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"WindPower" generator plans
By johnjach, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Mon Dec 8th, 2003 at 10:13:28 AM MST
Is this power output possible?

Plans for a "WindPower" wind generator are available from www.lookout2000.com.
This is a homebrew generator with a 6' dia. 2-bladed prop geared down to a 12V,
60 amp GM alternator. They are claiming an output of 720 watts in a 20 mph wind.
Is this realistic?
Thanks for your help.

"WindPower" generator plans | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#1)
by windstuffnow (elenz(at)windstuffnow(dot)com) on Mon Dec 8th, 2003 at 10:28:33 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.windstuffnow.com/main

I didn't see the unit...The site you posted brings me to some web hosting site. On the possibility of making that much power with a 6 ft blade... That comes out to about 63% overall which means they beat the betz and are using an alternator of 100% efficiency.
The best I got from my set up with a 6ft blade and a 60 amp alternator with a modified rotor using neo's was around 320 watts in a 20 mph wind. I thought that was pretty good at the time but still only comes out to around 28% overall efficiency.
Can you repost the site? I'd like to take a look at the unit...

Have Fun
Ed

Have Fun! Windstuff Ed

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#2)
by johnjach on Mon Dec 8th, 2003 at 10:41:29 AM MST
(User Info)

So sorry Ed, the complete website is www.lookout2000.com/windpower/

I'll look forward to your comments. Another DIY unit using an unmodified car alternator is the "Dragonfly" listed on the site list of Otherpower. What do you think of that one?

Thanks. JJ.

[ Parent ]

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#3)
by ADMIN (info74 at otherpower.com) on Mon Dec 8th, 2003 at 11:05:50 AM MST
(User Info)

The Dragonfly, to me, looks like about the best you could do with a car alternator....that's why we linked to him. He's also been in business quite a while. We've all discussed the limitations of car alternators and gearing in wind turbines here.....all I can say is that at least the Dragonfly has wood blades and a furling system. I doubt that low wind performance is very good, but at least the machine probably won't blow up. And, the builder advises scheduled maintenence. Another plus, I liked his attitude about maintenence. And it appears he mostly sells for marine users, where 20mph is fairly common....I can't think of a car alternator machine I've seen that starts up below 20 mph.

As for the WindPower machine (I first saw it on Ebay) -- sheet metal blades sound really scary to me. And there's no furling. Sounds like metal fatigue waiting to happen. Maybe OK in the mojave desert where the builder is located, but I think it would blow up here.

Nuff said.
DANF

[ Parent ]

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#6)
by windstuffnow (elenz(at)windstuffnow(dot)com) on Mon Dec 8th, 2003 at 01:22:26 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.windstuffnow.com/main

I'd have to say Dan's right about the blades... I'm not real comfortable with metal blades at all. The dragonfly looks like a stout little unit. My attempts of using the alternator out of the box were less than satisfying but the modified rotor unit worked fairly well. I still prefere building my own alternator for whatever project I'm working on. I purchased the plans for the dragonfly some time ago out of curiosity but never built one.
I would say if your going to build any type of turbine use good judgement on the strength and durability of the spinning mass....

Have Fun but play safe!

Ed

Have Fun! Windstuff Ed
[ Parent ]

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#8)
by desertratjack on Tue Dec 9th, 2003 at 10:25:23 AM MST
(User Info)

A word search on Dragonfly doesn't yield anything and I don't see a site list to find "Dragonfly"......Help!

[ Parent ]

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#9)
by ADMIN (info74 at otherpower.com) on Tue Dec 9th, 2003 at 10:37:17 AM MST
(User Info)

http://dragonflypower.com/DragonBlerb.htm

[ Parent ]

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#10)
by desertratjack on Wed Dec 10th, 2003 at 08:33:52 AM MST
(User Info)

Thanyou

[ Parent ]

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#4)
by desertratjack on Mon Dec 8th, 2003 at 11:40:22 AM MST
(User Info)

Wind power plant outputs have been exagerated by dealers/designers in the past. Generally I expect 1/2 of the stated maximum rated output (at 20 mph).

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#5)
by desertratjack on Mon Dec 8th, 2003 at 11:52:25 AM MST
(User Info)

I looked at the site mentioned. I enjoyed it and will look more at it in the future. (He's located about 50 miles south of me). What I read was 500 watts at 30MPH. Half of this at 20 MPH (250 watts) sounds about right. I'd be glad to visit him and attempt to verify his figures.

Re: "WindPower" generator plans (none / 0) (#7)
by desertratjack on Tue Dec 9th, 2003 at 10:18:33 AM MST
(User Info)

Here is an example of proper documentation of windmill output.

http://www.wind-works.org/articles/H40Whisper.html

"WindPower" generator plans | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial)

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