wind turbines for teardrops

[Shadow Catcher]

The wind turbine was an idea I contemplated and I absolutely agree that Wyoming has a surplus of wind. My feeling was that the level of complexity, You still have to have a charge controller and the how to store it and put it up were a concern. The solar is pretty much a set it and forget it, monitor the SOC state of charge.

[AndyL]

I dont know bout their projects, but we've fiddled with it on our truck camper...

Problem's always been getting high enough, we camp in the trees, so solar can be spotty... but trees destroy good wind.

So we have gone through a few designs... the typical hawt designs need clean air... our 30' pvc mast (3 - 10' lengths of 3" sch80) was rarely high enough. And was abhorrent for transmitting noise down to the camper. A lenz2 design worked better and seemed better balanced - but still made sleeping impossible.

if you want to do it, its got to be not affixed to the camper, but that then requires a shorty mast or guy wires... and a substantial base.

We ended up going with much bigger/better solar panels in the end...

[AndyL]

Mechanical furling would be the typical solution to overspeeds, basically as wind increases tail starts to pivot the blades to 90deg to the wind. The lenz2 is aerodynamically resistant - as speed increases it becomes stupid inefficient, keeping it from self destructing. But its not very efficient, typical VAWT its better in moderate winds.

Ive seen the ameteks referenced on the wind power forums, but not enough coffee yet - is it a brushless dc or brushed dc or exactly what kind of motor is it? With my generators i can short the windings and bring it to a sudden stop...

[AndyL]

Yeah, had to refesh my memory...

straight dc output, shorting not good but does function to stop it dead just a big switch needed - like 30amp big. Just connect + and - wires and she'll stop in almost any wind...

You might want to eyeball up the lenz2 design - its freely available, not a lot different than teardrop constuction... might be able to secure it with a shorter mast in a 5g pail of rocks...

[Junkboy999]

The Battery R Us store had a nice Cargo Trailer out in from of there store. It had a solar panels and a small wind turbine attached on the trailer. They had a blade break off and stick in the roof..

They did not take it down when a storm blew in.

But if you like Wind Turbines Have you seen these.

Blackhawk VAWT Articulating Rotor : From Stop to Wind Capture YouTube

Few people know that almost all the the bigger turbine need a Electric or stored Hydro energy boost to start them.