0355 e-mail:
>  > akonstam at sbcglobal.net  >  >
>  > _______________________________________________
>  >  > support-gang mailing list
>  >  > support-gang at lists.laptop.org
>  >  > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/support-gang
>  >
>  >
>  > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  > --
>  >
>  > _______________________________________________
>  > support-gang mailing list
>  > support-gang at lists.laptop.org
>  > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/support-gang
>  >
>  >
>  > _______________________________________________
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>  > Peripherals at lists.laptop.org
>  > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/peripherals
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > ------------------------------
>  >
>  > Message: 3
>  > Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 14:35:57 -0700
>  > From: Caryl Bigenho <cbigenho at hotmail.com>
>  > Subject: [Peripherals] Alternitive Power for Developing Countries
>  > To: <info at olpc-peru.info>, <peripherals at lists.laptop.org>
>  > Message-ID: <BLU108-W40798E83494CA5CAB3D780CCD70 at phx.gbl>
>  > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>  >
>  >
>  > Hello Javier Rodriguez and, all the other folks on the peripherals
>  > list,
>  >
>  > After seeing the creative things Arjun Sarwal is doing with cow-power
>  > in India, I started thinking of other possibilities. I remembered my
>  > grandmother's old treadle sewing machine and how excited she was to
>  > have it electrified. Later, I saw many being used 35 years ago in
>  > regions in the Yucatan where there was no electricity.
>  >
>  > Here is a link to a picture of what they look like. It is the one on
>  > the left.
>  >
>  > http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade%2DLiterature/Sewing%2DM
>  > achines/
>  >
>  > Many of these machines still exist. i see them at estate auctions
>  > every summer in Montana. There must be thousands throughout the world.
>  > I have twice tried bidding on just the treadle mechanism of one on
>  > ebay. I lost out on the bidding for both, but have hopes of finding
>  > one in Montana this summer.
>  >
>  > When I get one, I intend to try to set it up as a combination
>  > desk/power source to run an XO. If it works and doesn't cost too much
>  > to set up, it might be something that could be replicated all over the
>  > world where these old machines still exist...some probably still being
>  > used without electricity.
>  >
>  > Javier, have you seen any of these machines in rural Peru? Are they
>  > still being used to sew? Would there be a need to try to design it to
>  > continue to be used as a sewing machine but to generate power at the same
>  time?
>  >
>  > It might also be possible to manufacture a similar mechanism, at a
>  > modest cost. But, the idea of recycling the old ones has a lot of
>  > appeal. I was also wondering if an old automobile generator could be
>  > adapted to work with it. Perhaps it would require too much torque to work.
>  >
>  > It may be just a crazy idea, but if cow-power works, maybe this will
>  > too. If and when I do this project, I will probably need some advice from
>  you folks.
>  > Any suggestions for starters?
>  >
>  > Caryl
>  >
>  > BTW, Could AJ's Cow-power generator be adapted to run on Llama power?
>  > How about donkey power? Goat power?
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>  > ------------------------------
>  >
>  > Message: 4
>  > Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 23:30:06 +0000
>  > From: "Alfonso de la Guarda" <alfonsodg at gmail.com>
>  > Subject: Re: [Peripherals] Alternitive Power for Developing Countries
>  > To: "Caryl Bigenho" <cbigenho at hotmail.com>
>  > Cc: peripherals at lists.laptop.org
>  > Message-ID:
>  >  <ed60564a0805051630t5deb641ap825b2b17c65495c8 at mail.gmail.com>
>  > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>  >
>  > Hello,
>  >
>  > In the COS (www.cos-la.org), we are working some months ago in some
>  > options for that, specially with a portable solar panel trying to
>  > reduce their cost (about 60 dollars each). The device -commercially
>  > available as cell
>  > charger- is really small and can charge the XO without any problems.
>  > In a field test in Junin and Arahuay (Per?) the panels works great, in
>  > fact, in the recent event of FLISOL in Huancayo (Junin-Peru) for the
>  > OLPC project, we test the solution (commercial) between 3400 mts and 4500
>  mts (Ticlio).
>  > Antonio Ramirez, Carlos Reinoso and who writes now are working in our
>  > breaks on this task (reduce the cost for about 25 dollars each).
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > 2008/5/5 Caryl Bigenho <cbigenho at hotmail.com>:
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >  Hello Javier Rodriguez and, all the other folks on the peripherals
>  > list,
>  >
>  > After seeing the creative things Arjun Sarwal is doing with cow-power
>  > in India, I started thinking of other possibilities. I remembered my
>  > grandmother's old treadle sewing machine and how excited she was to
>  > have it electrified. Later, I saw many being used 35 years ago in
>  > regions in the Yucatan where there was no electricity.
>  >
>  > Here is a link to a picture of what they look like. It is the one on
>  > the left.
>  >
>  >
>  > http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade%2DLiterature/Sewing%2DM
>  > achines/
>  >
>  > Many of these machines still exist. i see them at estate auctions
>  > every summer in Montana. There must be thousands throughout the world.
>  > I have twice tried bidding on just the treadle mechanism of one on
>  > ebay. I lost out on the bidding for both, but have hopes of finding
>  > one in Montana this summer.
>  >
>  > When I get one, I intend to try to set it up as a combination
>  > desk/power source to run an XO. If it works and doesn't cost too much
>  > to set up, it might be something that could be replicated all over the
>  > world where these old machines still exist...some probably still being
>  > used without electricity.
>  >
>  > Javier, have you seen any of these machines in rural Peru? Are they
>  > still being used to sew? Would there be a need to try to design it to
>  > continue to be used as a sewing machine but to generate power at the same
>  time?
>  >
>  > It might also be possible to manufacture a similar mechanism, at a
>  > modest cost. But, the idea of recycling the old ones has a lot of
>  > appeal. I was also wondering if an old automobile generator could be
>  > adapted to work with it. Perhaps it would require too much torque to work.
>  >
>  > It may be just a crazy idea, but if cow-power works, maybe this will too.
>  > If and when I do this project, I will probably need some advice from
>  > you folks. Any suggestions for starters?
>  >
>  > Caryl
>  >
>  > BTW, Could AJ's Cow-power generator be adapted to run on Llama power?
>  > How about donkey power? Goat power?
>  >
>  > _______________________________________________
>  > Peripherals mailing list
>  > Peripherals at lists.laptop.org
>  > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/peripherals
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > --
>  >
>  > --------------------------------
>  > Alfonso de la Guarda
>  > COS
>  > www.cos-la.org
>  > www.delaguarda.info
>  > Telef. 97550914
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>  >
>  > ------------------------------
>  >
>  > _______________________________________________
>  > Peripherals mailing list
>  > Peripherals at lists.laptop.org
>  > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/peripherals
>  >
>  >
>  > End of Peripherals Digest, Vol 6, Issue 3
>  > *****************************************
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>
>
>
>  --
>  Arjun Sarwal
>  http://dev.laptop.org/~arjs
>
>



-- 
Arjun Sarwal
http://dev.laptop.org/~arjs


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