LED Power Source

Just a little specificity would help. How many LED's? "Some," isn't very defining. Is it 3 or 50?

What do you know about the three power sources you name?

I'm working with led ass'ys, the number at this time is immaterial, they have resisters

attached. the power req'd to light them is mil amps.

I'm exp with solar pv cells and batterys, but I need some thing to generate power that's why the question is which is better a alternater, a generator or a regular dc motor.

which one would generate the most power with the lowest rpms

at this time i'm still testing and thought i would ask you folks.

kenn

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/42310

I'm exp with solar pv cells and batterys, but I need some thing to generate power that's why the question is which is better a alternater, a generator

An alternator and a generator are the same things

alternators generate alternating current that would need to be rectified for LED`s But alternators are more efficient than dc Dynamos.

What would power the Alternator/Dynamo ?

thanks for the news about alternators i thought they produced dc like the generator

I'm useing weights to power the geneator with gravity

that's why I'm looking for a device that would produce dc at the lowest rpm.

once that is established i can go out and spend money to purchase what I'm pretty sure will work. Like i said i have been tinkering with this for a while.

I have utilized a number of different electro mag motors, I'm in the make it simpler and bigger

kenn

the alternator would be the best bet they are easy and cheap to come by ie car alternators.

the rectifiers and control circuitry is built into most of the later ones, you just turn them and dc comes out. and they are regulated

if its pure dc you want then a dyanamo they are quite good but the control devices are mounted out side.

these links may be of use

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4564710_alternators-generators-work.html

http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/other-mechanical-electrical/377768-alternator-vs-dynamo.html

"What would power the Alternator/Dynamo?"

Peter, This continues to be the essential question on this thread.

The "gravity" response kind of gives me heartburn...

We shall see.

Milo

From what he has said, it would appear he is going to use a motor to wind a weight up during the day using solar power then when the sun has gone the weight goes down under gravity spinning the generator/alternator.

at least that what it reads like.

not a bad idea if it works, its a vaiation of the system used here in the uk. in electric mountain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinorwig_Power_Station

in electric mountain the idea is to pump water up into a reservoir during low power demand and then during peaks ie during intervals on TV when everyone goes and puts the kettle on the system reverses and the water rushing back from the reservoir is used to turn turbines the when the peak demand is over it reverses again.

Simple but bloody expensive to build.

he is i suspect instead of using water going to use a large weight, winch it up using free solar power, then when the weight is at the top, let it down under gravity to turn a geny so that at night or peak demand there is additional stored power, instead of using batteries.

you are correct about my idea, and not expensive if you use mostly scrape to build it. electric power is a bit expensive here in florida.

why haven't you tried to use the tides to power those turbines, you have a great many inlets and bays there. I think we are not paying enough attention

to the basics kenn

Other threads along the same lines, store it now use it later.

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/49380#comment523958

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/55164/Fly-Wheel-Energy-Storage

http://cr4.globalspec.com/comment/559910

http://cr4.globalspec.com/search/sitesearch?do=show&sort=textmatchrank&srch=storing%20electric%20power&order=asc

http://cr4.globalspec.com/search/sitesearch?do=show&sort=textmatchrank&srch=storing%20electricty&order=asc

http://cr4.globalspec.com/search/sitesearch?do=show&sort=textmatchrank&srch=storing%20power%20by%20weight&order=asc

a weight on a line w/ a pully

Thanks.

How many watt hours are you trying to get for your LEDS?

How tall will your tower be?

What does the rpm's need to be of whatever you decide to use to create the electricity needed?

What does your Gearbox need to do to get the rpms from the Delta height of your falling weight over the time period?

Milo

at this point i don,t know, want as many watts for the least effort and the tower is up for grabs. i see it in my head and it's difficult to describe in detail at this time

all phases of this project work but i'm smoothing out the rough edges

kenn

more usefull ish links

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Gravity_Motors

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GZEU_en&q=using+gravity+to+generate+electricity&revid=1833646637&sa=X&ei=Zu49TJ2PIpCTjAelyLn5Aw&ved=0CEQQ1QIoAA

If you find out the working volage of the LED without the resistor you could cut the resister off and link the leds in series so the voltage of the leds matches the supply this would be more efficient than using the leds with resistors on

it is a little difficult to find LED assy's here and when not knowing the voltage

that i generate with each experiment i have lost a couple of led's.

so i'm takeing the safer road at this time

kenn

not enough that's for sure

I have been experimenting, I have put together 16 solar panels and utilize them to supplement some of my power requirments.

this is a more or less hobby with me, It would be nice to come up with a simple power source but

kenn

I'm using led ass'ys they have a resister attached.

how do you utilize a heat sink?

LEDs can generate a fair amount of heat, and most of them lose their efficiency when they get warm. You heat sink them by attaching them to copper or aluminum plate, or use fin assemblies for individual LEDs.

If they're only using milli-amps, you may not need heat sinks unless you have a lot in a small area.

I'm not going to need a heat sink at this time but thanks for the tip.

all the led's that i have purchased are all in plastic housings some up to 25 led's but they are small.

when i get this power source resolved then i will concentrate on how to balance the out put. Do you mount the led's into the heat sink?

kenn

It might be helpful to tell us a little about you, your experience levels in related areas and what you are trying to do. You are coming across as trying to take several large steps forward while seeming somewhat resistant to put your own effort into learning the details related to what you are trying to do. This might not be a fair summary of you, but it is a pretty good summary of the way others see your postings so far.

A few more details please.

I'm nothing special, i have been a chief tool and gauge eng at timex watches

the qc mgr at winchester western in new haven

the creator of 5 deli restaurants here in fla.

traffic homiside here in florida

korean vet

retired from all and still keeping busy.

One qualifying question please: What is going to provide the original kinetic energy to turn the DC generator or alternator or plane electro mag motor?

Milo

GRAVITY

I thought some one could tell me what one of the three items mentioned would produce the most volts with the least rotation. I am scrounging around for the items

needed. I will adjust as necessary with pullys

kenn

The DC motor you're using to drive your generator itself runs on DC. Why not use it to power your LEDs directly?

I am in need of a dc motor with a very low rpm that i can power with a pv solar cell

and have it shut down at dark then run in reverse and creat enough power to light the led's

kenn

Hello KENN.

I am curious... are you dissatisfied with the answers to the same question from August 2009 on this thread? Or, are you thinking technology may have advanced since then?

this is a project similar to that older project

different idea. I'm developing something that will be powered by solar and gravity

kenn

this is a similar project

If your going to use the leds to power the solar panel during the hours of darkness may i suggest the use of UV leds as solar panels are most sensative to these.

the led's will be powered by the electro mag motor running in reverse, powered by a weight and gravity

the motor must have enough torque to lift lets say a 4 lb weight

kenn

so you need a regenerative system as used on fork lift trucks to slow them down.

ie the motor drives the truck and when you apply the brakes the motor turns into a generator ad charges the batteries in doing so th truck slows down.

these are very complex though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenerative_brake

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/

http://www.zjucnc.org/photovoltaic-panels/do-solar-panels-use-the-light-from-the-sun-the-heat-from-the-sun-or-both