the Otherpower.com Discussion Board || Comments Wrong Motor

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Rants & Opinion - Diaries - Our Products

Wrong Motor | 56 comments (56 topical, editorial)

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#34)
by adaml on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 03:29:18 AM MST
(User Info)

Ghurd, I have followed your advice and shortened and narrowed the blades, have posted pic of them up. I would be most grateful for your thoughts. They certainly look a lot better to me!

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#35)
by ghurd on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 07:29:13 AM MST
(User Info)

Much better!
Still not a great motor, and the blades are probably not a good match to the motor (PVC blades are somewhat forgiving), but the chances of it working just went up a lot.

I am quite confident they will reach charging voltage.
I would expect charging to start at about 0.1875 x drill RPMs.
The 0.1875 is from the drill test (15V charging voltage / 80V tested).
But you never can tell if the motor knows the math! Many of mine do not.

I hope you learn something from it, and have fun. The next one is easier.

Great emphasis needs placed on the current site being VERY bad.
It will need to be in a spot with nothing in front or behind. Or higher.
I get nothing as soon as the trees bud in spring. Your trees look more dense than mine.
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#37)
by adaml on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 09:42:53 AM MST
(User Info)

Hi Ghurd, Thanks so much for your continued support. I have ordered a totally different motor, my calculations should give approx 12v at 180rpm in 5-10mph winds, has been shipped so getting excited! Found an old post on here where someone else had brought the same motor as this and gave up, someone else posted they were no good....you live and learn and is all fun! This turbine is to go on top of a hill on an island in the Adriatic so hopefully lots of sea breezes. For mine I will go a lot higher to clear as much wind interference as possible.
Will also try to reshape my old larger blades for a bit more experimentation. The small ones went last night in a breeze with a push to get them going so I think I am also suffering with this "no good" motor from cogging, if that is the correct term?! Thanks again Ghurd, wish I had found this forum long ago!

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#36)
by TomW on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 08:05:28 AM MST
(User Info)

adam;

I realize you are in "testing mode" but I have to mention that dangling cable is very likely to get caught in the prop if you don't secure it from flopping around as a big loop. Had it happen myself on a test stand it made a mess and ripped the cable and brushes right out of the Ametek I was testing. I didn't see it happen but the postmortem indicated it had yawed hard and the loop opened and did not follow fast enough and the blade hooked in the loop and the rest was simply physics.

You are coming along nicely. Getting rid of that curl at the root should help it speed wise.

Tom

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain
[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#38)
by adaml on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 09:45:34 AM MST
(User Info)

Thanks Tom, will get rid of that loop tonight, that was laziness on my part, no excuses!!

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#43)
by adaml on Mon Sep 1st, 2008 at 07:08:18 AM MST
(User Info)

Thanks again all. Have adapted blade and speed is a lot better, never thought it would go that fast!! Can I ask what is probably a really fundamental and beginners question about load and its definition. I am getting about 24v plus "unloaded" which I define as nothing bar multimeter connected. The thing I have noted is that with the motor connected to even just the three core wire down the tower that there is far more physical resistance coming from the motor. Connected to a bulb for example then this is even greater. This is what I understand to be "load". Am I correct in this line of thinking? Many thanks and apologies for sounding like and idiot!!

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#44)
by ghurd on Mon Sep 1st, 2008 at 08:54:56 AM MST
(User Info)

I knew it would work. :-)

There should be no extra drag with just more wire. Check for one wire touching another.

The bulb is a load, but it is almost a short as far as the windmill is concerned. Bulbs are not much good for testing a windmill.

When charging a battery, no current will flow until the windmill voltage is higher than the battery voltage + diode voltage. No current flow means unloaded.

There should be no current flowing before about 7MPH wind, or it will "stall" trying to make power that is not available in the amount of wind.
Things will improve when the battery is connected.

You understand you need a blocking diode?
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#45)
by adaml on Mon Sep 1st, 2008 at 09:02:52 AM MST
(User Info)

Thank again Ghurd, you have been great support and encouragement. Will check the wires tonight when get home but don't think any touching. Have taken the three from the motor, connected to 7 meters 3 core down the inside of the tower then to rectifier. Connected to a battery would be a load also? I tested just by connecting my multimeter to the output with nothing else connected (pic on file), so unloaded. Have ordered a blocking diode and brought an inline fuse to go between the mill and batteries. Have acquired five new car batteries, understand they are not ideal but think they will do for a start.
Also see there is a book out, will wait for pay day and pre-order!!
Thanks again. Will keep you posted. If ever there is anything I can do in return.......

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#46)
by TomW on Mon Sep 1st, 2008 at 09:17:03 AM MST
(User Info)

adam;

Careful, now. If you go praising Ghurd too much, between that all the income from his controller he will not be able to get in or out of his shop with his swollen head.

Seriously, tho, he is a great contributor here along with many others, of course.

Luckily his newfound fame and fortune have not significantly affected his humility [YET]!

Tom

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain
[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#47)
by adaml on Mon Sep 1st, 2008 at 09:23:01 AM MST
(User Info)

LOL Tom!!

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#49)
by ghurd on Tue Sep 2nd, 2008 at 07:53:18 AM MST
(User Info)

I still fit through doorways...
My ears only rub a little! :-)
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#50)
by TomW on Tue Sep 2nd, 2008 at 10:17:58 AM MST
(User Info)

M
A
N

T
h
i
s

t
h
r
e
a
d

h
a
s

g
o
t
t
e
n

n
a
r
r
o
w

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain
[ Parent ]

Re: Wrong Motor (3.00 / 0) (#48)
by adaml on Mon Sep 1st, 2008 at 02:02:08 PM MST
(User Info)

HI Guys and Ghurd, just to let you know took mill to friends farm and set up there, 20mph wind avg, highest reading on multimeter just over 70v unloaded so reckon heading in right direction!! Thanks again all for the help and inspiration.

[ Parent ]

Wrong Motor | 56 comments (56 topical, 0 editorial)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board
� Old Otherpower Board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2003 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!