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Forum Index : Windmills : Just some photos.
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Just thought I would share some photos of my little windmill. Its the F&P based turbine, furls around 250 - 300 watts, nice and reliable. A couple of nights ago I had 100km plus winds through here during a storm, my house was swaying  , so I thought I would take the mill down to inspect and lube.
I made a set of brushes and slip rings for it a couple of months ago, using stainless steel exhaust pipe as the slip ring, and copper brushes made from springy strapping steel and flattened copper tube. This was the first time I've taken it down to see how its wearing. 
Seams OK, especially considering its exposed to the elements. Conductivity is good. I also added a manual furl to the tail, and I can highly recommend it for any home made wind turbine. I used a length of copper pipe to guide the pull cable, and its dead easy to pull the tail into a fully furled position, as shown here. When released, the tail falls back into its normal position, and furls automatically with increased winds. 
The cable comes out a hole about half way up the mast. 
And its tied off here, about chest height. 
Everything was looking OK, check the electrical terminals, dropped a little oil on the bearings, etc, and raised it back up. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| govertical Guru  Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 383 |
Hi, very nice. What rpm does it run at? just because your a GURU or forum administer does not mean your always correct :) |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Not a clue 
Guessing 300 to 400 rpm at 250 to 300 watts. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| govertical Guru Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 383 |
Hi, do you have a 12 volt system? I am working on a VAWT project and I am trying to get some idea of the operational specifications of the stock F&P. How do you have the stator wired? just because your a GURU or forum administer does not mean your always correct :) |
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fillm Guru Joined: 10/02/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 730 |
Hi Govert, For a stock F&P which ever way you wire it the best you will get is as Glenn has said , 300 ~ 400W , buy rewiring you are only basicly changing the cut-in , if you are using a 80 or 100S they are the best, 60S expect lower output but higher Volts , but to get the best out of them you need to be up at 300 to 400RPM , I have had 1kw out of a dual @ 700+ RPM thats a 80 and 100 with Caps . Even when they are in a washing machine at 240Vac they do not draw much more than 300w when loaded. From what I have seen of your VAWT build and you expertise , I don't know why you are persisting or even bothering with a F&P , and to add to that having it mounted and powered by a VAWT expect less than startling output figures, With your skills with cnc/electronics, I would ask why you havn't gone with a Axial Flux specifically designed for your machine , then you would not have all the gear train loss , cogging loss. Just mount it better next time  PhillM ...Oz Wind Engineering..Wind Turbine Kits 500W - 5000W ~ F&P Dual Kits ~ GOE222Blades- Voltage Control Parts ------- Tower kits |
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| govertical Guru Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 383 |
Hi, thanks for info and the suggestions. My project is more of learning experience for me. The F&P is low cost and saves a lot of fabrication man hours. I just started to learn about MPPT and the F&P dramatically demonstrates the benefits when using the circuit. I have 4 F&P’s and I will probably fabricate four VAWTs and run them in parallel with the MPPT. I live in a low wind area. Its all in good fun and a great learning experience. Thanks again. just because your a GURU or forum administer does not mean your always correct :) |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Just another update. The single stator windmill worked well, and endured a few strong winds with no problems. I've since swapped it for the dual stator windmill I build several years ago. Made a few modifications based on suggestions from Phill. It's a staggered stator configuration ( see http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/articles/StaggeredStator s.asp ) with one stator wired as a 1X14C delta ( see http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/FPRewire.asp ), and the other as 2X7C star. Both stators are 80 series, and the staggered configuration gives different cut in RPM's for each stator. This means I rectify at the top of the tower, and feed DC through the bushes. The blades are Phills aluminium GOE222 blades, sitting at around 2.8 meters diameter. Tail was lightened and lengthened, hinge angle reduced, and I hope to see it furl around 600 watts. The brushes are working well, been up there for several months now and looks like copper on stainless steel is ok, little wear and low resistance. I also added the manual pull cable to furl the tail when needed. 
The blades looked curved in that last photo, its just the slow shutter speed on a phone camera. Watts are good so far. Only been up for a couple of days, but I've seen 150 to 500 watts most of the day, with no strange noises or wobble. Even in the lightest of winds that wouldn't blow out a candle, its making 20 to 50 watts. Still waiting for some strong winds to see how it furls. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| govertical Guru Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 383 |
Hi, great work. Thanks for posting the info. What voltage are you using to calculate the wattage? just because your a GURU or forum administer does not mean your always correct :) |
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| gww1 Regular Member  Joined: 14/06/2013 Location: United StatesPosts: 63 |
New member here. Govertical answered my very first post on feildlines forum and gizmo already advised me on my f/p smartdrive which I still have not got to yet. I mention the above cause it makes me already feel welcome to this forum. My questions; I would like to know what voltage you are running also. I also wonder how big your blades are and what size pipe you are running it on? I have three hugh piggot type turbines; two 48 volt and one twelve volt. The only one up is the twelve volt on about a 35' utility pole. All three have 8' blades. So, I still got some work to do before I get to the fisher and paykel one. Thanks gww Ps The blade size and pole size I am curious about is the single smart drive turbine. |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Hi gww1 and govertical Its a 48 volt system. The single stator windmill was running at about 2.1 meter diameter on Hugh Piggot blades. Cant remember the mast diameter, but its only about 6 meters tall I think. I plan to take it down some time this weekend to check it out and I'll measure it up then. The GOE222 blades have much more torque than the Piggots, its surprising how fast they run in a light breeze. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| gww1 Regular Member Joined: 14/06/2013 Location: United StatesPosts: 63 |
Glenn So a 7' blade at about 5 or 6 tsr. I just like the piggot blade cause I have a pattern that I can make poorly. They look neater then the ones I made at a 20 degree angle on the table saw. Don't worry about measuring the pole. I was just curious cause I have had inch and a half pipe bent double twice, sometimes after being up for a year. I have just been trying things (playing) but soon will have a good solar and wind system and will have to beef everything up. Thanks for your responce. Glenn |
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