Water in Power out......

[Serpo]

http://www.powerspout.com/

Worth checking this out if you have a stream running on your property as it isn't that expensive and lasts a long time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQXwvQfIL-M&feature=player_embedded (http://www.powerspout.com/gallery/) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQXwvQfIL-M&feature=player_embedded
Even a small stream can generate consistent, clean, dam free, renewable electricity at a price per Watt lower than solar or wind. A single PowerSpout at a site good enough to generate 1kW can produce enough electricity for a typical house for a year (>8,000 kWh/yr). The small (18 inches wide), all-weather (http://www.powerspout.com/Compare/#Casing) PowerSpout is one of the most reliable, cost-effective generators around because we have spent a decade making micro-hydro efficient and affordable.

They are sold all over the world by different dealers

[hoarder]

Hydropower is the best kind of off-grid power to have because it works 24 hours a day consistently. Just having a creek flowing through your property is not enough to make it a hydropower candidate, you do have to have enough drop in elevation to make it work.

[Serpo]

Yes of course that is right

The water in this one hits the top and bottom at the same time so the bearing lasts longer

[mick silver]

tag

[undgrd]

This might work well to offset the cost of on grid power as well. You could hook it up to your rain spout and generate power while it's raining.

Edit: While this would technically work, you probably wouldn't generate too much power.

[Awoke]

Tagging

[mightymanx]

Pretty neat I have been looking in to those for a while thanks for the video to one I have not seen and from first glance looks to be best of the lot.

[gunDriller]

in a lot of locations, discreet placement of a hydro generator is key, because so many counties make it illegal for property owners to divert streams on their property.

[hoarder]

in a lot of locations, discreet placement of a hydro generator is key, because so many counties make it illegal for property owners to divert streams on their property.The Feds monitor watercourses by sattelite. Bring a backhoe to a creek and disturb some ground next to it and they will pay you a visit.

[big country]

Hmm, Well I really wish this would work at our place :( We have a decent stream (water year round) running through our place with good flow but little drop. We own the side of a mountain with a little stream that runs (mostly run off) to the creek with huge drop...but little flow :(

I like it though! I'll have to do some more research into it. Pictures of "good" locations would really help...instead of just the pics of the unit that show in the gallery.

[hoarder]

On microhydro sites you usually have a water inlet pipe at the most upstream portion of your property. The pipe is buried and goes to the most downstream portion of your property. That is where the unit will be located.

[mightymanx]

Hmm, Well I really wish this would work at our place :( We have a decent stream (water year round) running through our place with good flow but little drop. We own the side of a mountain with a little stream that runs (mostly run off) to the creek with huge drop...but little flow :(
I like it though! I'll have to do some more research into it. Pictures of "good" locations would really help...instead of just the pics of the unit that show in the gallery.

Give this vid a whirl it shows them installed in a variety of spots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TJFds3U-c1I


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TJFds3U-c1I

[big country]

This might work well to offset the cost of on grid power as well. You could hook it up to your rain spout and generate power while it's raining.

Edit: While this would technically work, you probably wouldn't generate too much power.

Found this in their FAQ

Can I generate electricity from the rain gutters on my house?
No. You cannot, and you'll never be able to. Anyone who says you can and tries to sell you a product or a book or a kit set is scamming you. This is why:
The energy in the wettest part of the world, is 10m (30ft) of rain falling per annum on a large 2 storey roof of say 200m square that is 5m above the ground is only
(10x200x1000) l/s X 5m x 9.81m/s^2 /3600 = 111 W for 1 hour
If you pay 20 US cent per kWhr that is an annual saving of 2.2 cents each year.
I hope this explains why your question is in the "dumb questions" section of our web site. So no, it cannot be done.

[undgrd]

Good eye BC