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mac46

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Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 10:33am 20 Nov 2011

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Madness,

I won't be putting in any tunnels.

reguards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

mac46

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Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 11:36pm 23 Nov 2011

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Everyone,

I've hooked up the cable to the batteries, I put two-(2), deep cycle 6 volt batteries in the house and left the other four-(4), deep cycle 6 volt batteries out in the mill base. The Fluke meter shows 0.4 volt differance when measureing form directly at the batteries in the house basement, and measureing the same batteries from out at the mill base, and viceversa on the other batteries...I get the same 0.4 volt differance. (I'm running a 12 volt system).
I back filled the trench...sorry Mac, no walkway. I've also started installing the crash box, ect.ect. for the 50 amp AC service, and wired up the 120 volt plug/ light/ect. and wired up the 240 volt welder plug.
Not to much accomplished, but some anyway.

Reguards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

MrDelanco

Senior Member

Joined: 12/11/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 101

Posted: 12:20am 24 Nov 2011

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Hello Mac46;
That is very good a 0.4 volt difference for 70 running feet of wire. I used old copper pipe inside recycled pvc housing and that worked well also. You did good with the alum. wire. How are your wire connection's, are they sealed ? how do you have the mill connected ? Are you considering using any ulta-caps from the mill house to the alum. wire ? They well help to reduce the 0.4 difference.

Good Job
Regards Bob.

MrDelanco:Project Videos
It is not only too know what it does but to understand how it does what it does.

mac46

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Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 12:08pm 24 Nov 2011

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Hi Bob, and Everyone,

I used 1/2" brass wire groments, crimped and sodered to connect the wire to the batteries. I could only wish for ultra caps in my dreams...none avaliable and little money to spare for the project.
The mill is'nt connected to the batteries at this time...currently the mill is in a "stand down mode", I will be doing more testing, (playing), when time permitts. This is all new to me and the mill is also a new project, although it is over a year old, it has'nt been up and running yet, with the exception of only once, and that was for a very short time run. It developed a wobble as it came up to speed and I quickly shut it back down, (totally distroyed the disc break pads).I don't have any idea how much power this mill has...but its more than I had thought possible.
Thank you for the compliments and you'r interest in the project.

Regards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

mac46

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Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 12:59am 25 Nov 2011

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Thought I'd post a picture of the wireing out in the mill base.
(The wireing so far that is)
Both positive leads are routed through 100 amp fusetrons. The ground is not fused.
The box on the far right of the picture is 240 volt AC, 50 amp. and will be used as a service for battery chargers, lights, welder plugin access, ect.

If anyone can see something not correct, or a better / safer way to wire this, then please speek up.

Reguards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

idwatt

Newbie

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 5

Posted: 01:34am 25 Nov 2011

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Well i hate to appear picky mate but you did ask

If anyone can see something not correct, or a better / safer way to wire this, then please speek up.

Speek is not correct "speak" is and your sign off sounds very security conscious "reguard" - a simple regards would be fine.

cheers
Iain

There must be a way to use the free power blowing past my house
in my house
to stop blowing money away out of my house.

VK4AYQ
Guru

Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 02:03am 25 Nov 2011

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Yoy a Pit nicker

Foolin Around

mac46

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Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 02:10am 25 Nov 2011

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I tip my hat to you both...still laughing.

Regards - "notice the new spelling"-

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

idwatt

Newbie

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 5

Posted: 02:32am 25 Nov 2011

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Pit nicker???

Tempting VK4AYQ but you are not going to catch me

I would not have a clue as to how to advise you on the technical side mac46, or wiring, but I remain transfixed as ever at beholding your awesome mill.

Cheers
Iain

I have taken regards to your spelling. Edited by idwatt 2011-11-26

There must be a way to use the free power blowing past my house
in my house
to stop blowing money away out of my house.

mac46

Guru

Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 11:30pm 25 Nov 2011

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Iain,

Thank you for you'r kind remarks regarding my awesome mill, and for correcting my spelling. I don't proof read anything, as is, is/was, is always good enough on the farm, but I always double and some times tripple check my wireing and other things I do trough the day.
By the way, welcome to the forum. I've been sidetracked off the mill, so no new progress.

Regards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

anteror
Senior Member

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: Finland
Posts: 189

Posted: 12:10am 26 Nov 2011

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You must remember, that there are some.. people that are not at all interested
about windpower, vice versa !

Mostly they write about things that confuse everything.
That is the tactic.

If you just think for a moment the law of physics.

Read facts, before you make any decisions.

There is a lot of information and test sites, for this;

For example;

http://www.wind-works.org/articles/small_turbines.html#Small %20%20Turbine%20Testing

http://www.cleanfieldenergy.com/pdfs/2007%20VAWT%20performan ce%20testing.pdf

I have wrote about this vawt spoofing;

http://www.thebackshed.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4345&PN =1

I am a retired private person and have tested and made a lot of work,
to really find solutions with windpower.

This vawt is not that.

Antero Rantanen
Finland

mac46

Guru

Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 07:51am 26 Nov 2011

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Hello Antero,

Thanks for posting you'r openions and com. links. These vawts are sometimes very disapointing, and to some a down right waste of time and money. There have been many a educated person reguard them as such.

I make no promises, inflate no facts, nor do I intend to mislead anyone.

There are several places to research the many types/sizes/shapes.

VAWT is a proven style of wind generator...if you read my opening statements at the start of my "vawt, going in a big way", you will see that I say as much and am interested in understanding more about why they work and why they don't.

Sorry you've had a bad experiance with them. Perhaps you'd like to say a few words about you'r failings.

Regards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

Racingken

Newbie

Joined: 24/11/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 28

Posted: 05:25pm 26 Nov 2011

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woo wee this has been a long read from when it started to date.
I have learned a lot about air/power generation from all the side trips with all the links. I am looking at building for myself an hawt. But this is still open to change.

I commend you! (mac46) on your VAWT, it is a thing of beauty! I also see another way for you to brake your systym that may or may not be a good idea. but it could at least be a way to slow down your wings to the point that you could use the disc brake to stop it. This may or may not also be a dumb idea, but it was a thought that came to me yesterday as I was reading some of the post.
What about a reinforced plastic or thin steel cylinder of about 2 to 3 foot in height to simply block out some of the wind? I know it would be a huge diameter, but it was just a thought. I also thought it might get you to think of maybe another way to slow down your wings.
Anyway, I hope you are able to come up with something for slowing it down, and get your restructuing all worked out.

Racingken

itsandbits1
Regular Member

Joined: 13/08/2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 81

Posted: 07:13pm 26 Nov 2011

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just looking at some of the old posted pictures it looks as though you could do some gusseting on the top of the frame to strengthen it a little, or if you can't do that, weld some reinforcement over the existing 90degree areas. If the outside frame is bending/flexing, this will let the center shaft flex too so you'll probably be allright with just strengthening the outer frame. How did you balance the whole unit? I don't imagine you tipped it over and added weight to the top wing til they all were even :<))))))

mac46

Guru

Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 11:34pm 26 Nov 2011

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Hello, Racingken and itsandbits1

Thank you both for the great ideas. Yes, it has been a long post, I've only been working on this project in my spare time, and I don't have much of that.
The wings were balanced staticly, both individually and also on a balance beam, and also the rotor was balanced staticly...I'm all but sure the "wobble" it experianced was caused by the wings being at the wrong angle of attack...(only 5* inward at the nose), and the strong wind gusts...30 to 35 mph that day...causeing a large amount of lift on each indivual wing as it rotated into the lift zone...and because I did'nt go ahead and beef up the overhead beam structure before I tried a test run. "Something that I knew it badly needed". I really try not to take short cuts, and almost lost the entire thing for doing so.

There is a way to dynamicly balance the unit...but it must be running to do this.

I like the idea of something to block the wind to help slow it down, I've been reading/following the posts on "adjustable rotor pitch" on a sister forum,I'm thinking that I could do this with the wings if other attemps and methods don't work out.
Good wind and sunny days to you guys...thanks for the input.

Regards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

MrDelanco

Senior Member

Joined: 12/11/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 101

Posted: 03:14am 27 Nov 2011

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Hello Mac46;
When and if you decide too use pitch control I can help with that, it took a few tries to get mine to work correctly and I can share the setup with you.

Yes it has been a long read but Mac46 did a great job with his system. and thanks for sharing it with us Mac.

Regards Bob.

MrDelanco:Project Videos
It is not only too know what it does but to understand how it does what it does.

Rastus

Guru

Joined: 29/10/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 301

Posted: 09:36am 27 Nov 2011

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Hi Mac46,
Your wiring ect,is very neat and orderly,it could even be said your in the pink!Cheers Rastus

see Rastus graduate advise generously

mac46

Guru

Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 11:43am 27 Nov 2011

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Hello Rastus,

Thank you for the compliment, I'm not sure how well this will work...with some of the batteries out in the mill and some in the house, but I think it'll work. In time I'll add more batteries in the house to help with where the load is, and hopefully the batteries in the mill will catch up to them and balance everything out. I don't think I'll be haveing to much of a draw on them for any length of time. I've purchased a 2000 wt. inverter, (12 volt to 120 volt), and plan on purchaseing a much smaller one to be used when only very light loads are needed. Also, I'll be setting things up to use 12 volt lighting directly in a few spots around the house.
I've been following you'r project as well, very interesting, and very good craftsmanship.

Regards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

Rastus

Guru

Joined: 29/10/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 301

Posted: 03:24pm 29 Nov 2011

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Hi Mac46,
It would be good to be able to accept the pat on the back,however I'm still in the hunter gatherer stage.My first post will likely show splining F&P shafts with a circular saw fitted with a grind stone.It might work,time will tell!Cheers Rastus

see Rastus graduate advise generously

mac46

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Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 412

Posted: 05:10pm 29 Nov 2011

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Hello Rastus,

I've "at times had to resort to some rather primative working tecnics", the most important is clamping the piece securely and level...to some kind of moveable table or "sled" if you will. A length of ready rod run through a slotted angle iron can be used to control the feed rate.
Most of the larger automotive shops have access to milling machines and you'r be surprised at the low costs for doing such things as you discribe...I'd ask around, a neighbor may even have one. I found that my neighbor did, and a few metal lathes as well. We now exchange info and help each other out regularly.

Regards,

Mac46

I'm just a farmer

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