Post #1824131
2026-04-24 21:17 UTC
The greater the flow, the more power you can produce. The tech is already proven off-grid with Pelton wheels charging a battery. Farmers use them to power irrigation pumps and so forth.
When we lived in QT there was a serious water main from the Fernhill reservoir running downhill beside our house. I often mused about taking a spur off that, running it through a Pelton wheel then feeding the water back into the mains.
In theory it would've worked. In reality, the council wouldn't want anyone interfering with their water mains.
Here's a kiwi DIY project from 2006.
https://theshed.nz/build-a-hydro-power-plant/
And a selection of Pelton wheels for sale.
https://www.powerspout.com/collections/pelton-plt
@leighelse @mwt
Replies (1)
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@leighelse@mastodon.nz 2026-04-24 22:37
@BobLefridge @mwt You could have considered a Jack Rabbit Turbine, perhaps? https://www.cleancurrent.com/jack-rabbit-turbine/