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Forum Index : Windmills : Ceiling Fan Conversion
| Author | Message | ||||
WXYZ Newbie  Joined: 30/04/2006 Location: CanadaPosts: 20 |
I snaped this picture of the gold found in DIY windmills. This conversion produces 200 watts and uses 12 ceramic magnets. I have two set of blades for it. The ones on it now are slower but they start easy. 600rpm at 50km 
The tower is a recycled hanging wicker basket chair. Very cheap to build. 
Joseph. "Failure is an option." |
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| dwyer Guru  Joined: 19/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 574 |
Hi WXYZ Very nice but bloody big picture 
Dwyer the bushman |
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| WXYZ Newbie Joined: 30/04/2006 Location: CanadaPosts: 20 |
Dwyer, I resized the pic, yes it was bloody big. Joseph. "Failure is an option." |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
One of my first windmills was a modified ceiling fan. 
It was a real experiment platform, modified heaps of time. Never made any more than a few watts, but I learnt all about cogging, laminations, rewinding, etc. Good fun. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| wayne Newbie Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: CanadaPosts: 29 |
Joseph wow 200 watts for your conversion thats good, did you rewire it. I did this some time ago and used ring magnets, turned out to be alot of work and not much power for the fun. found some old pics. wayne 
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| WXYZ Newbie Joined: 30/04/2006 Location: CanadaPosts: 20 |
Here are some pictures of the process by which I converted the ceiling fan. The first two are of the ceramic magnets that were used. 
A pink dot signifies the North pole of each magnet. 
I removed the backing plate, scored the magnet with a zip cut disk and then snapped it in two. 
You can see the spacing of the magnets N,S,N,S. 
The mylar sheet gives me the spacing needed between the core and the magnets. Five minute epoxy was used to seal the mylar film to the case. 
A 20 cm steel banding wraps all of the magnets. 
A poly outer ring is shown in place. I now poured the resin cast into the level mold. When the resin hardens the stator can be pulled from the magnet ring. The poly is also removed and silicone is used for securing the ringto the case. In this last picture my brother Bill is spinning a test model by hand. Using two magnets and two orange leds, he demonstrates the output. 
Enjoy. Joseph "Failure is an option." |
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| wayne Newbie Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: CanadaPosts: 29 |
Joseph Excellent idea and your magnet blocks are better than mine. I had to lathe each brass bolt head to get close. It looks like you did not rewire yours, I did with mine and think it was #30 but don't hold me on this, would have to check again. Makes me want to crack it open again, winter is soon. wayne |
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| WXYZ Newbie Joined: 30/04/2006 Location: CanadaPosts: 20 |
Wayne, you are correct, there was no need to rewind the stator. In tests with the finished unit at 600 rpm I was getting 124v ac at 60 hz into a 100watt bulb and 50watts from the other phase. Because the phases are 180 degrees out, I fed them into the primary of a 200 volt ct transformer. The transformer has multi output taps. I lose a little in the step-down but I have seen 200 watts ac at the output in a moderate wind. Also because the two outputs are 180 degrees out and one half the voltage of the other, I am going to try a phase shift ac regulator. Joseph "Failure is an option." |
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| wayne Newbie Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: CanadaPosts: 29 |
Thanks Joseph for the update, I never messed around with other phase and like your idea with transformer. You have me wanting to pick up a new Wallmart ceiling fan to play again. Like to see what the newer one's look like inside. Also I set mine up with Lenz blades but didn't really have enough RPM to get good charging voltage, think blades are better for this conversion. wayne |
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| WXYZ Newbie Joined: 30/04/2006 Location: CanadaPosts: 20 |
Wayne, I found three of these units at my local Sunshine Store. Also saw them listed on sasle for 40 bucks Can. The date on mine was 2003. Joseph.  "Failure is an option." |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
I want to try a little experiment with these ceiling fans. There are two phases, 180 deg apart. I wonder if you could use one phase to excite the other. If I were to send a pulse of current into the inside phase, nothing would be generated into the outside phase as they are 180 deg apart, but I wonder what would happen if the rotor was rotating. What I'm trying to achieve is to use a standard ceiling fan, no magnets, and some electronics to self excite the rotor, a bit like an induction generator works. This weekend I'll try it by sending some AC into one phase and see what I get out of the 2nd phase as I rotate the rotor. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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divemaster1963 Regular Member  Joined: 28/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 46 |
I was wondering if you have gone any further with your conversion. what type of transformer you used. and how you wired you system together. I am a newby and have a small system. I am starting out by settig my shop up on solar and wind power. I have a bank of 7 agm telecommunication backup batteries. I never thought about the fan conversion until I saw your post. I think it is top notch. do youu have any other reference material or site info I could use. I think this is the best and most friendly site out there!!! |
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| charlie_ruizpr Newbie Joined: 08/07/2010 Location: Posts: 36 |
I have a ceiling fan motor with 16 coils and 16 magnets and I'm planning to rewind it. Is it possible to make it a 4 phase generator? |
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| fused Newbie Joined: 18/02/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 3 |
Hi Charlie whats your aim at having a 4 phase?. You will have to do a bit of re-wiring which is a bit tidius. |
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| charlie_ruizpr Newbie Joined: 08/07/2010 Location: Posts: 36 |
Yes I kno that it is a real pain to rewire but it is the only thing that I have for the moment and maybe rewiring it to 2 phase is better than 4 phase. |
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