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donniedingle
Junior Member
United Kingdom
101 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2008 : 22:24:24
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hi fellow windies,
i have spent almost the full evening reading about the conference in aberdeen, do a google for "all energy exibition aberdeen".
I think i have contributed to there trade stand ....lmoa, its more for the likes of vesta and huge offshore instalations, wave power and bio fuelling, all very good reading though, i wonder if vesta in there mega MW units get bearing problems ...lol but a great place for finding new technology all the same.
donnie.
ps. ben i am glad to see you invested wisely and bought a chinese unit, and not the XXXX i invested in recently........lol.
just keep her spinning.. |
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
361 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2008 : 22:24:27
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I can vouch for Dewalt stuff. I have a 12v drill mainly used as a cordless driver and a 14.4v XRP drill which is brilliant. I laso have a 14.4V circular saw.
Dewalt stuff is very good indeed, although some of the latest Bosch and Hitachi drills are excellent too.
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
361 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2008 : 22:28:41
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And on to the Futurenergy saga,
I'll have a word with the company tomorrow and suggest they view this thread and respond accordingly so that existing and potential customers can see how they view their product, service, warranty, and bearings.
I'm surprised you havn't seen the full 46 amps yet Donnie. The sales of Goods Act 1979 stipulates that the goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and they must correspond with any despription given. So it it says 46 amps at 380 rpm then that's what it should do, although it will vary to some extent as to the state of charge of your batteries, so maybe you're batteries are kept well charged and not accepting the full potential current.
I'm ashamed to say that mine hasn't flown yet. I've got a little Rutland 503 on the roof of my house (nice and discreet) and a bigger partly homemade Rutland in my back garden that only spins up when I get wind from the east.
I think you're right, I should give it a decent test before I head down the Pyrennes and rely too heavily on it.
Cheers
Del.
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Edited by - Del on 01/05/2008 15:38:56 |
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Victor
Junior Member
United Kingdom
357 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2008 : 15:56:02
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This is good info for all! I hope the manufacturer takes heed of the constructive criticism of the bearings on this wind turbine.More complaints the better! Let`s hope that they improve the design and it will give them btter sales...
I`M ALL FOR UK PRODUCTION!!! GET YOUR FINGERS OUT AND FIX THOSE BEARING DESIGNS!!
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
361 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2008 : 16:45:25
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I've spoken to Futurenergy today, as promised, but it was only about a couple of hours ago and by that time they had already been in written contact with Ben. I assume our esteemed forum owner will post their comments on later as appropriate.
I agree with Victor - this needs to be seen as a potential positive and we need to work with companies like Futurenergy in a partnership approach for the benefit of all and not as an aversarial relationship as there are simply not enough companies out there that do a wind generator PMA at a reasonable price. |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
760 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2008 : 20:41:24
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To all.
I am in a difficult position here.
Futurenergy have contacted me with a few concerns about some comments made - understandable from a business side.
However I believe in the freedom of speech and real life experience of any product, this is what this forum is all about, so i can't simply delete these comments or the complete thread (this wasn't requested by the way).
I agree with Del, in the posting above.
"this needs to be seen as a potential positive and we need to work with companies like Futurenergy in a partnership approach for the benefit of all and not as an aversarial relationship as there are simply not enough companies out there that do a wind generator PMA at a reasonable price"
What would make me happy is:
1. For a more 'considered' approach by DonnieDingle, if he wishes to attend the Aberdeen Futurenergy show - (I have read the email)
2. Futurenergy to maybe address the bearing issue - it does appear a little small for it's purpose.
3. Input from Futurenergy on this forum to help us both achieve the ultimate alternator for a reasonable price.
Best I can do, to try and please all - not easy...
Ben. |
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donniedingle
Junior Member
United Kingdom
101 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2008 : 21:16:16
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hi everybody,
i'm sorry to see you got involved ben, but i to believe in free speech, and if i buy something and its not right or won't do the job its claimed to do then i'll make a noise, i can easily go and and put a full and frank report on the likes of u tube, or bebo, and all findable by searching the net, but nobody will stop me saying what i found in there product or lack of it. Del you just said something that made me think, i have a very good friend in the highland college, i'm going to ring him and see if he has the time to get a proper output done on my pmg, ie. rpm in relation to output, geeeezzzzz he know because he is the tutor teaching guys how to dismantle nuclear reactors, and wee clever mannie he is too.
but i can only say what has happened to me.
super windy got an ear bending from them i believe...lol. and he only asked about a warrenty, but its only fair to state what one finds about a company, they seem to forget we have been working and making turbines long before they jumped on the band wagon. and we are a dedicated bunch of green power men, all keen to learn and keener still to share knowledge with each other.
regards donnie.
just keep her spinning.. |
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Victor
Junior Member
United Kingdom
357 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2008 : 22:27:00
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I might buy some solar panels from Futurenergy in the near future! I think they would be better working with everyone instead of defending themselves as if we are all out to get them...
I think most companies always go on the defence when there is a small problem...I`m sure they will be more than helpful once they have actually taken in what we all have to say.
I think this post is beneficial to the company in many ways!! And will give them more business than stopping business!!
It`s good that they are looking at the gotwind website too!! Maybe they could advertise here with the mark two turbine :-) ( I`m sure a feature on here would be great for the company sending ben a mark rwo turbine!!! :-) With them reading the message board on this website it proves that gotwind has a poverful amount of people visiting and learning from this website.
Not only can us people learn from this site but also engineers too...
Afterall we are the people using the products 24/7 and we should have freedom of speech!!
I really dont think they should be slapping bens fingers for our own posts on this forum!! That would be totally unfair to ben and what he is trying to do for the good of everyone else!!
I think people have the right to comment on what they think of products as long as it is backed up and can be proved!! Maybe the bearings on the turbine should be taken to the show in aberdeen to show their engineers the problem and they can deal with it!!
NO ONE IS OUT TO HAVE A GO AT FUTREENERGY.....
Reading the posts it has not stopped me from buying products from them in the future.....
Hope they have engineers at the show and not agency staff that are hired for the day!!
I`ll even wear a furure energy T-Shirt if they send me one!!
Just remember !! A company is only as good as it`s aftersales!!!
AFTERSALES!! Are very important for me!! I tend to buy more and more from the same company if their aftersales are good!!!
I could list about 10 UK companies that bend over backwards to help you even when they have had you hard earned cash!!
Hopefully we can add future energy to this list in the near future!!
Let`s leave the door open for the company to have a think. We are your friends not your enemy!!
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super windy
Junior Member
195 Posts |
 Posted - 02/05/2008 : 00:05:45
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Hi ben and all little gotwinds.
Like donnie, I am sorry that in the end you got caught out in the middle of this, specially when it was me that first originated this post, but after talking on the phone to donnie, I was disgusted by his raw deal, and after then speaking to future energy and specially the technical team, and asked about warranty on the alternator, I was informed has I have mentioned previously, that there really wasn't any warranty, since they don't make the blades themselves and it was down to us to balance the blades, so to me it seems like they are basically saying that once the bearings go on the alternator don't be ringing them for a replacement because you will be told that it was the blades that weren't balanced,(loop hole in warranty) and that they don't stock the bearings anyway, and after 10 minutes of talking to them on the phone I decided that this company with that attitude, wouldn't be getting my money for the alternator.
There has been somme very good comments on this post though, and I was aware that were donnie lives it is very windy, but then on their website they say that the turbine has been tested in 12 gale force winds, so like victor says I am not out here to get future energy, I personally thanks to a friend like donnie haven't occured any finacial lost, and I created this post so fellow gotwinds were aware
of what was happening, and dettailing my personnal experience when dealing with the company, everything was going smooth when I wanted to buy the alternator, but then when I asked about the warranty available, it was like throwing a match to a fire, conversation all of the sudden turned quite nasty, were I was told that she was just a sales rep for me to talk to a technical department, and he wasn't very reasurring.
I do believe that freedom of speech is a great commodity in our lives it makes companies and business more aware about what product they are selling to get our money, and what might happen if they don't comme up to standard, and a forum like this is just another medium where fellow members can discuss what it's good and what's not, and to be able to say it freely when something just isn't what it says on paper.
The way a company stays in business is by looking after its customers, if you do something and its a good quality the customers will always remember your product, and sometimes you lose money to make more money, 3 weeks ago my apprentice while putting a section of skirting around a box to hide pipework in a clients house that we built he fired a nail too far and hit the pipe, so after 2 days of leaking little drops, there was a little stain comming through the box the client called me back, and when I arrived there I had to reassure the client that it would be sorted, anyway after braking a section of this box, calling my plumber, build the box again, get the decorator in again I was £450 down, for a job that I got £175 in the first place, however that client has a daughter that just bought a house, and has specified that I do all the carpentry and joinery in her house, so the way I see it I had a few options tell the client that I was too busy to sort it out, blame the plumber that put the pipes in, blame the weather, tell I'm going through a nasty divorce, my van broke down or do the right thing and go back and fix the mistake that my company did, I choosed the later, and I might have lost a bit financially, but the client is happy and I will recover that little lost in no time,so always look after your customers, its them that put food on the table.
anyway Ben I sincerely apologise once again for getting you involved and having future energy breathing down your back, but they have to realise that if something is not right we will not be quiet about it.
cheerio
super windy |
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
361 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 10:30:06
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Irrespective of what ANY company verbally states, or is alleged to have said, as a purchaser of an item you are afforded protection under UK law and no supplier can simply state whatever they choose to sidestep a genuine warranty claim.
So you definetely didn't buy a Futurenergy unit then Superwindy?
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super windy
Junior Member
195 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 15:00:03
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Nope del. I am looking at the one that I think fungus has altough would it be usable for 12v, maybe fungus can clarify it seems that it does 10v per 100 rpm, so can it be used for 12v??, is that what you are using it for fungus, or have you gonne 24 volts.
cheers
super windy |
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fungus
Junior Member
249 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 20:08:55
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| super windy ; I'm assuming you're talking about the renewablecomponents one .. its pretty much the same as the futurenergy in terms of usage etc, I think they even use the same blades, it has a 1" shaft which is a bit larger than the futurenergy and has three holes to bolt into. It is 10v/100rpm. I didnt actually get the exact one that they use for wind turbines, I got one that had 4 times the cogging torque and converted it into an aircore , but its pretty much exactly the same and it looks nice. |
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donniedingle
Junior Member
United Kingdom
101 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 22:48:13
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Hi Windies
Firstly i agree with what Del just wrote, there is UK law to protect the buyer, of a commodity or service.
Now i rang my pal at the college, and he has neither the time or resources at the moment to do a full test on the PMG, but, he offered to call and give it a quick once over....which he did tonight whilst i was sowing corn, he dismantled the PMG, and he feels pretty sure its of chinese origin, and not britsh, the lack of pressure to fit and remove the bearings leads him to think its not of Parkinson, or GEC quality, now to help everybody here, he suggests a new alloy casting for the end covers that hold the bearings, and into that could be machined a bigger housing to accept a larger bearing, easy eh!
Now his next comments to me are confusing, if it was a 24v or a 48v those bearings would be pretty acceptable, just that the 12v model produces a greater amperage and consequently its harder to turn under load hence the bearing wear, now a 24v produces far less amperage and is far easier to turn, and likewise for for the 48v unit which would be easier still on the bearings, this make sense to you all ....lol. But he would like to see the actual balance of the unit with out any blades attached, and check that out too. but he thought my blades where pretty good for balance, and cannot see the 1 gram unit being so critical on such a low speed unit, but there is a force called a couple? balance front and rear of the blades i think he meant, its the same as balancing a car wheel, sometimes weights are added to each side of the wheel and not just to one side of the rim.
but i agree with victor, i'm not trying to put them out of business, far from it,i did contact them to see if they had s/h or shop soiled blades that i could buy to prove once and for all its not the bearings but my wind conditions and blade set up, i'm looking for help and assistance and some new bearings, i think we need Ben to invite them to the forum, and to give us a run down on balance,warranty terms, and most of all how to get the most from the unit, Now that all my renewables are 12v based i'd like to have tried a 24v unit, alot of the guys on utube, are running 24/48v units, so maybe a valid point in my pals observations, that 12v is much harder to turn when producing full power, and then excessive load goes onto the wee bearings.
But as my pal said tonight, give them a chance to put it right before i go and slap it in there laps, and if they cannot or won't, go along the lines that Del quite rightly said. but in essence he said it was a pretty simple design and should be trouble free for years.
regards Donnie.
just keep her spinning.. |
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
361 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2008 : 10:31:58
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Hi all,
Very interesting what your mate has said Donnie about different voltage units and the strain on the bearings.
I did actually speak to Futurenergy again yeasterday and have invited them to respond via the forum as to the points being raised.
I'm sure any reputable company is not going to want to get involved in an on-line slanging match, but I've suggested that they outline their conditions of warranty to correct any misunderstandings plus any comments they may feel appropriate regarding the bearings and customer service.
Their warranty conditions are on their website I believe, but it would be nice to welcome them to the forum so we can either move this discussion on or put it to bed.
Cheers
Del. |
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fungus
Junior Member
249 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2008 : 10:35:40
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| Donnie; I think your friend might be confusing using the same generator at a higher voltage to the ones specifically wound for the higher voltage at the same speed, if an alternator is wound to make 12v at XXXrpm and you have another one thats identical apart from the winding that makes 24v at XXXrpm then there would be no difference .. While its true that having 10A out versus 20A out will have half the torque, with the different voltages theres still the same power out. |
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NON PURCHASE OF FUTURE ENERGY ALTERNATOR
