"Free" TV

fit2sit
fit2sit Posts: 82 Member
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
First off, I don't watch TV. Not because I don't want to, I do, or that I don't have a television set, I do. Its just that I don't have a satellite plan. I've been TV free for about 6 years but my wife is bugging me to get TV since she's missing her "shows" and is unable to discuss the latest episodes with her sister. Therefore, I will be buying a slingbox to tap into my parent's satellite connection and will chip in for 1/2 the bill so it's cheaper for everyone.

Here is the thing. I don't want TV to sontrol me on the couch, which I know it will, so many good programs out right now. So I'm thinking about getting a second hand elliptical and stationary bike when I buy the slingbox. I've been looking online for generaters and batteries that I could use to store the energy created by peddling or running on the elliptical and using that to power my TV (my TV in my room, and my wife will have the living room one).

This will solve a few issues for me. First I'll get my cardio in. Second, since the batteries have a finite energy storage I'll only be able to get 90-120 minutes of TV viewing from a full charge. Thirdly, I'd have to do more cardio to recharge. And Fourthly, I guess it'd save a few pennies off the electricity bill. If this becomes a success I may look at hooking up my computer to it so I don't spend as much time online as I do.

Any engineers on the forums, or people that have a similar setup have any good ideas or webistes that sell aftermarket converter packs? Or if they are easy to build on my own? I can weld, have access to tons of car parts and I'm ok at soldering. I was looking at elliptical/TV combos, but those are $4,000+, so if I can make a similar setup for 10% of that it'd be way better for my wallet!

One more thing, I'd like to have a battery for storage when I want to watch a movie on HBO, and perhaps a setup where I can power the TYV directly while working out. I know varying the speed of the bike or elliptical can vary the voltage and possibly ruin the TV, but if anyone has a set-up to prevent that I'd love to know!

Thanks,
Ivan

Replies

  • Amber030583
    Amber030583 Posts: 490 Member
    LOL you do that your wife will kill you! Hopefully you are only going to do it on your tv. But you may just want to say "Hey, I don't want to be a couch potato and having cable/sattelite will be a huge problem for me right now. You obviously have internet so just tell her to watch the shows online. They have them on the networks website within 24 hours. If there is shows that she wants to watch on HBO or something tell her alot of people dont have hbo and deal without.
  • TropicalKitty
    TropicalKitty Posts: 2,298 Member
    The only thing I can possibly try to give you a tid bit of info on is: isn't it a capacitor that you'd use to prevent the voltage fluctuations?

    Or could you just have a couple batteries, charge one battery while watching tv and watch tv off the other?

    And from google some stuff that might help you out:
    http://www.greenspeed.us/bionx_motor_bike_kit.htm

    http://www.econvergence.net/electro.htm

    http://scienceshareware.com/bike_gen.htm

    http://www.windstreampower.com/Bike_Power_Generator.php

    And something humorous: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/bicyclepower.html

    The reality, how much do you plan on exercising... ;)
  • Julie_W
    Julie_W Posts: 4
    Our household has been off of satelite/cable as well, for about 3 years. Though I do miss the convience, like you, I know I would be dragged into doing nothing but sitting and watching. As another poster suggested, we watch a couple of our favorite shows the following day through our computer. (Our monitor is a 19" flat panel, while the TV is a 10 year old 19" WalMart special, so the quality is better anyway). That works well as long as you have a high speed connection. I do like your idea though. Sounds like something my husband would come up with. Good Luck figuring it out!
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