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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
936 Posts |
 Posted - 14/02/2008 : 22:39:38
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I will be buying a Futurenergy wind genny soon.
http://www.futurenergy.co.uk/products.html
The complete unit (660 UK pounds) and modify the mount and furling system similar to Hugh Piggotts, like others (Del) are attempting.
I can't commit to the 'multi purchase deal' just yet sorry - cash flow.
I will try and arrange a permanent deal with the company - I know Del has done some good work in this area.
It does seem like one of the best options for small scale enthusiasts.
I'm not convinced with the build quality of the Chinese turbines even though they have a larger swept area for a 1Kw machine.
Ben.
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
369 Posts |
Posted - 14/02/2008 : 23:34:50
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Ben,
It is a good unit and very good value for money, but I still feel a bit of a sell-out for buying something purpose built and off the shelf rather than making my own or converting something else to produce meaningful power for minimal money.
There's still definetly a market for a completely homemade turbine. I think the Ametek thing is getting expensive now and maybe no longer represents value for money for the power it produces. I sold my Ametek 30 recently (just the motor on its own) for £77 (plus P&P). When you consider the costs of making the chassis, the arbour, the hub, the tower etc it's getting expensive for minimal watts and especially so when compared to the Chinese 200W turbines at £200/£220 ish that include a tower and controller. And Donnie's experience of them in extreme environment conditions shows they produce excellent power (actually more than they are rated at) and have proven to be very durable. The tower is weak and the blades noisy but other than that they are a a decent product.
As a windpower enthusiast I love the idea of generating useable power from minimal outlay, not for just the personal satisfaction of creating something but from being able to use the energy in a meaningful way to seriously reduce my reliance on the grid and therefore fossil fuels.
I know you've tried a few projects to achieve this goal and I hope you continue this quest even if you do go down the Futurenergy route as well.
Lets have a chat on the phone at some point and I'll talk to you about my dealings with Futurenergy so far and the discussions we've had.
Cheers
Del. |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
936 Posts |
Posted - 15/02/2008 : 15:29:20
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Cheers Del.
Don't get me wrong, I will still be making diy wind generators, but it would be good to have a bench mark of what can be achieved with the futurenergy wind generator.
The price of Ameteks has become a bit silly, particularly here in the UK - be a far more appealing proposition if we had a glut of them for 10 - 20 UK pounds as was the case in the U.S a while back.
I think the more powerful diy generators will require an axial flux alternator or motor conversions in the future, both of which aren't as daunting as they first seem.
The Futures Green - Getwind of it. |
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fungus
Moderator
299 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2008 : 18:39:30
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Hi ben,
Just thought I'd put this in, you've probably noticed that I've been away for a few days - I'm in wales just now, the people I'm staying with just got a futurenergy wind turbine and I've helped assemble it, I'll try and get a few pictures when I'm back. It is a very nice turbine and powerful, nice hub design etc, it slips over a standard scaffolding pole. Only small downside I can see with it is that it has sliprings, which might need a bit more maintenace but I guess could be beneficial, its certainly a nice generator, but they'll only honour the warranty if you set it up with the right bits etc. |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
936 Posts |
Posted - 16/02/2008 : 20:57:26
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Cheers Fungus.
Good to get a some feedback on the product, I like them.
I've always thought the chassis and furling system looks a bit flimsy compared to some of the DIY designs.
Not sure if this BBC Media Player link will work for all, but honest advice from Peter Osbourne of Futurenergy on the BBC's working Lunch 12 months ago, incidentally that was the day my ametek wind generator was blown down, 80 m.p.h gusts....
Broadband connection required.
http://tinyurl.com/2ksj8e
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Going to bite the bullet - Futurenergy Turbine
