Five Gallon Bucket Hydroelectric Generator Build Manual

Daox · 03-24-14, 11:58 AM

I found this today and thought it was very cool. Its a very detailed manual on how to make your own mini-hydro generator out of a 5 gallon bucket, an alternator, and a bunch of PVC fittings. It even gives you a full bill of material as to what to buy. There is probably lots of room for efficiency enhancement, but its incredibly low cost. So, its a great starting point.

https://www.engineeringforchange.org...d%20Manual.pdf

philb · 03-24-14, 12:27 PM

That's thinking outside the box or bucket, that is. Nice find Doax!
I'd be concerned about the alt getting wet. Other than that, it should work well.

Daox · 03-24-14, 04:32 PM

It'll definitely be subject to a moist environment. So, wire connections will have to be made with caution. But, it probably isn't much worse than a wet road, and probably better than a wet salty road like we have here in Wisconisn.

stevehull · 03-24-14, 05:16 PM

Look at the attachment - way cool. Especially the way the turbine is created out of 45 degree pvc connectors.

Just wish I had a water source that I could tap into!

Steve

03-24-14, 11:58 AM	#1
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Five Gallon Bucket Hydroelectric Generator Build Manual I found this today and thought it was very cool. Its a very detailed manual on how to make your own mini-hydro generator out of a 5 gallon bucket, an alternator, and a bunch of PVC fittings. It even gives you a full bill of material as to what to buy. There is probably lots of room for efficiency enhancement, but its incredibly low cost. So, its a great starting point. https://www.engineeringforchange.org...d%20Manual.pdf Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-24-14, 04:32 PM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	It'll definitely be subject to a moist environment. So, wire connections will have to be made with caution. But, it probably isn't much worse than a wet road, and probably better than a wet salty road like we have here in Wisconisn. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-24-14, 05:16 PM	#4
stevehull Steve Hull Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA Posts: 826 Thanks: 241 Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts	Look at the attachment - way cool. Especially the way the turbine is created out of 45 degree pvc connectors. Just wish I had a water source that I could tap into! Steve __________________ consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990

03-24-14, 12:27 PM	#2
philb Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 155 Thanks: 58 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	That's thinking outside the box or bucket, that is. Nice find Doax! I'd be concerned about the alt getting wet. Other than that, it should work well.