Comments on: Living Off-Grid: Our Micro Hydro Alternative Energy System

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:59:34 +0000

Mike n….
Alternators, at least all common alternators, do not have magnets. They use electro-magnets. This makes them easy to regulate, and no commutator, just slip rings. Well technically a generator is an alternator but the commutator converts the ac to dc.

A car alternator will not start producing power without a power scource hooked up, usually through the alt light/ oil light circuit. If the “inst lght” fuse is out, no charge. Once going it will charge. In an emergency you could try SCREAMING the engine fir a sec. The residual magnetism MIGHT start the alt going, but i wander…..

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:26:38 +0000

We don’t use an alternator so I’m sorry I can’t help.

By: Mike N.

Mike N. — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:02:10 +0000

Hi Jennifer,
Great bit of information. I am just acquiring all the components to build our first micro hydro system. We presently have 1200′ of 2″ pvc pipe buried, with a static pressure of 75 psi.
Do you or anybody else in the group have any information or dealings with suppliers of high powered magnets to install in a SI 10 / 12 delco alternator rotors?
Thanks, Mike

By: Eco Ideas 1 « Eco Issues

Eco Ideas 1 « Eco Issues — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:34:13 +0000

[...] been meeting the challenge of climate change head on. From building their own electric cars to home alternative energy systems, many pioneers of the green movement are regular people who love to tinker. Take for example [...]

By: Donald

Donald — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:38:11 +0000

You know I would do all I could do to be off the grid just as fast as I could. My wife and I don’t make a lot of money. I know to start out gong green is expensive. Why dos en’t the government start helping out. It would pay for itself. No brainer. Oh yeah they would not get kick backs from big oil. we are fucked

By: Jennifer Lance

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:21:52 +0000

Lisa, It depends on whether or not you have water rights. Some of my neighbors get permits from the forest service to put their intakes in the creeks on public land.

By: lisa

lisa — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:29:47 +0000

hi thanks for sharing ! We’re in Buncombe county, in a watershed, do you think its legal to do this?

By: steven

steven — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:06:15 +0000

Hi, Just wondering how many rpm you will produce by your turbine that at the end,runs the shaft of generatore?Thank you