EnergySmart School Inventors

Miniature Hydroelectric Power Plant

Development Continues

Friday Jan. 5: Smokin'!!!

Are you ready to burn power or install a DC to DC converter? We got the big motor properly mounted to the wheel, and Charlie Reiter made up a nice water bench. At 30 to 35 psi at the nozzle, we now get 24 volts into 47 ohms. 24^2/47 = 12 watts Wow! I wonder if that motor is good for half an amp or not. Maybe I should pull a brush and make a guess.

While we were at it, we tried the smaller stepper, but it just doesn't have enough magnet/copper/steel. Results were miserable. Your motor is a much better impedance match to the wheel's power curve.

Next we attach a snout to the housing since when we go to horizontal feed, it sprays water all over. Also, we build an outrigger to hold the motor up, since it's heavy enough to tip over the housing.

Later, dudes and dudettes

Friday Jan. 5: The snout is done

The snout for the small Pelton is done except for spot welding. The rest of the small Pelton is done except for putting the rubber feet on its underside.

Tuesday Jan. 9

Wheels: The wheels and their spare parts are ready for pickup in 25 shop on the parts bench (near the tool crib).

Mounting the units: We'll get a picture of the large one running later today. The fog in the large one reflected the strobe so there's not much inside detail, unfortunately.

Those units look like they should be mounted to the left of the gooseneck faucet. The water output is on the right. Am I right on that? We just moved the faucet to the hole on the left to accommodate installation of the Pelton Wheel Assembly on the right. Nice job! Nice pictures too.