gotwind.org FORUM
gotwind.org FORUM
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?





 All Forums
 gotwing.org - general comments
 Click here to post comments/questions
 whats the best treadmill motor to get?
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

agrifabs
New Member


United Kingdom
76 Posts

Posted - 13/01/2008 :  15:46:16  Show Profile Send agrifabs a Private Message  Reply with Quote
my ametek has been up and running since before christmas, it hasn't really stopped spinning!! im landed, i still havent got round to putting a charge controller on it as i am waiting for fungus to get back in touch,

i put my tester on the wind turbine yesterday and it reached 39v!! is this normal? it is 'unloaded' mind!

as you all know i used a castor as the yaw bearing, and in really high winds you can see the movement in the castor, so i am in the process of making a face bearing for use with my next project,

my next project i want to do is a wind turbine with a treadmill motor, does anyone know of any 'good' ones for sale? links on ebay perhaps? names, etc, any help will be appretiated,

i will post some pics soon of my ametek project,

thanks

chris

gotwind
Forum Admin



United Kingdom
936 Posts

Posted - 13/01/2008 :  16:08:59  Show Profile Send gotwind a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Hi Chris.
In my experience the Ametek 30 was better than the treadmill motor, less cogging and lower cut in speed.
I would connect your ametek generator to a batery (via a blocking diode) and measure the amps into the battery. It must be spinning very fast to get 39v unloaded.

Ben.
Go to Top of Page

agrifabs
New Member



United Kingdom
76 Posts

Posted - 13/01/2008 :  16:17:17  Show Profile Send agrifabs a Private Message  Reply with Quote
wont it 'boil' the battery though? i was waiting for a charge controller with a dump load before i connect it to the battery or will it be ok without one? is there much differance between the ametek 30 and ametek 38?


Go to Top of Page

ghurd
Junior Member



USA
313 Posts

Posted - 13/01/2008 :  19:54:41  Show Profile Send ghurd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Chris,
As long as a WET battery stays below ~14.4V, it won't hurt. Getting it to 15.4V for 2 hours is good every so often. Getting there with a large battery (100AH) will take quite a while.
I wouldn't leave it connected for 2 days of 50MPH wind when I was away, but I sure would be charging the batteries!
(please let me know if you are having any controller problems)

Ben,
Cogging? As magnetic cogging? Like in a stepper?
I have a dozen treadmill motors and none cog. Not even a little tiny bit. None of mine are sealed, have reasonable bearings, are well made, or look like they would last very long outdoors.
Just wondering if there is a difference between here and there...

G-
Go to Top of Page

fungus
Moderator



299 Posts

Posted - 13/01/2008 :  20:10:31  Show Profile Send fungus a Private Message  Reply with Quote
agrifabs - parts should hppefully be arriving tomorrow and you'll be the first on the list once I can make it up - just to let you know..
Go to Top of Page

gotwind
Forum Admin



United Kingdom
936 Posts

Posted - 13/01/2008 :  20:11:01  Show Profile Send gotwind a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Hi Ghurd.
Not bad cogging with my treadmill motor, just more noticeable than the Ametek, requires more revs also to reach cut in.
original post and pic here
http://gotwind.forumco.com/topic~TOPIC_ID~65.asp

Ben.
Go to Top of Page

ghurd
Junior Member



USA
313 Posts

Posted - 13/01/2008 :  20:43:01  Show Profile Send ghurd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Wow! That is sweet!

Every one I have looks like it is made at the beer can factory.
Brushes not intended to be replaced, very sloppy bearings, etc.
Like this, which was about £5 2~3 years ago... Don't overestimate the construction based on the photo.
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2008011314381567&catname=&qty=1&item=10-2326

G-
Go to Top of Page

jonnny
New Member



United Kingdom
50 Posts

Posted - 14/01/2008 :  19:20:40  Show Profile Send jonnny a Private Message  Reply with Quote
hi chris 39 volts that must be somewhere around a 1000 rpm ,i think my hub and arbour has had a good test . its nice knowing someones getting good power from there ametek after all the negative coments a couple of months back about the ametek performance well done,all the best jonny
Go to Top of Page

agrifabs
New Member



United Kingdom
76 Posts

Posted - 15/01/2008 :  07:24:26  Show Profile Send agrifabs a Private Message  Reply with Quote
jonny, i could'nt believe it when i saw it either! i still havent got it rigged up to any batteries yet though, when it all rigged up ill do another check on a windy day and ill check the amps is pushing out and put it on the forum,

im so happy with it i am thinking of getting another one, so i may need another hub and arbour off you :-)

there's a bloke on ebay in california selling ametek 30v for about $30 but he wont ship to the uk - gutted

has anyone got a 'good' motor they want to sell?
Go to Top of Page

jonnny
New Member



United Kingdom
50 Posts

Posted - 15/01/2008 :  10:20:40  Show Profile Send jonnny a Private Message  Reply with Quote
no problem chris ive got 3 sets made up at the moment ,2 for victor and 1 spare , i plan to keep 1 set spare set at all times ,just let me know if and when you need them all the best jonny
Go to Top of Page

sacongo
Starting Member



USA
44 Posts

Posted - 23/01/2008 :  07:03:45  Show Profile Send sacongo a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I was thinking to buy a treadmill motor myself what do you think of this?
http://tinyurl.com/3y6eut
I would like to build a VAWT with one of these gearing it up.

Edited by - sacongo on 23/01/2008 07:58:34
Go to Top of Page

ghurd
Junior Member



USA
313 Posts

Posted - 24/01/2008 :  02:36:43  Show Profile Send ghurd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Not sure I would trust that motor in the tinyurl.
He seems to mention everything except the RPM, which is very important.
Photo almost looks like he didn't want the RPM to be known.
If is is 6100 RPM at 130V, then it won't be the best windmill motor. For a VAWT or a HAWT.
G-

Go to Top of Page

sacongo
Starting Member



USA
44 Posts

Posted - 25/01/2008 :  06:55:23  Show Profile Send sacongo a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I email them and the motor is 4500rpm
http://tinyurl.com/2n6pyq
They also sent me video of them testing the motor in volts only no amps
Link to the video http://tinyurl.com/2gupkm what kind of amps should i expect from this thing?
Go to Top of Page

ghurd
Junior Member



USA
313 Posts

Posted - 25/01/2008 :  14:06:38  Show Profile Send ghurd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
What comes out depends on the VAWT.
Very few VAWTs make over 2A and last very long. That's why you don't see many VAWTs (hard to make a decent one that makes much power at all), except the giant ones made of drums.
The only efficient, lasting, reasonably inexpensive VAWT I can think of is Ed Lenz's "Lenz2", but it is a different animal.
HAWTs are easier, cheaper, more efficient, etc.
That said, have fun.

Quick math. Guessing half the numbers because we do not have them, the speed he was running it with the drill would put about 2A into a 12V battery. Probably OK for a small diameter HAWT, but very fast for a VAWT even if it was geared.
G-
Go to Top of Page

sacongo
Starting Member



USA
44 Posts

Posted - 27/01/2008 :  22:57:52  Show Profile Send sacongo a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I have plans to built a vawt with plastic drums but this motor went pass my price range.
Im going to look for a bigger dc motor.

here is a plastic drum vawt, i plan to do this (no PVC) but only one drum space further apart.
http://tinyurl.com/2gftky
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
gotwind.org FORUM © 2000-05 ForumCo.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000
RSS Feed 1 RSS Feed 2
Powered by ForumCo 2000-2008
TOS - AUP - URA
ForumCo Free Blogs and Galleries
Signup for a free forum or Go Banner Free