1.
By: Ken Jensen

2.
 Micro-hydro is one of the most efficient forms of
electrical power generation.
 Lowest Cost per Watt of any other power generation.
 It is fairly easy to predict what your output would be
year round, which can result in smaller battery sizes.
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

3.
Water is used and directed into blades called a
turbine.
The turbine spins and is connected to a shaft which
spins a motor, sometimes direct coupled and
sometimes using belts for converting low speed high
torque inputs to high speed low torque outputs to the
motor.
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

4.
The generator, if bought is usually a DC alternator
generator. This is just an AC generator with a one way
switch on each phase.
If built, the generator is usually AC, but then sent to a
rectifier to convert it to DC.
The DC is then usable by an inverter/charger which
decides to either convert the DC to AC to be used, or to
dump it to a battery bank for storage. This same device
can convert the stored capacity to AC to be used when
generation is down.
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

5.
There are other ways to use a basic charge controller
and consumer grade inverter as well. It would be a
little cheaper if you knew what to look for, but it can be
a little more complex.

6.
Probably the best build would not be what you would call
“easy.”
One of the best builds would be a large waterwheel with
a gear-ratio change driven by belts or handmade gears.
The awesome thing about waterwheels is that you can
couple them up to an alternator or even a mill for
grinding grain.
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

7.
The very first thing I would do it to make my
home more efficient first.
 Water flow
 spring, river, waterfall
 Is it year round or seasonal
 How far am I from the source?
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

8.
 For High flow applications I may go with a permanent
magnet alternator
 For low flow applications I may go with a basic
automobile alternator, requires less break over force
Impulse
 Typically for micro-hydro because it is easier to work
on
 Can deal with sand and debris better
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

9.
Pelton
 Designed for efficiency (165 degree angle into
buckets, any more will have deflected water
interference)
 It is usually for higher head applications “above 20m”
for micro-applications
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

10.
Turgo
 These turbines are much more difficult to make
 Run much faster, which allows direct coupling
(efficiency)
 Works in a wide range of speeds
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

11.
Gatta
 This is a good one for hand building and is very easy
to maintain.
 Has a low power output
 A waterwheel with a vertical axis that came out of
Napal.
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

12.
Cross flow
 Squirrel Cage design, like a hamster wheel with
blades
 Resembles the waterwheel with curved blades
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

13.
Centrifugal Pumps (reverse pump turbines)
 Run water backward through them and they can be
found anywhere.
 They have poor part-flow efficiency, and poor
performance
 Others would be the Francis Turbine, Propeller
Turbine
theprepperpodcast.com/microhydropower

14.
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