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Caryl,<br>
<br>
And now here it is how it could look in its "basic" design. We need to
analyze if the RPM (revolutions by minute) are good enough to generate
electricity with the chosen alternator, we need to choose (or to build)
an alternator. And we need to add a rectifier (if the alternator
doesn't come with one), a charge regulator, the battery (if there will
be a battery.. that is a whole issue) and other small electricity /
electronic components. Not an easy task but it is very possible to
do. Caryl, if you want to develop a prototype we can discuss how to do
it. Just let me know (I have made many calculations but I have a daily
independent work so in this moment I can not put more time on this.
Furthermore, some parts are more easily available in the U.S. Contact
me in private if you are interested and we can check costs for sending
you one of the spinning wheels that I have in the garage... IF you
think this device can be usefull to your own idea). You will get all
my collaboration on this project. We need to analyze costs of the
prototype and intended cost of the final device. According to your
background (engineer? lawyer? <span class="moz-smiley-s5"><span> :-D </span></span>...)
and personal preferences (hobbies, experience) you will see this as a
crazy idea or as a possible solution.<br>
<br>
Other issue: llama, dunkey or goat powered? uhhmmm... dunkey: shure, a
normal task. But small villages and poor families here don't have too
many available donkeys.... ah! there are a lot of wild horses in some
areas... llamas? Less than 10% of the villages in Peru has some llamas
(but all have sheep... but I know sheeps and goats and they are not
able to do this task. Any sheep or goat breeder can tell you that).<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
<br>
Javier<br>
<img src="cid:part1.08040906.00040608@olpc-peru.info" alt=""><br>
<br>
Caryl Bigenho wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:BLU108-W40798E83494CA5CAB3D780CCD70@phx.gbl"
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</style>Hello Javier Rodriguez and, all the other folks on the
peripherals list,<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Here is a link to a picture of what they look like. It is the one on
the left.<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade%2DLiterature/Sewing%2DMachines/">http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade%2DLiterature/Sewing%2DMachines/</a><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
Caryl<br>
<br>
BTW, Could AJ's Cow-power generator be adapted to run on Llama power?
How about donkey power? Goat power?<br>
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