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MattieG
Starting Member
United Kingdom
8 Posts |
 Posted - 09/05/2008 : 12:48:50
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Hi
Just installed (nailed together) my first fixed downwind turbine and im really pleased.
Ive gone for the easy option of just pointing it in one direction as I didnt want to bother with a yaw bearing etc but it works really well!!!
Anyway, my 38v motor is producing over 6 or 7 volts most of the time with a small breeze but not getting over 13 or 14 needed for charging.
I was thinking of building another one and placing it next to the current one and wiring them in series so that I would get atleast 14v all the time, enough to charge!!!!1
Anybody have any ideas about this???? I may have to get a decentMPPT charge controlled but I think it might work well :)
Any thoughts appreciated.
Mattie
Mattie
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
765 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2008 : 16:28:59
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I suspect two in series would work, with suitable blocking diodes fitted, so one doesn't try and 'motor' the other.
If the wind speed is so low that you are only seeing 6 or 7 volts, then there is very little power to be harnessed at any rate.
Best to re-site a single turbine in a windy location (if possible).
What diameter is your propeller, 4 Ft?
Ben. |
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steve121
Starting Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2008 : 02:23:56
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I can tell you from experience that it worked for me. I wired 3, 12 volt radiator fans from Ford Mustangs in series. No diodes in between , just wired in series. One large diode to the battery pack. Was easy to do since the fan and motor came as a package. $10 at junk yard.
I was camping, windsurfing in the Sacramento Delta California with stead 25 to 35 mile winds.
The power output was scary.
I started with one radiator fan puting out 5 volts, it wasn't working so I went back to the junkyard and got 2 more fans. Mounted the fans on 2x4s and put them on top of my motorhome with rocks to hold the fans and support from blowing away. The first night it blew 30 miles an hour gusting to 40. I didn't sleep all night and had to turn all the lights in the motor home on to prevent the batteries from exploding. If I tried disconecting the fans they would freewheel and it was even scarier.
The next day I bought a charge control that would dump the electricity into light bulbs when the batteries were charged.
Spent the summer with all the juice I could use except for the few no wind days. Was great but only worked because the wind was so strong, steady, and always came from the same direction.
Hope this helps you.
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BushWhacker
Junior Member
Canada
255 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2008 : 05:30:13
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Steve, What RPM are those cooling fans supposed to run at with 12 volts input? What were you using for blades? This really has me perplexed.
Cheers!
BW
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. - Albert Einstein |
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MattieG
Starting Member
United Kingdom
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2008 : 12:41:35
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Wow! That sounds great Steve!!! We might be on to something here.
Im going to get a couple more motors and see if I get something similiar to you.
Thanks
Mattie
Mattie |
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steve121
Starting Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2008 : 20:33:34
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The fans I used were for cooling the radiator, 12 volt motors. I just went to the junk yard and looked around for the biggest motor I could find. I unbolted the complete assembly. The assembly had the fan blades and the motor. Also they came with metal brackets to attach the fan to the radiator. I used those brackets to fasten (screw) the fans 3 across left to right on a 6' piece of wood top and bottom. Also a backward brace to keep them upright and facing into the wind. Also another wood support from the backward brace to the front with the fans, forming a triangle. I piled rocks on that support that rested on top of the motorhome. Lots of rocks after the first night. Sorry sort of hard to explain.
Wish I had some photos but I did this before the age of Digi Cams, and before I owned a computer.
Was just a hair brained idea you come up with when you spend weeks in 20 to 40 miles an hour wind, camped out (10' from the river) hoping to watch some TV at night.
Ran my TV, VCR, lights no problem. Makes me laugh to think about it and the weird looks and coments I got from people passing by.
I don't think anyone believed it worked.
I was camped in probably the windiest spot in California( sacramento river). There were many wind farms in sight. And the wind always came up the river in the same direction, so no need for a pivot.
Bushwacker- hope this explains this better. |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
765 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2008 : 20:48:42
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Ahh.
20 - 40 mph winds makes a huge difference.
Nice idea where the wind is huge, maybe not so good to us averaging 10 m.ph - (roughly)
Probably work well in Donniedingle's location.
A good bit of innovation shown however Steve.
Ben. |
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steve121
Starting Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2008 : 20:55:08
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| I should add that it took 15 miles of wind before I was getting any usefull power. But i learned that as wind speed doubles power output quadruples. I got the diodes that prevented the fans from becoming motors from radio shack. I bought 4, 2 amp diodes and ran them in parallel. Wasn't sure this would work but it was my easiest option. At 40 miles/hour wind those diodes were smoking hot. I didn't have an amp meter but from the feel of those diodes I'm guessing at least 6 amps. |
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Topic |
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Geek question - 2 Ametek 38v in Series???
