We got asked to provide a pedal powered cinema for the University of Southampton freshers week. In collaboration with Matt Little from Bespoke Gear we set up an 8 bike system which charged batteries and powered a projector, amplifier and inflatable screen. The students chose the film Back to the Future which seemed a fitting selection given Matt’s new invention of a “mega-box” which contained all the electronics and batteries in a single ex-military flight case!
The system worked really well – on average 4 bikes were being pedaled the whole time and during the course of a 90 minute film and a few other shorts (including this wonderful example of a pedal powered toaster!) we generated just over 2kWh which comfortably ran a projector and screen large enough for around 60 people.