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Treadmill-a-volt treadmill powered charging
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== Literature Review == This is a review of the literature acquired in the beginning stages of our research on Human powered devices and a means to build them. === Human Power Basics === With the utilization of mechanical/electrical devices, human energy can be transferred from the body into almost any small or moderate sized household device. With human power, small kitchen appliances such as blenders, food processors, and juicers are simple and effective for construction, but are not limited to just those ideas. Lawnmowers, sewing machines, and even electricity generation are all possible destinations of the energy that is generated by humans..<ref>Dean, Tamara.2008. The Human Powered Home, choosing muscle over motors. Gabriola Canada. New Society Publishers.</ref> === Construction Concerns === A limited knowledge of electricity and mechanical construction is our main obstacle. We plan to build on others' past accomplishments, learning from their experiences and adding our own to the base of knowledge. Research into basic wiring and electricity will be vital for a successful project.<ref>Shelden, J, Linda. 1977. Basic Home Wiring, illustrated. Menlo Park California. Sunset Books and Magazines.</ref><ref>Jones, Calvin. 2005. Big Blue Book of bicycle repair. Saint Paul MN. Park Tool Company.</ref>Other construction concerns involve the design. We want to harness the maximum potential a person can produce. By evaluating arm and hand vs. leg and foot devices we can narrow our design possibilities.<ref>Dean, Tamara. The Human-Powered Home; Choosing Muscles Over Motors. New Society Publishers, 2008.</ref> Another concern will be in the cost and time to complete the project. === Types of Devices === Most devices are foot pedaled rotary mechanisms, either attached directly to a mechanical device or connected to an electrical generator, which will then operate an electrical motor, or charge a battery bank. ==== Mechanical Devices ==== The energy harnessed can be maintained as mechanical energy. This type of device uses belts, chains, or shafts to carry the energy and pulleys or gears can change speed, magnitude, and direction of a force.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear</ref><ref>Walton, Harry. How and Why of Mechanical Movements. New York, NY: Popular Science Pub. Co., 1968.</ref> Mechanical force can be applied using a hand crack with such devices as; pencil sharpener, juicer, drill, or ice cream maker. Pedal power has been applied to such devices as blenders,<ref>[[Public Health Bike Blender]]</ref> pumps, saws, sewing machines, even a dentist's drill.<ref>Dean, Tamara. The Human-Powered Home; Choosing Muscles Over Motors. New Society Publishers, 2008.</ref> ==== Electrical Devices ==== The device could also incorporate a generator and create electricity. The generated electricity can be used immediately to power electrical appliances such as TVs<ref>[[Samoa Hostel Pain in the Axle]]</ref>or radios. The energy can also be stored in batteries to power devices at another time.<ref>[[WaterPod Bicycle Energy Generator]]</ref><ref>[[WaterPod Tour de Volts]]</ref> Bart Orlando built the Human Energy Converter or HEC which connected 14 pedal powered bikes to a battery and generated just over a kilo-Watt to power sound stages at festivals.<ref>Dean, Tamara. The Human-Powered Home; Choosing Muscles Over Motors. New Society Publishers, 2008</ref>The power stored can be used to charge small portable electronic devices such as MP3 players, cameras, cell phones, and laptops.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20210214051355/http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen.html</ref><ref>Thad Starner, Joseph A. Paradiso. Human Generated Power for Mobile Electronics. Atlanta: Georgia Tech, 2 13, 2011.</ref>In a much larger project, human power could be used to generate enough electricity to power an entire facility, like the one in Hong Kong,<ref>Levesque, Tylene. 2007. Human Powered Gyms in Hong Kong. http://inhabitat.com/human-powered-gyms-in-hong-kong/.</ref> This is a spectacular design with an outstanding budget, one that we can learn from, but not duplicate. === Designing interpretive materials === According to our client Sean Armstrong, Director of the the Humboldt Bay Center for Sustainable Living, interpretive materials for the human powered gym should include a way of measuring the amount of energy created and stored in our electrical generating device. The energy created should be compared to energy usage for other common devices such as a computer, light bulb, or hair dryer.
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