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Forum Index : Windmills : new and Confussed LOL
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ProTow Newbie  Joined: 03/09/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 29 |
Hi. First off im new somewhat. I have built a Hawt and now building a Vawt But after reading on this Kick ass site. i think im going to go back to Hawt's. now that being said. where i live in seattle, washington. there is not a lot of wind (or High winds) for the past 2 years i been recording the wind speeds at its highs and avg it out to about 8-10 mph and the highest was 39 mph in a storm.i know this isnt the best. and i know its not going to make me alot of power. i would love to make 1k of power LOL but i know that will not happen. maybe 300 to 500 watts? i tryed to ask this question on another site and they basicly just laugh at me. anyways I want to know how to build a stator? winding the coils ect.ect. I want to know what types of Magnets i need. you know that type of stuff. all i ask is someone to help me make the right choice or at least point me in the right area. thank you for taking the time to help a greenhorn out. Pro If it works the First time You did something Wrong. |
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97fishmt Regular Member  Joined: 19/04/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 77 |
Hi Pro Tow, I'm in Edmonds. You are on the right track just keep reading.  Play safe.
Mike |
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| ProTow Newbie Joined: 03/09/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 29 |
Thanks Im doing just that. Read read read... If it works the First time You did something Wrong. |
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Downwind Guru  Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Hi Pro, Welcome to the forum, Gizmo is in the process of building a AXFX mill and documenting it here in detail. You might need to wait a bit till he gets to the stator part, as he will be doing step by step details. There is a lot of confusion over the stator and the coil windings, but it is very simple really. As for magnets the general point of view on the best to use is 2"x 1/2" round neos. It requires 24 magnets in total with 12 a side for a 9 coil arrangement. There is other combinations but 9 coils and 24 magnets is proven to be the best for output for cost. Its nice to have a new member who realizes the limits of their location before they start. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| arklan Newbie Joined: 18/08/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
is it a constant wind at 8-10 mph? or is it going some days and not others...? btw a good place to buy magnets if ur in america is this place i discovered on ebay they want 200$ just on postage alone to australia so im gonna get them from china instead, but if ur in america they can be a really cheap option. http://www.magnet4less.com/ the thing with these magnets is that they r strong enough to pull nails out of wood so u have to be really really careful where u play with these and wear glasses because if they come together from a distance they will hit hard and may send up shards. |
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| ProTow Newbie Joined: 03/09/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 29 |
Thanks for the Welcome Downwind. and ill keep my eye out for it. Arklan, the wind blows when it wants to here lol. I sure if i go higher up it will be alot better. But since i live in a airplan flight line it sucks that i can not get to high in the air. these pilots fly low going to one of the islands across the water from me. and $200 for shipping Holly Crap. and Yes i do know about mags4less. i have and account with them thur my work lol the funny thing is i didnt even know they sold what i needed to make a windgen. at my work we deal with mag pens for name badges and never thought about asking them about bigger ones. But Now first thing in the Morning Im on it. Thanks again Guys. and if there is anything i need to do first other than read and get a plan to gether let me know. What i mean by that is should i Do my alterntor first or build a blades and body first LOL... i think i confuessed myself on that one Pro If it works the First time You did something Wrong. |
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MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
ProTow Welcome to the 4m. I hail from Seattle somewhat too (U of W). I'd be glad to help in any way I can, but I must tell you up front I build toys mostly. They're the real thing, but miniature. I too am after a small-ish wind turbine in the 300 to 400 watt range. I make my blades out of Coroflute plastic. That's the stuff they make real estate signs out of. It is not affected by weather, is very lightweight and moderately easy to work with. Here's a link too a very small axial-flux unit I am building. It's on 'hold' a bit right at the moment, as I have been distracted by other projects (the story of my life!). I have completed one very small (4") ax-fx, but didn't like the results, so shelved it. That's the one in the link. Might be best to read through several posts so you can get a grasp on magnetism and generating electricity. There are a few "do's" and "don'ts" but in general, it's pretty straight forward. I've made all the mistakes one can make at least once, so I'll try to steer you around the pot holes. As we progress, I'll point out several other links that might be helpful before you actually start building. The fact that you know what you want and know the wind in your area is of great benefit. There's a thing called "Alton's Blade Calculator" which will let you zero in on prop sizes, etc. The best way to build is know where you're headed and with that information, we can adjust the variables to suit your needs. . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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| arklan Newbie Joined: 18/08/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
if u have constant low speed wind, u might be better off to build something with a lot of blades for high torque and then gear it up. as for wether to build the alternator or windmill first, go with the windmill. if u build the alt first and then find out ur windmill wont be able to turn it then youv just wasted time and money. make the windmill first so then u know how much power u have to work with. |
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| MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
[Quote=arklan]as for wether to build the alternator or windmill first, go with the windmill. No offense intended, but I must disagree here. I've made that same mistake and am here to tell you there are tools in place to work this thing backwards from your stated goals. As for the size of the windmill (HAWT) Alton's Blade Calculator can tell you everything you want to know including the watts at a given wind speed without having to build anything. This calculator is meant for someone carving a curved blade and each "station" gives the pitch angle and so on for that segment to make it easier for the builder to get it right. I use a somewhat "flat" blade configuration (symmetrical section), thin and l-o-n-g (that's key) so when I use the calculator, I use "1" for the "station" value. If it were I, I'd concentrate on the alternator first. That's the "business end" of things. There are many tools in place for that as well, but there are so many variables involved, a lot of which come down to the skills of the builder, that it's best to start here. I'd figure out what kind of alternator I want (axial-flux, radial-flux, converted treadmill motor, stepper, whatever . . . ) and go from there. Once you've decided that, then it'll be time to wind a test coil and the rest is pretty straight forward (?) at least in theory. 
. . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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| ProTow Newbie Joined: 03/09/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 29 |
Well first i would like to say Thanks for everyones input. I think im going to stick to this Forum for sure. just in 2 days i have gotten more help and input on this than 2 months on another site. Thanks Mac for the insight on CorX (aka Coroflute plastic) I have Tons of that here at my work. In fact my first a temp at makin a Vawt had corX blades But i didnt think it would hold up to the weather and i make it in about 20mins LOL It work with no motor or Alt. on it. . im going to look into your design and see (good idea and Cheap too as far as blades go. If it works the First time You did something Wrong. |
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| ProTow Newbie Joined: 03/09/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 29 |
opps forgot to say I want to use this treadmill motor i got. Just because its sitting on the floor and getting in my way LOL and one less thing i got to buy for right now. thanks again guys If it works the First time You did something Wrong. |
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Perry Senior Member  Joined: 19/11/2009 Location: Posts: 190 |
Well the treadmill motor changes the recipe substantially. Do you have any info on it to share? voltage/rpm/amps those kinda things that are written on an ID tag. We can help you find out if it is a suitable motor. Manage your expectations though. Treadmill motors aren't much good for more than a hundred watts or so, even with good wind. Perry |
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| ProTow Newbie Joined: 03/09/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 29 |
perry i dont have the info with me right now. but i think it is around the 2000rpms 120 volts and 13.6 amps I think. ill post the real numbers when i get home ore get ahold of my son to get me the numbers for you guys.. James If it works the First time You did something Wrong. |
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| ProTow Newbie Joined: 03/09/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 29 |
ok sorry about that guys,,, here is whats on it. 2.0 HP 3350 RPM 130 Volts 18 Amps i did spin the motor on a volt meter on the DC side from a crodless drill that has a 800RPM speed... and when i spun the motor on the drill i got 21.0 to 21.1 volts. Hope this helps because im lost LOL thanks again everyone James If it works the First time You did something Wrong. |
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