MotorSeven
Elite Member
Alot of us have creeks & streams on our property. Anybody here run a hydro unit, or attempted hydro power? Just wondering what the success rate is in the real world.
RD
RD
Hydro/creek power.....does anyone?
- Thread starter MotorSeven
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monkeymonk
Silver Member
Hydro kicks ***. Depends how much drop and volume of water you got enough to run a turbine, a micro hydro wheel,or a little auto (mini wheel). what are your power needs? you can run your whole ranch or a tiny cabin.I live way off grid and people use all sorts of wheels home made to state of the art hydro plants were putting one in soon. I have used them plenty in the past you can even use them seasonally. My one friend powers several houses and a music studio with his and has a diesel honda tied in for bigger demands his system is also direct meaning no batteries. He also has a lot of volume but not very much Head/fall maybe 12 feet. My system will tie into my batteries and have smaller volume with more head i also have a solar system (currently revamping to all state of the art ) with inverter and such. Yes hydro does work and works very well if you have water.
Love to chat more about it or any other independent power systems as we all have to have it out here.
theres also fridges made by sunfrost fridges, they take very little power and are great for pv/hydro systems.
Love to chat more about it or any other independent power systems as we all have to have it out here.
theres also fridges made by sunfrost fridges, they take very little power and are great for pv/hydro systems.
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
MM,
My creek has alot of volume, but not much fall. The banks average 25'across and 6' high, but normal water depth is around 2'. Just guessing, i would need a wide paddle(3-4'?) situated in a natural deep channel. Due to the seasonal flood, the powerhead would have to be anchored firmly to the floor of the creek so that it would remain on the bottom until the flood waters receded. This is a pic of flood stage from ontop of the county bridge. Normaly the water is 6-8' lower....
The power need will be a 1600 sq ft log home, and a medium sized barn. I want to be off grid as much as possible: wood heat w/hot water coil in the firebox, solar hot water panel for summertime, more than likely no a/c.
RD
My creek has alot of volume, but not much fall. The banks average 25'across and 6' high, but normal water depth is around 2'. Just guessing, i would need a wide paddle(3-4'?) situated in a natural deep channel. Due to the seasonal flood, the powerhead would have to be anchored firmly to the floor of the creek so that it would remain on the bottom until the flood waters receded. This is a pic of flood stage from ontop of the county bridge. Normaly the water is 6-8' lower....
The power need will be a 1600 sq ft log home, and a medium sized barn. I want to be off grid as much as possible: wood heat w/hot water coil in the firebox, solar hot water panel for summertime, more than likely no a/c.
RD
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scesnick
Veteran Member
I have been looking into this for a few years now. I have a nice creek running through my farm that I can get about 25 ft. of head from with only about 300 ft of penstock.
My system will be a DC system and be stored in batteries. An AC system would be ideal but would require WAY more head and volume than I have access to.
From the research I have done, I can most likely make enough power for my home for about $5,000. To make the same amount of power from wind I would have to spend about $25,000 and then pray that the wind blows.
Hydro is 24/7. I plan to do this within 5 years. My electric bill is getting to be outragous and is only going to get worse.
I guess if I do this i can no long complain to the kids to turn off the lights !!! LOL.
It just seems silly to not take advantaqge of this powersource, especially in this day and age.
This is a REALLY interesting subject. Hopefully someone that has a working system will post some pics...
BTW, If anyone is serious about doing this, check with your state and you may qualify for a grant or tax break.
My system will be a DC system and be stored in batteries. An AC system would be ideal but would require WAY more head and volume than I have access to.
From the research I have done, I can most likely make enough power for my home for about $5,000. To make the same amount of power from wind I would have to spend about $25,000 and then pray that the wind blows.
Hydro is 24/7. I plan to do this within 5 years. My electric bill is getting to be outragous and is only going to get worse.
I guess if I do this i can no long complain to the kids to turn off the lights !!! LOL.
It just seems silly to not take advantaqge of this powersource, especially in this day and age.
This is a REALLY interesting subject. Hopefully someone that has a working system will post some pics...
BTW, If anyone is serious about doing this, check with your state and you may qualify for a grant or tax break.
JJT
Veteran Member
- Joined
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What about wind power? It seems anything related to water ways is regulated to the nth degree.
I saw an interesting setup a few years ago; there was a pond on top of a mountain, with a few camps around it. They had buried an 8" water line running for about a mile downhill alongside the road, ending on a small hydro generator by a stream; then a cable ran power back up the hill.
Sigarms
Super Star Member
Funny, we could always tell when the upper Yough was going to run in the summer when it hit over 95 degrees. All those people needed the electricity /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( From the research I have done, I can most likely make enough power for my home for about $5,000. )</font>
Sounds nice. It seems that would pay for itself in a short period.
Sounds nice. It seems that would pay for itself in a short period.
Deerlope
Veteran Member
I too have a creek running thru here but no head. I have researched this very well. I found a small DC gen set that puts out 100 to 150 watts. It can be placed in a stream at a narrow spot. The narrow spot can be man made. My state gave me permission to put in a weir, in which I place a 25"dia culvert pipe to put the gen set in. The set has a 13"dia boat propeller and will fit in the culvert. The gen set can be powered by ocean tides and is warrantyed for 3 years in salt water.
SPIKER
Elite Member
there is or has been one locally for a long time (though here the creeks freeze for a long time of year)
he put his into a man made culvert, 3~5' wide and ~4' deep, used an old wooden style paddel wheel which fit a small concrete section of the channel which was slightly narrower and deeper. the creek went BY his wheel 80% of it anyway it was on an INSIDE bend and the manmade part was cut across the bend so much of the water flowed past the wheel but was about 2' fall from corner to corner down stream of a road bridge. he cut into the streem about 50 feet away from the road and the manmade ditch is about 150~200 feet long and had the best minnow catching spots /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. his flow was actually deeper than the main river bottom but the debris flowed away from his contraption as it was on the INSIDE of the corner hense heavy flow rains & floods went AROUND the outter edge and the continous flow gently flowed into and through his wheel... my brother and I often cought minnows in there using a seine which was a 5' x 8' and one of us on each sidehad to roll up a little bit 1' or so and left it work a good bow...
I have no clue what he used for generator head or IF he made electercity with it? had a small shack locked up of corse and lines running to/from it... we never desterbed anything but the minnows /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif wend fishing from there for bigger & better fish. hahaha
I wish I had a photo of it... sorry haven't been even by there in 10+ years that was back in early 80's.
mark M
he put his into a man made culvert, 3~5' wide and ~4' deep, used an old wooden style paddel wheel which fit a small concrete section of the channel which was slightly narrower and deeper. the creek went BY his wheel 80% of it anyway it was on an INSIDE bend and the manmade part was cut across the bend so much of the water flowed past the wheel but was about 2' fall from corner to corner down stream of a road bridge. he cut into the streem about 50 feet away from the road and the manmade ditch is about 150~200 feet long and had the best minnow catching spots /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. his flow was actually deeper than the main river bottom but the debris flowed away from his contraption as it was on the INSIDE of the corner hense heavy flow rains & floods went AROUND the outter edge and the continous flow gently flowed into and through his wheel... my brother and I often cought minnows in there using a seine which was a 5' x 8' and one of us on each sidehad to roll up a little bit 1' or so and left it work a good bow...
I have no clue what he used for generator head or IF he made electercity with it? had a small shack locked up of corse and lines running to/from it... we never desterbed anything but the minnows /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif wend fishing from there for bigger & better fish. hahaha
I wish I had a photo of it... sorry haven't been even by there in 10+ years that was back in early 80's.
mark M
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
Keep it comming...had to look them up, but now i know what penstock and weir are /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Is there a formula fo head? I already know that the head will be low, so a DC system may be the only way to go. But, the house isn't built yet, so knowing that i had access to DC power would change/add some things to the design. I don't think the waterway is too regulated as lots of folks here cross the creeks by laying down 3-4 culverts then covering them with crete----instant bridge. Of course they all may be illegal......
RD
RD
monkeymonk
Silver Member
I do have a full formula id better check it and get back to you its late here. Wind and solar are a bigger investment but do pay off eventually... if your off grid it all pays off. Hybrid systems work a little solar little hydro little wind.
monkeymonk
Silver Member
Looks like ill be in town for 2 days so ill get my skematics and formula later. Wow its sounds like your going to be building soon.Much better than a Remod! you have more options for solar hot water,loop systems and such. Theres a magazine out there called Home Power www.homepower.comyou may have heard of it? its the best resource for alternative energy and building.Not the only one but the most conclusive and up to date one get it youll love it!
scesnick
Veteran Member
Here is a very good link on this subject. http://www.waterturbine.com/ This link also has a Ultra low head generator. There are others out there for low head installations.
I have been looking at this for about 4 years. The way I understand it, atleast in most states, is that if you are not completely damming up the entire creek and leave a bypass for fish, then you possibly should be able to do this. Like I said before I have also looked into windmills becasue i live on top of a mountain. It would work o.k. if you had a contract with mother nature to supply wind 24/7.
The creek running through my farm originates on my land so it is pretty much mine until it leaves my property. (my father went to court about this 20 some years ago. )
This is doable for anyone who wants to give it a whirl. There is a company in Baltimore Md. that will do a site analysis for $500 . I have contacted them in the past. if you would like their llink I could track it down for you.
Or, just do a google search. there is PLENTY out there on this subject.
I have been looking at this for about 4 years. The way I understand it, atleast in most states, is that if you are not completely damming up the entire creek and leave a bypass for fish, then you possibly should be able to do this. Like I said before I have also looked into windmills becasue i live on top of a mountain. It would work o.k. if you had a contract with mother nature to supply wind 24/7.
The creek running through my farm originates on my land so it is pretty much mine until it leaves my property. (my father went to court about this 20 some years ago. )
This is doable for anyone who wants to give it a whirl. There is a company in Baltimore Md. that will do a site analysis for $500 . I have contacted them in the past. if you would like their llink I could track it down for you.
Or, just do a google search. there is PLENTY out there on this subject.
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
MM,
Thanks for the info...ordered the mag! I have yet to draw up the blue prints, still not sure of the exact location/orientation of the house. I have alot to do before i break ground......... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
RD
Thanks for the info...ordered the mag! I have yet to draw up the blue prints, still not sure of the exact location/orientation of the house. I have alot to do before i break ground......... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
RD
monkeymonk
Silver Member
Still in town, got stuck running round.Im excited for you Home power is a great Mag. There's a great lil tool called Solar pathfinder www.solarpathfinder.com a lil pricey but great for plotting garden,shed,house, solar water and panel sites. May be usefull if your starting fresh I got one and my Friends like to use it as well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I bet you theres an Alternative energy company or someone who specializes in site assessment near you,Theres nothing like a site specific assessment.You write down/tell them what you would like to do-build- and write down everything you would like to power at the SAME TIME and stand alone.. like say T.V, stero and 2 computers,well pump,dishwasher, 16 lights......What ever your needs may be add up the watts and youll have a good idea of how much power your going to need. homepower has a list of resources in the back as well people,companies,tech...Gotta go to the Tractor shop it's almost 4:30...................
Here are some similar links:
