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 wind turbine on ebay? what you think?
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agrifabs
New Member


United Kingdom
76 Posts

Posted - 14/12/2007 :  01:33:22  Show Profile Send agrifabs a Private Message  Reply with Quote
been browsing on ebay and i have come across this turine, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170177451795&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007

what do you think of this setup? is it any good? it looks like a big home made thing to me but this bloke has sold loads and he's got very good feedback from them,

carbon fibre blades, pma and he reckons it'l push out 800 watts all for £207

i emailed his a few months ago about price for postage and i think he said about $90 (£45)

i am really tempted to get myself one of these to run along side my ametek (when i get round to finishing it!) as i have bought a derelict cottage that needs total renovation, i was going to renovate it so its as environmentaly friendly as possible when its finished,

let me know what you think of the turbine anyway

chris

agrifabs
New Member



United Kingdom
76 Posts

Posted - 14/12/2007 :  01:39:35  Show Profile Send agrifabs a Private Message  Reply with Quote
just had another look on ebay and i notice that this seller has an end of year sale on!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170178098035

£194!!! this has got to be a good buy!

come on, tell me what you think!
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bs85
Starting Member



United Kingdom
41 Posts

Posted - 14/12/2007 :  08:23:38  Show Profile Send bs85 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
It does not give any detail of what rpm (wind speed) that is produces 800w, I think these need high winds.

Price

£194 + vat £33.95 + shipping £45 + Parcelfarce charges £13.50 = £286.45

Puts the price up a bit

Edited by - bs85 on 14/12/2007 08:28:09
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fungus
Moderator



301 Posts

Posted - 14/12/2007 :  17:44:44  Show Profile Send fungus a Private Message  Reply with Quote
A few points -
I really dont like that sort;
The carbon fibre blades are very flexible and can make a lot of noise when they bend back as they cause flutter, there isnt much clearance to allow for this.
The rewound/modified car alternator - they dont have very strong bearings and a pretty weak frame in them, they wont really produce much power either.
The power rating - I'd be surprised if you ever saw much over 250w from it imho.
Theres probably more reasons...
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Del
Junior Member



United Kingdom
369 Posts

Posted - 14/12/2007 :  20:00:25  Show Profile Send Del a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Hi Agrifabs,

I hear indifferent reports on these modified car alternators. Donniedingle has had a bad experience with the Beewind type, although I met a guy this summer at the Northern Green Gathering who lives in a converted 1960's horselorry (with his wife and baby) who has a Hornet type wind generator mounted on the roof and although it was only rated at 600W it was working very well and pushing out a very decent amperage. He had been using the same turbine for 2/3 years from memory without any problems. The blades (Air - X the same as the ones that are on the model you're considering) are very good. Decent torque from a wide root and the blades are very thin and aerodynamic and so spin very fast in a good wind. No real noise from them either.

From my own perspective, these units are all modified from what they were originally designed to be. I would think the bearings would be ok as they are designed to last a long time with a fan belt attached and under tension. Not sure they have any thust bearings though so that may be a problem after a while.

The risk of being stung for the inport duty is significant so BS85's worst case price scenario is very much a probability I would think.

I'd also like to see a data table (or graph) as to the volts / amps outputs at a range of rpm's.

You've also got to consider that you would be buying a homemade item from abroad so you don't have a lot of rights if there's a problem and even if you did need to make a claim under warranty (if there is a warranty) then the shipping costs will be costly.

I think there's better quality and safer options to spend that kind of money on.

Cheers

Del.
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