These guys are amazing! They have used one of our Bike Power Generators, turned it upside down and attached it to the front wheel of the bike. The bike is pulling a sound system that is also charge with a solar panel. They are based in Copenhagen.

We would love to see our Bike and Human Power Generators at work in your lives. We are interested in the story of how you have integrated human power into your day to day life. Whether you depend on human power to run a radio in a remote station or if it’s just for exercise, we would love to see it and post it to our website ( with your permission).

We received this photo from customer Rob Hagenouw in Amsterdam who used these Bike Power Generators to power a race track. Each person pedalling could control one of the cars on the track and try to have their car win the lap. The city of Amsterdam sponsors a day a year where it is forbidden to drive your car within certain areas. Having an interactive human power event helps to educate and entertain the public.

http://robhagenouw.blogspot.com/

The relationship between voltage regulation and variable DC power systems is an important subject.  It can make or break certain applications.  If too much voltage is delivered to an appliance or a battery,  there will be damage or failure.  A good example of this is if a 12V lightbulb is hit with 30 V,  it will be destroyed.   There are effective ways to monitor the output of any generator ( voltmeter or multimeter) and damage can be avoided with diligence.  However, there are applications when the power source is unattended and faith must be put in the steady function of a voltage regulator.

There are two main types of voltage regulators used with our human power systems or straight dc generators in various applications.  One is our own “series type” regulator.  It will accept input voltages of up to 80 volts and will regulate the output voltage so as not to exceed 15 volts, ideal for charging 12 volt batteries.  It is rated for a maximum of 10A.  This type of voltage regulation circuit uses a zener regulated series Darlington transistor, in which excess power is dissipated as heat.  This regulator must be securely mounted on a heat sink with adequate thermal conductivity if it is to be operated near the maximum rating or if there is a large voltage differential.

The other option is a charge controller that diverts excess voltage over to a heater or some other dump load.  The charge controller often has a charging algorithm that will maximize battery life.  A good company to look at is www.flexcharge.com.  Their model NC25A is a very good unit that we have used with success many times.

What is the benefit of using Windstream’s 12V Voltage Regulator over a charge controller? The most significant difference is that our voltage regulator provides a consistant load.  A charge controller will lift the load or divert it, making the resistance inconsistant.  Depending on your intended use, this varying resistance may pose substantial concerns, particularly in wind or human power applications.