HI Jerry,
Thanks for the compliment. Let's see...
Right now the wind is at 5 to 7 mph and it's just bouncing in and out of cut in.
The hub for the blades is the fan off a Chevy S-10 less the original blades. There are 6 arms on the fan hub and they have a twist. I ignored the twist and lined up the curve of the PVC blade so the trailing edge was square with the wind and the curved root was about 90 degrees off from that and into the wind.
Yes, 3 bridge rectifiers, and Jerry rigged is the next step! In an earlier post I mentioned adding a second disc behind the stator that put my machine bad into stall in light winds. So I brought the disc out 1/8 inch and got increased power and no stall. Now several times it has been recommended I try Jerry rigged and I did in fact try it before I added the second steel disc. It worked about the same as hooking it up for 24 volt, (in terms of watts). I lost all power from the 8 to 10 mph range (my usual). However, everyone's friend, Mr Ghurd convinced me if I try jerry rigged again now I may be able to move the disc back in possibly finding that sweet spot.
As for the down wires, they work like most. I go out and take a twist out every few weeks. This is my test machine so nothing is fixed too permanently. It is mounted by my houses first story roof in an area with lots of turbulence. It's easy access as I just step out a window and onto this roof. I am preparing a spot on top of my third story attic where it will be 35 feet high. Thats a project in itself with all kinds of rubber bushings for vibration damping. Once up there I will try to have the down wires inside the pipe.
No doubt I borrowed ideas from your files for the bearing assembly. I've ransacked everyone's files stealing ideas. I think I got most of my PVC ideas from GeeMac.
The output of your mill is impressive. You must have built it like a rock. Where in your files can I see more of that machine? Is it 12, 24 or 48 volt? I'm trying to get results that will compare with a simple battery charger. Like the kind with a switch, 2 amps normal charge or 10 amps boost. The most I've seen from this mill was 10.25 amps in a gust I estimate at 35 mph. I have no idea what #22 gauge wire can take but I assume it couldn't do that continuously. If I can get 2 to 3 amps most of the time and more on high wind days I think I will have done what I can with our light coastal breeze. Right now it's putting out most of the time in the 1/2 to 2 amp range. I would also like to avoid furling and am considering a 5 blade set in the 4 to 5 foot range. I will also carve wood blades for a 6 foot 3 blade set.
Andy
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