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Forum Index : Windmills : Building a Lenz2 Turbine
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| Karl Newbie  Joined: 02/09/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3 |
Hi There, my name is Karl and I just joined as a member. I have been visiting this website several time and I thought it was time to join. I like to get in touch with the member who started to build a large Lenz2 2.1m dia. and 2.4m tall but did not finish it. I'm very keen to build a Lenz2 to supplement a 5kW solar system in an Off Grid system on a hobby farm in central Victoria. I very much like the design of this turbine. It is serious in size and has probably a good mechanical power and torque. I hope the member is still active and if not maybe there is somebody who can point me in the right direction. Thank you very much for all the support in advance. Cheers Karl |
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Tinker Guru  Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
Hi Karl, There is a large diameter Lenz2 wind turbine at my place. Its about 1.8m diameter but the blades are only 600mm high. Its been spinning slowly on a 5m mast for a couple of years and the best power I have ever seen (in a gale) was a miserly 2 Amps into a 24V battery bank. Most of the time it produces nothing. Its a nice ornament, that's all. Its geared 6:1 but it just spins too slow to produce power and the torque is far less than you would expect. So, do yourself a favor, if you must tinker with a Lenz2 make it a small diameter so it gets a chance to spin at a reasonable rate. These VA type windmills are way over rated IMO but do make an interesting ornament. Now, a HA type windmill is a better proposition *if* you have reliable winds *and* the means to dump excessive power. If you really want to supplement power to your solar system just get more solar panels. Way less headache and no disappointing results. Klaus |
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| Karl Newbie Joined: 02/09/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3 |
Hi Klaus, thanks for your reply. I'm still in the early stages of the design. The 5kW panels provide plenty of power in the shoulder and summer season, since the battery bank has a good size. As there is quite a bit of wind in the winter months I believe a wind turbine makes sense to supplement. I would be interested in more details of your Lenz2, in particular the generator and the gear arrangement. Cheers Karl |
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| electrondady1 Senior Member  Joined: 12/02/2009 Location: CanadaPosts: 208 |
why not go to the source and build a lenz2 with the right proportions. contact Ed Lenze at windstuffnow. |
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| govertical Guru Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 383 |
https://youtu.be/IFPQl8NWcrg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_loss Hi, it is all about wind speed and reducing copper loss at the PMA. What is your daily average wind speed? Do plan to use a MPPT circuit? Turbines are rated at about 27 MPH wind speed so all the posts are misleading. What are using for a PMA? Without a MPPT circuit at higher RPM's the PMA is just a electric brake; everything gets really HOT; and you just bake your stator. This is my project that was designed to produce 5 amps at 12 volts at 10 MPH wind speed. My test result showed where I live is a low to no wind area. So wind power is not a option for me. https://youtu.be/fzP1hydH7O8 Good luck with your project. just because your a GURU or forum administer does not mean your always correct :) |
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| govertical Guru Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 383 |
Hi, I tested 3 blade and 6 blade configurations and had the best results with a 6 blade VAWT. I never tested a VAWT using stationary panels to divert the wind to increase the wind speed. 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 |
Hi Karl The large Lenz2 was mine. I never finished it because I ran out of time, needed to move house, and started to realise a large VAWT was not pratical compared to a HAWT. At the time I had built several HAWT's and VAWT's, so had real world experience in the two types. VAWT windmills look cool. They make power in turbulent wind. They are heavy and hard to make when you want to generate more than 100 watts. HAWT windmills make more power, but dont like turbulent wind. They are easier to make and scale up, a 300 watt HAWT is much easy to build compared to a 300 watt VAWT. MUCH easier! If your place is surrounded by tall buildings and you dont need more than 100 watts, build a VAWT. If you have clean air and want more than 100 watts, build a HAWT. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| Karl Newbie Joined: 02/09/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3 |
Hi All, thanks for the feed. @ Glenn, thanks for letting me know that the large Lenz2 is yours. I'll definitely build a Lenz2. I've been on Ed Lenz's website and downloaded the details required to figure out the dimensions. What I like to ask you is about the design of your wing formers. What are the eyelets around the circumference for? Will they be bend up 90 degrees in order to hold the rivets? Would you be willing to share the design with me and if you have mail me the drawings. That would be very much appreciated. Cheers Karl |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Hi Karl Yes they were eyelets to bend at 90o and screw the sheeting too. I no longer have the CAD files sorry. I would suggest you build a small Lenz to start with, say 1m diameter by 1m high. That will give you an idea of the work involved in building a bigger one with enough area to make decent power. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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