I have a water fall with a 10‘ drop and the water flow is 2 deep x 40 wide. I could pipe longer and have more drop.
Yes! Perhaps a small house on a 12 volt miniature village model layout or model railroad set. You may be able to generate a useful electric current with the correctly sized equipment. I believe that an auto alternator will not do it. Judging by your question, I suggest some basic study in electrical theory. Public library is a good place to start. Also, longer pipe will not increase the drop if the total available drop is no more than 10', as you stated. Have fun! Don't get zapped!
The only way to make the concept work well would be to somehow create a gearing scheme to allow the alternator to get enough RPM's for current output. You would be limited to 14Vdc, at about 40 amps. As long as you appliances are about 12 volts you re good to go. A large wheel that is midway up the waterfall could gather 3800 cubic inches of water at about every 1 sec. This could, on a good day get 16 gallons or 128 lbs of water of force on the edge of the water wheel. Experimentally, this wheel would have to turn at about 2 revolutions per sec or 120 RPM, at 32 ft-lbs. Also, it would need to be 9 feet in diameter, and very light. A smaller sprocket, 6 diameter, geared to the larger waterwheel, with a bicycle chain could in theory, get your rpms to at least 700 RPMs, and 5 ft-lbs, enough for 40 amps. You would need to make sure that the alternator can do this beforehand, though, just use a torque wrench and see when the rotor turns at what force. I made some accounting for losses here. What could you do with all this energy?. A bunch of light bulbs. Maybe the smallest of RV camping style refrigerators. No hairdryers, air compressors, large appliances.
yes and no it could under these circuimstances 1. you would not be able to use more than 1 thing at a time 2. nothing you ran could take more than 12 volts. If i were you i would go find some place that sells generators for water wheels and windmills put that on the wheel and have power coming from the wheel and from the power company and use the wheel as your primary source and when you want to run something to big have the power from the power company kick in
