Wind Generator Pics

[bdosborn]

bdosborn

What motor did you use? I have many more questions but they have to wait until I get home to get the details off the motor I have sitting in the garage... If I remember correctly it says on the lable... 24v 250W and 0.7 amp. Not sure how to do the math on blade size and voltage or amperage output that I will recieve from it.

I used an Ametek motor I got off eBay. Ametek and treadmill motors seem to be the most popular. You want a motor that will get up to 13V or so while turning 2-300 rpm. A 1 meter rotor diameter is about the max size for blades made from PVC like mine.

Bruce

[Joanne]

Maybe you and Eddie can have a contest to see who can generate the most electricity within a specified amount of time. I'll look for you guys in the sun at IRG.

(temporary hijack)

Rocky, are you and Melody planning on IRG 2.0?

Joanne

[asianflava]

Maybe you and Eddie can have a contest to see who can generate the most electricity within a specified amount of time. I'll look for you guys in the sun at IRG.

(temporary hijack)

Rocky, are you and Melody planning on IRG 2.0?

Joanne

So far the plan is on. There are a couple details that we need to iron out before it is definite.

[cuyeda]

Visiting this forum is dangerous to your health! You folks make me sick!
Yet another project that peaks my interest. Of course, more time and money will be needed. I kinda run a little short of both with the project list getting longer.

I have a 45' radio tower sittin next to my house. It would be perfect to mount one of those wind mills on. I just looked at the first couple of links posted above, and it's gonna take some time readin'

Can someone do me a favor and just ship one of those thingys over for free. Ok, ok I'll pay for the shipping.

[asianflava]

I have a 45' radio tower sittin next to my house.

You and Dean both

[emiller]

Wow I like it Bruce very nice.

[Joanne]

Wow I like it Bruce very nice.

Ed & Bruce,

You guys rock! I love solar and wind power.

I'm experimenting with tying a generator to my dog's tail to generate some power that way...I think it needs more work!

Joanne

[cuyeda]

So what is next? A new website for renewable energy. ha ha. With Joanne's new http://www.camp-cook.com, and this forum TT&TTT, all we need now is to tie the alternate power source into the network.

hint, hint, wink, wink. Then everyone into trailers, will get into camp cooking, everyone in camp cooking will get into trailers, everyone into both camp cooking + trailers will learn how to power their trailers, to do more camp cooking, and trailering. Everone into renewable energy, will get out more to do camp, and cook.

Trailers, food, and free energy! Yeah babe! ...and of course new friends! Eddie, or bdosborn, new website (just kidding)?

[Alphacarina]

even a low amp model like 5 amps would be great for topping off batteries. That combined with a solar panel and recharging batteries should be a thing of the past

'Topping off?' - 5 amps will charge most batteries. Keep in mind that 5 amps for 20 hours is 100 AH . . . . more than many batteries can even hold

Here's an 8 amp motor

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007111618404189&item=10-2326&catname=

Here's a more powerful 18 amp model

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2007111618404189&item=10-2190&catname=

Either will work well as a wind generator

Don

[Wimperdink]

hey thanks for the links, I had no idea the motors were that cheap and was going to experiment with the few scooter motors I have in the garage.

There's a fella at a local swap meet that has a lot of this type of thing for sale. Is there anything special i'm looking for on the tag of details on the motor itself?

[bdosborn]

Either will work well as a wind generator

Don

I don't think the first motor you have a link to would work very well. Voltage versus RPM is approximately linear. Which means that the first motor will develop 13V at 510 RPM and that's pretty fast for a small diameter windmill with PVC blades. The second one will develop 13v at 325 rpm which is still high but its more in the rpm versus voltage range you're looking for. But the second motor is more expensive than the Ameteks that I've seen on eBay. You should be able to get an Ametek 30 (which makes 30v at 325 rpm) for around $45-50.
Bruce
P.S. Here's a link that tells you the characteristics of various Ametek motors.
http://www.tlgwindpower.com/ametek.htm

[Joanne]

I'm getting in over my head here, but would it be practical to make a mold and turn out some glass blades?

Joanne

[bdosborn]

I don't know how practical it would be for us little guys to do it but that's what the big boys use. I went to an IEEE meeting last night on Wind Generators and commercial wind generators have blades that are 120 meters in diameter and they're made out of fiberglass. Of course they have metal tips you know. Have to deal with those lightning strikes when you get that big. The next step in blade efficiency for smaller wind mills is to carve them from wood. It'll be awhile before I get there.
Bruce

[Wolf]

I could cut out these blades with my cnc router (out of wood) if I can justify the cost of buying the ($450) 3d program to do it. I can go up to 8' long.

So the question is, how many of you would like to order blades for your wind generator?
Wolf

[bdosborn]

That's a great idea. Sign me up for a set.
Bruce