Slater
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 11:00 AM |
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Gym Power Stations Idea
Here’s an idea…
There are thousands of gym’s round the country full of people pushing weights up and down, pulling on rowing machines, running on treadmills and
pedalling on bikes. All these machine need electricity to power the digital readouts.
Why can’t each machine be fitted with a dynamo that will convert the energy expended by the person into electricity to power the machine, a small
chargeable battery would be needed to maintain power to the display when the person is resting.
If the gym has a high proportion of big muscle bound guys pushing lots of weights then the surplus power could be fed into the national grid, or used
to power the rest of the gym.
Each gym could then advertise it’s positive impact on the environment. “Ballantines Self Powered Gym” or similar.
It just seems all the energy expended by the keep fit people is going to waste.
Maybe one day if we all go the the gym everyday, this could replace nuclear power stations!
Good idea or bad????
Why do they call Port Harcourt "The Garden City"?...... Becauase they can't spell Stramash.
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nick205
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 11:03 AM |
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I think some equipment already does this - Ergo rowers certainly power down when you stop rowing.
You could also convert the motion to drive extractor fans to aid cooling and freshening of the air as well.
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Miks15
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 11:06 AM |
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the bikes at the gym i work at use this system.
They use the riders effort to power the screen.
so it has been done
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twybrow
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 11:07 AM |
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Do you know much the national grid charge for a connection to put energy back into the system?!
Otherwise, not a bad idea!
An even simpler plan, would be for people to exercise by doing stuff, rather than by going to a room to move weights around and running on the spot!
That way, no energy needed to make the machines, or power the gym, and we could all achieve a little bit more!
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Slater
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 11:30 AM |
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What about installing a gym (about 20 bikes) in each prison and getting the inmates to do an hour a day each. Power into the grid, inmates have
something to do and get fit, everyones a winner.
Why do they call Port Harcourt "The Garden City"?...... Becauase they can't spell Stramash.
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02GF74
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 11:43 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Slater
What about installing a gym (about 20 bikes) in each prison and getting the inmates to do an hour a day each. Power into the grid, inmates have
something to do and get fit, everyones a winner.
so once the convicts are released, they mug you, you nor the donut eating police will ever catch them?!?!?!
don't like that idea.
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mcerd1
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 11:59 AM |
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I'd guess that the displays on the self powered machines run at ~12v
the problem with putting power back into the grid as I understand it is transforming it up to 132000v, 275000v or 400000v (or even 230v) isn't
very efficent 
[Edited on 24/3/09 by mcerd1]
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DarrenW
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 12:18 PM |
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Are you sober?
Good idea. Probs wouldnt recoup the cost of the equipment for the gym owner though. That said they could also fit a wind turbine to roof.
Why dont they fit solar PV cells to sun beds? Generate electricity while people get a tan.
BTW - its Bannatyne. He gets upset if you get name wrong apparently
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Rosco
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 12:33 PM |
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It's a bit tricky to export into the grid from a system protection point of view, but I think you could quite easily use the energy within the
sports centre to either heat the building, pool, or water for the showers ........ or prison - I did like that suggestion.
I'm not sure of the ecconomics though.. assume a average person generates 0.2kWHr in their workout, you can recover 50% of this and there are
100 people through that gym - i.e. 10KWHr per day.
I'm not sure this would have much impact on the average gym-sized building - but as a form of prison reform I think it's inspired.
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Gav
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| posted on 24/3/09 at 12:38 PM |
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How about we all eat less so dont need to goto the gym, then less energy would be wasted in creating the processed food we eat....
Pot, Kettle, Black, i thank you *takes a bow*
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