There's even a design for a mini single rotor air core axial alternator. http://www.instructables.com/id/Pringles-Wind-Turbine-Pleech---Version-One/?ALLSTEPS
There is also a more robust version on the same site - Instructables (it's a bit childish, I love it) http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Savonius-Wind-Turbine-or-VAWT-to-make-elec/?ALLSTEPS
Have fun.
Ben.
I am playing with McDonald's soda cups now. :-) Same idea. G-[ Parent ]
No, at the moment I'm just trying to make something mechanically workable.
Then I'll probably cheat and try to buy a motor/gen...
My tweaking is coming along, and I may even have something that I can put in the garden to spin by itself tomorrow... What I believe TomW may call "yard art" but in this case becomes "educational toy"!
Rgds
Damon[ Parent ]
I won't put any more time or money into a small VAWT. A 40cm diameter HAWT is cheaper, easier, and I got at least measurable power. I certainly wouldn't bother building it dual-rotor PMA!
It is probably best suited to an 8V stepper motor for LEDs or AA nicd/nimh. Meaning TomW's 'yard art' or a useful "educational toy". Don't be offended. TomW is a realist looking from the perspective of powering a household instead of powering a digital camera.
It will be big fun. It could be usable, in a small sort of way. It won't cost much (with a stepper motor). Build a similar HAWT, be it similar in cost or swept area or whatever. It will show why nobody has a proven commercial 50+W VAWT. Ed might do it, but that is a completely different animal.
To summarize, slap a stepper on it and be happy. :-) G- [ Parent ]
.....Bill [ Parent ]
The 0.3m swept area one that I was looking at was ~$9k from the US distributor.
I'm waiting for pricing from the UK distributor.
Next thing I'll be asking you where to get the magnets in the UK! B^>
