First wind project for me...

[freeEnergy4me]

I bought this industrial floor fan for $20, it was a mess and took some cleaning and breaking apart to get it to look this good.

I think I'll just remove the blades and add a DC motor. I actually getting a lot of rotation on the ground when we get gusts of wind. The motor is a bit stiff and if I had a better motor it would give me some more rotation, also with moving it off the ground and adding a tail.

Any suggestions on a motor/gen? I am going to buy another similar fan for $5. If I can put two of these guys up, it may actually charge a single battery.

[ghurd]

Most of them don't turn very fast.  Some are OK.

It would be good for a ceiling fan conversion, or something else that reaches cut-in voltage at quite a low RPM.

If the alternator cogs very bad, the blades make a lot of noise.

Might try converting the motor it came with?  Cheap and simple, if you have a lathe or know someone.  Probably a decent first project.

G-

[freeEnergy4me]

I hope it gets me something!

Well I don't want to gamble and spend more money on a possibly losing situation. So I think I will rip apart the motor and try to make my own DC motor and put it up on a pole and see how it goes.

It most likely will be more of a learning experience than a watt provider.

I'm in the city so I can't really jack up a 10' turbine on a 40ft pole.  Maybe I'll move out to Colorado or Wyoming.   So it's a small turbine up on my roof.

[tecker]

Looks like a good test stand .I think your hooked.I know your cutting your eyes at any Junk that could get you going . Take your time and enjoy the ride.

[elvin1949]

  If you want to try something cheap with that motor check out hiker's files.

 He did one a lot like that one,with lowe's ceramic mag's. It worked pretty well.

have fun

later

Elvin