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A change of blade? | 8 comments (8 topical, editorial)

Re: A change of blade? (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by SparWeb (sparweb at ANTISPAM_hotmail_com) on Thu May 15th, 2008 at 12:35:51 PM MST
(User Info)

Sorry to hear this has become quite a saga. I don't know why you chose to make a set the same size as before, which already weren't working. Have you tried using a 24V battery? Have you tried different resistor values (or removing them altogether?) If you tried these and reported back, it would probably be easier to diagnose the problem.

Smaller blades catch less wind power. That won't help.
More blades increases solidity, which slows the turbine down. Also won't help.

If you don't have the heart to make a new set of blades, perhaps try mounting them on "extensions". The outer diameter will increase, and the effective TSR will only go down slightly.

If I were you, I would be working toward a larger prop size - large enough to get rid of those resistors.

Steven Fahey

Re: A change of blade? (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by Flux on Thu May 15th, 2008 at 01:22:21 PM MST
(User Info)

"I'm figuring it will be better to be producing 1/2 amp a lot of the time rather than nothing for most of the time because I never get to cut in."

If this really is the case then you have no wind.

I suspect you are reaching cut in much too early and going into stall. I am not sure what sort of ammeter you have, but try something that will measure low current and check that it is really not reaching cut in. If you get a few mA at very low prop speed then it is cut in.

Alternatively read the ac volts on a pair of the bridge ac connections and it should rise with speed. When it starts to go constant at about 9v or so you have reached cut in. If in doubt remove the battery connection and if you are cut in and stalled the speed will shoot up.

If for some reason you are genuinely not reaching cut in then suspect useless turbulent wind or some alternator fault dragging the thing down, possibly a shorted diode.

If it doesn't get a real rant on with no battery connected then disconnect the rectifier and see if it gets away.

If you can establish the cause of trouble then it is easier to know how to fix it.

Flux

[ Parent ]

A change of blade? | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial)

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