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Wouldn’t it be better to have some underground cistern and as water flows down it passes through a turbine? A roof solution will generate a tiny amount of elect

Wouldn’t it be better to have some underground cistern and as water flows down it passes through a turbine? A roof solution will generate a tiny amount of electricity.

leetnewb 3y ago
Could theoretically put a wheel/turbine in downspouts from the roof.
- chucksta 3y ago
  I forget the ending but I think its milliwatts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6oNxckjEiE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6oNxckjEiE
- BizarroLand 3y ago
  XKCD did a What If about this very scenario: https://what-if.xkcd.com/23/ https://what-if.xkcd.com/23/ If the generator cost $100 to buy and install, it would take nearly a century to pay back its install cost even in one of the rainiest locations in America.
  - lesuorac 3y ago
    I found the bottom of that page much more interesting. >> What if you strapped C4 to a boomerang? Could this be an effective weapon, or would it be as stupid as it sounds? > Aerodynamics aside, I’m curious what tactical advantage you’re expecting to gain by having the high explosive fly back at you if it misses the target.
    - BizarroLand 3y ago
      Death before dishonor. Or at least put a remote trigger on it so you can get some splash damage on your target.
ramesh31 3y ago
> Wouldn’t it be better to have some underground cistern and as water flows down it passes through a turbine? Congrats, you've invented the hydroelectric dam.
gardenfelder 3y ago
Heck! For many of us, that cistern would help cover for our many drought periods, electricity notwithstanding...
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- SoftTalker 3y ago
  I've thought about it, but water in my area is so cheap the payback would be forever. I pay about $30/month for local utility water. It's metered, but I rarely exceed the minimum billing amount.
foobiekr 3y ago
EROI for that is almost certainly negative and it's more likely to just be a source of clogs and maintenance.

Wouldn’t it be better to have some underground cistern and as water flows down it passes through a turbine? A roof solution will generate a tiny amount of electricity.

leetnewb 3y ago

Could theoretically put a wheel/turbine in downspouts from the roof.

chucksta 3y ago
I forget the ending but I think its milliwatts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6oNxckjEiE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6oNxckjEiE
BizarroLand 3y ago
XKCD did a What If about this very scenario: https://what-if.xkcd.com/23/ https://what-if.xkcd.com/23/ If the generator cost $100 to buy and install, it would take nearly a century to pay back its install cost even in one of the rainiest locations in America.
- lesuorac 3y ago
  I found the bottom of that page much more interesting. >> What if you strapped C4 to a boomerang? Could this be an effective weapon, or would it be as stupid as it sounds? > Aerodynamics aside, I’m curious what tactical advantage you’re expecting to gain by having the high explosive fly back at you if it misses the target.
  - BizarroLand 3y ago
    Death before dishonor. Or at least put a remote trigger on it so you can get some splash damage on your target.

ramesh31 3y ago

> Wouldn’t it be better to have some underground cistern and as water flows down it passes through a turbine? Congrats, you've invented the hydroelectric dam.

gardenfelder 3y ago

Heck! For many of us, that cistern would help cover for our many drought periods, electricity notwithstanding...

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
SoftTalker 3y ago
I've thought about it, but water in my area is so cheap the payback would be forever. I pay about $30/month for local utility water. It's metered, but I rarely exceed the minimum billing amount.

foobiekr 3y ago

EROI for that is almost certainly negative and it's more likely to just be a source of clogs and maintenance.