introducton/I have a few questions

[Mohrenberg]

Hello, everyone!
I'm Matthew Ohrenberg. 29 year old Paramedic from Missouri.
I recently decided to get a wind turbine. I had thought about solar panels because my home is all electric, but then it dawned on me that since I am always complaining about how windy it is at my house, I should get wind turbines!
I own 4 acres which is surrounded by corn fields, so I'm constantly being blasted by wind. After looking at wind turbines on Ebay I decided to just build a few myself.
I don't plan on going off grid, but I do average around 1000kwh per month and this winter I had a couple months hit 3000kwh, paying almost $400/mo in electric bills.

I love "tinkering" as I'm sure most people here do. Taking things apart to see how they work and then putting them back together. I have been involved in DIY high powered lasers for the past 5-6 years but i got bored with it.


Alright enough about me. I do have a fe questions which I haven't been able to find answers to by reading, and I've been doing A LOT of reading lately.
First, what's flux?
Also, what is furling?

Neodymium magnet -  Will I get the same effect by stacking smaller ones to a larger size?
How much increase in power do I get by having a magnetic rotor on each side of the coils? is it worth the extra cost of all those magnets?

[Mohrenberg]

Oh, My first build will be going off the 7' turbine shown on OtherPower, with probably a few modifications.

Does anyone know of some good stores that sell magnets at a reasonable price?
Eventually I plan to have some manufactured in China, but definitely want to get through my first build before I do anything too expensive or crazy.

[Mary B]

These guys usually have the lowest magnet price http://www.magnet4less.com/

Furling is when the blades fold back towards the tail on a pivot when the wind gets to fast.

[electrondady1]

flux is an invisible  force that i like to use .

[DamonHD]

But he does step in to answer questions magnificently!

Rgds

Damon

[JW]

LoL Flux,,, that's an inside humor here on the forum there is a user named "Flux", who is very knowledgeable on homebrew wind tubines...

Importance of Magnetic Flux
http://www.6pie.com/magneticflux.php

This should be considered a (magnetic circuit) :ie closing the magnetic circuit... Just as electrons make a circuit in wires, "flux does something similar, in our applications you need steel rotors to complete the magnets field (flux) circuit.

[Mohrenberg]

Thanks guys. As always, 5 minutes after I finally ask a question I found it right in the front on the forum's FAQ page lol.
I ordered a new wheel bearing hub to play with. Still have to order most of the other stuff.
I had planned to do something really small, but I may as well go for something useful.

Wife won't let me put it on the house so I get to raise a tower. I'm excited

[birdhouse]

3000 Kwh/month?  wow.  that's a lot!  was a large portion of this used for electric heat?  if so, have you looked at this page? 

http://builditsolar.com/

go to the "projects" button and scroll to "solar space heating" 

i know wind turbines are fun to build, watch, raise, lower, moniter ect, but if the ultimate goal is to offset the electricity bill, you might be further ahead with heating air or water directly within home made panels. 

just some thoughts on reducing that whopping Kwh number. 

adam

[Bruce S]

Welcome to the forum.
Two questions
Paramedic? and where in Missouri ?