From: spamme9@gmail.com   
      
   On 7/14/2012 9:50 PM, John wrote:   
   > I am thinking of setting up a bike trainer to a alternator to generate   
   > electricity. Can anyone tell me if you can get bike trainers,   
   > alternatiors mains grid tie in inverters etc as a pre-built package from   
   > any place? Or alternatively if you wanted to do this yourself DIY on the   
   > cheap, does anyone have any links to plans and parts, and also ideas on   
   > costs? I believe I can get an inverter quite cheaply here in the UK, so   
   > that just leaves bike trainer and alternator.   
   >   
   You need to do some math.   
   Research DIY wind generators to figure out how to get juice at low rpm.   
   I once built a 120VDC generator from a car alternator.   
   The 1.5HP gas engine took all it had to spin it up to speed at no load.   
      
   If you want to tie into the grid, do some more math.   
   The extra service charge for the metering will be more in a month   
   than   
   you'll generate from pedal power in your life time.   
   The payback period on the system will be a lot longer than never.   
      
   File it under "bad idea" and find a new hobby.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)