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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
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sacongo
Starting Member
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2008 : 11:07:00
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| Sundowner It looks good. I see you have the wires running up the tail why is that? Do you get any good wind in your area and what kind of power does that genny put out? |
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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2008 : 16:16:49
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Thanks for feedback Sacongo, I have wires running up the tail at the moment for testing purposes.
Its in a temporary location in my garden( pole attached to one of the deck posts).
My intention is once I get it working properly generating power I'll move it to an off grid mountainside location to charge car batteries to run a few lights.
I am researching the forums on here to get as much information as I can.
In my suburban garden I'm seeing voltages of up to 30v this is on the outputs of a bridge rectifier. It needs high wind gusts to get to this voltage on average its giving me a reading of 12v - 19v, I have no idea of the amps.
I think I'm ready to connect it to a car battery and see what happens.
Sundowner....huh.........thats what they call us.......Sundowners |
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gholt
Starting Member
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2008 : 06:45:45
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Hello Sundowner,
Nice photos, nice rig ... Question - is that a Sturmey Archer dynohub as the generator or something else, and if it's a dynohub, how are you getting such high voltage readings? I thought those units produced around 6 volts.
That looks like a bicycle frame that's been chopped that you're using for your motor mount and vane, if it is, it's a very clever solution.
G. |
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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2008 : 12:50:54
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Hi Gholt,
Thats is exactly what it is, a bicycle frame chopped to make all the essential bits I needed.
I used the number plate of a childs tricycle as a tail
If anyone is interested I'll take a few close up pictures of how I put it together.
If you look at a bicycle frame you'll see that it has all the essential parts you need for a light weight turbine frame.
The one I used is from the bike that the dynamo was on.
I am using a sturmey dynamo and I am getting the voltages as stated, I'm assuming that the dynamo had an easy life before I got my hands on it. Its dated September 65. I adjusted and greased (not oiled) the complete unit and it seems to turn very easily without any real cogging issues.
Yesterday evening I connected up the bridge rectifier to a car battery which was reading 12.2v and ran 5 12v 0.32w bulbs off the set up for about 3 hours. I disconnected the bulbs before I went to bed and checked the battery again this morning its still reading 12.2v.
I don't know if the load was too slight to have an effect on the battery so I'm monitoring the situation today.
Battery connected to turbine with no load and I'll check it after I see some movement on the turbine to see if voltage increases.
Advice always welcome.
Sundowner....huh.........thats what they call us.......Sundowners |
Edited by - Sundowner on 01/05/2008 12:55:51 |
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gholt
Starting Member
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 00:24:30
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Well Sundowner ... I'm impressed with your resourcefulness and creativity. Yes, by all means more pictures, especially close-ups would be very beneficial to all.
See if you can hit up any of your friends with boats or the local boat yard for a marine battery which has been exchanged in. You will need to test it with your volt-meter before accepting or it may just be a boat anchor, door stop, etc. You might also check with the local motorcycle shop for exchanges, some of which are still fresh enough to use. Car batteries work, but not for long.
Kudos to you on a very resourceful system.
G. |
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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 11:11:47
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Thanks Gholt,
Your comments are appreciated, especially in relation to the batteries.
I'll just have to check our local recycling place and see if there are any marine boat batteries laying around.( I don't live far from a large pleasure lake).
It appears to be working fine as the wind is blowing today and already I'm seeing a rise in voltage on the battery from 12.2v to 12.7v.
The cost of this system so far is minimal,
Turbine frame- Free from scrapped bike from recycling website.
Tail - Free from childs bike.
Mounting Pole- Free Its a weights bar donated by daughters boyfriend.
Sturmey Dyno - Free I got it from a recycling website
Battery - Free not big enough to crank wifes car.
Cable - From broken hoover.
Bridge rectifier :( Bought from Maplins for €2.65.
Blades - Free 4 inch sewer pipe.
Paint - Had it laying around in the shed.
Various nuts and bolts from stuff I have taken apart before :) Free
Time and effort I should have paid for because I've gotten great pleasure from researching the mechanics and electrics and I'm still learning.
Thanks to Gotwinders for advice I've received and for having a forum I could search when a question bothered me and I needed an answer.
Advice always welcome.
Sundowner....huh.........thats what they call us.......Sundowners |
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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2008 : 14:10:24
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Hi Ben and all at gotwind,
I think it would be easier to keep track of my own postings in relation to this turbine if I post any questions I have about it on this thread.
Question, after Gholts pointers in relation to batteries I was wondering if these were any good I have 18 of them.
Specs- 12v 4.5AH/20HR
Constant Cycle Charge
Cycle use 14.0v-15.0v (25c)
Standby use 13.5v-13.8v (25c)
Initial Current: less than 1.35A
These batteries are out of scrapped electric scooters, they've been sitting on my deck all winter and I'm still getting a 12v reading from the ones I've tested.
Picture http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/sundowner_photo/Differentpictures2007.jpg
Advice always welcome.
Sundowner....huh.........thats what they call us.......Sundowners |
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steevo777
New Member
58 Posts |
 Posted - 05/05/2008 : 16:48:06
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Hey Sundowner that is a great idea. I love it 
How did you connect the dynamo to the bike headset ? Have you any pics showing that ?
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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2008 : 21:25:12
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Hi Steevo777,
I'll be taking the turbine down in the morning(Tuesday. I didn't get a chance to do it today as the day was one of glourious sunshine and family duties took first place(as they should).
More Pictures soon I promise.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, I'm still looking for advice on my battery ideas. See posts on this thread.
Sundowner....huh.........thats what they call us.......Sundowners |
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DENNIS A
Starting Member
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 13:24:53
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Hi Sundowner
I agree with Gholt, how are you getting such high voltages.
as I can not do this.
Could you not be picking up the battery voltage.
Do you get these high voltages if powering a simple filerment bulb.
Dennis |
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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 22:12:55
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Hi Dennis,
I have no idea how I'm getting those voltages, the unit spins in the wind and I read the voltage on the meter.
I checked the voltages without a load connected and it was reading up to 30v in strong gusts and in steady winds its reading anywhere from 0v up to 19/20v.
It is running pretty fast when it gets going.
When I take a reading with it connected to a battery the highest reading I've seen is 12.9v regardless of how fast its spinning.
I'll have to get a video of it on utube showing it spinning and its voltage output with no load connected.
Advice always welcome.
Sundowner....huh.........thats what they call us.......Sundowners |
Edited by - Sundowner on 06/05/2008 22:15:20 |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
763 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 22:28:35
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Sounds about right Sundowner for a really windy site, your lucky.
Your max of 30 volts is open volts. i.e no load connected, not really advised - but kind of o.k with the dynohub for a short while, as the power is so low, and cogging so great.
The 12.9v is the clamped charge voltage into the battery, it would be interesting to take a current reading, through the positive feed - it can't ever exceed 0.5A in my experience.
You may also want to 'beef' up your tower a bit - from the images I'm seeing - just a thought in such an environment.
Ben. |
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Sundowner
Starting Member
Ireland
47 Posts |
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Hefhoover
Starting Member
United Kingdom
30 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2008 : 22:08:34
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Nice one! very resourceful.
Check your camera for a "macro" setting (usually a picture of a tulip)it'll help you get clearer pics.
Carry on the good work, Hef :-) |
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Picture of my Turbine
