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Forum Index : Windmills : Sellout
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MacGyver Guru  Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
For years, I've been a proponent of VAWTs. I had conditionally "Promised" to build a ginormous VAWT of my own design. I've been testing small ones and have decided to "sell out". I'm not going to build any more, let alone a large one. I still like the idea, but my goal is to "be able" to go off grid by the end of this year and my VAWTs aren't cutting the mustard. I don't intend going off grid, because electricity is so cheap here. I just like the idea of being "able" to do so, should push come to shove. I am building a large number of tiny HAWTs, which will be connected in both series and parallel, enough to put out 13.2 volts and however much amperage I can get; I don't care. I will post some pictures once I have a bank of them up and running and I will send some operation numbers, so if anybody else wants to duplicate what I'm doing, at least they will have been forewarned. Remember, I like to build tiny stuff and here in Texas, tiny is better. The largest HAWT I've ever built was in Florida, back when I was in my 20s. It had 11-foot blades on 12" offsets and swung a swept area of approximately 450 sq. ft. All was well until it got loose in a gale. One blade flew off and landed in the Gulf of Mexico (I lived on a small island) and the other two wrapped around the tower: total loss. Texas has HORRIFIC winds from time to time, so all my mills will have no more than about a 24" diameter and I'm using an iron-core, pulsing d.c. generator of my own design, which cuts down on losses from rectifying alternating current. There will be no diodes, except for one in each leg to prevent draining the storage battery when things grind to a halt. The theory is simple: When was the last time you saw a 15-pound honey bee? Never? Me neither! On the other hand, thousands of tiny, tiny bees have no problem producing massive amounts of honey. My array of tiny mills will follow suit and if the wind comes up (which it does and quite often) who cares? . . . . . 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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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
I would consider the economy of scale. A single big HAWT is easier and cheaper to build than several small HAWT's. Yeah had a HAWT fly apart once, never found one blade, and I live on acerage, the blade isn't within 300m in any direction. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
@ Gizmo I hear you, but I like to build stuff and smaller stuff at that. I am using mostly off-the-shelf parts, so any bloke can reproduce what I'm up to without a lathe or mill (of which I have each, by the way). You'll get here (my age) sooner than later and one of these days, climbing up a tower to tweak this or that will all of a sudden seem like not such a great idea. I'm 69 in August and have come to the stark realization that I'm no longer made of rubber; I don't bounce so good of late. . . . . . 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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| joebog1 Senior Member  Joined: 07/11/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 114 |
 Mac !!!! your not supposed to say that out loud, but truth it be. I mow the lawn these days and then sit down for two days. I built a little solar system about a year ago, and what I used to do in a day took two weeks, and it was all on the ground. Slightly off topic, but once I was a bit of a master at designing circuit boards, now I cant see the modern components. I still specialise in valve gear though! ( toobs to you). Joe |
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| MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
It's been nearly a year since I posted anythinh. What's the old saying, "Days seem like an Eternity, but years fly right by"? I'm living testimony to that. At any rate, I built a new backshed out of concrete And welded steel, 10 by 24 by 12 feet tall. It's a done deal in about 4 more weeks at which time I will Be assembling an army of both HAWTs as well as VAWTs. I know, I know, I said I'd given up on VAWTS, but I finally designed one with a "perfect" airfoil. All the new mills will pump air, which, as many will recall, is because my passion is designing and building a air engines. I have the ability to go off grid, but at my age, why bother? More as it happens. . . . . 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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| brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
Thanks Mac. Over time it's been a pleasure to read your adventures and check in with you and the crew on the MIRC and that other chat site. I guess you will have some smaller projects to fiddle with now , I'm sort of in the same boat . Age catches up and those bloody high towers seem just a bit too far ,these days. Glad you are hanging up your boots ,take time out to live on your island. good luck and health, Bruce Bushboy |
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