Go to Otherpower.com Home Page Go to Forcefield Shopping Cart Go to Wondermagnet.com Home Page
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
Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple


By Tyler883, Section Wind
Posted on Sun Nov 21st, 2004 at 01:08:26 PM MST
I'm looking for ideas for a cheap and simple wind turbine for the roof top of my residential garage.

Hi guys,

I'm looking for ideas for a cheap and simple wind turbine for the roof top of my residential garage.

My needs are fairly basic.....lets say that I need it to trickle charge a 12V battery at a fraction of an ampere.

Additional info: Although I'm in Calgary, and it can be somewhat of a meca for steady winds, how about we describe the wind as poor, ie seldomly more than what is needed to spin one of those garden ornaments.

thanks

Tyler
Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by Paulm on Sun Nov 21st, 2004 at 05:10:46 PM MST
(User Info)

A 5 watt solar panel from CanadianTire will do that with no wind. Or find a small DC motor with permanent magnets rated at 30 volts or more and use a home carved 2 blade maybe 3 foot diameter. . If you used a 12 volt motor you would have to get the rpms up really high.

Paul
NovaScotia



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by SDO on Sun Nov 21st, 2004 at 05:48:02 PM MST
(User Info) http://alternativepower.dyndns.org:8080/

I would swing by a local auto store and see about the trickle
chargers for 12 volt they have availalbe, from 34 USD to say
70 USD, in the 8 watt range on the top end of the $$$ scale.
Checker Auto Parts has a 8 watt (theoretical, more likely
3-4 at best would be my guess) for 79.99 and at times
on special for 69.99 or even 64.99 USD.

As for mounting a wind gennie of any size, particularly high
RPM, I would avoid doing so on structures that will act as
amplifiers of resonance frequencies...  In other words, the
building (particularly a fairly empty garage) will act as a
banjo type structure and magnify the sound the generator
makes.  Put the wind gennie on its own little tower in/on
the ground and either have the tower free standing or guy lined.
(something small could be done on a fairly small, yet not idealistic
10-15 foot quad/tri cornered tower without too much expense or hassle).

Good luck.

SDO aka Todd

---
Super Dave Osbourne, Man of a Million Shunts
"Not that I expect the current administration to do anything about it."



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by ghurd on Sun Nov 21st, 2004 at 10:29:04 PM MST
(User Info)

I'm finding small wind power is hard. Maybe harder than larger.
I'm actually working on a garden mill now.

Most of the grid battery chargers will overcharge if left unattended. No matter what the box says.
Battery Miser makes a small one (800ma? MicroMiser?) that is properly regulated for long term use, and I'm sure others do, but they are hard to find. The MicroMiser (?) is a switching regulator and uses less than 1 watt after the battery is charged.

I like solar if there is enough up there.

G-



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by elvin1949 (elvin1949@yahoo.com) on Mon Nov 22nd, 2004 at 08:30:25 AM MST
(User Info)

TDM
  1. jerry blades
  2. joint of 2 1/2 inche pipe
scrape metal
guy wires
electric wire
bingo
power
later
elvin


Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by juiced on Mon Nov 22nd, 2004 at 09:36:00 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.juiced.ca

....Im definitly not the expert, and perhaps should start this post off by asking if anyone else has roof mounted mills.

   From what one person explained to me, it is nearly impossible to put a windmill on a enclosed structure without major sound effects. Another thing, do you really want something 'cheap' spinning at 3-800 RPM with blades on YOUR roof?

  IMO if you go with this, get some sort of horizontal mill. The 'blades' point straight up.

Another soltion is a product made in quebec, that i am trying to stock on my site.

   http://www.juiced.ca/images/nrg/turb5_10kw.jpg

 It mounts on a pole and you can stack them.

http://www.juiced.ca/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=5#5

   Good luck man! Love that area. Calgary to Golden is where my spirit roams.

Canada's -Debatable- A.E./R.E Debate Site
News, discussions and debates!
www.juiced.ca



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by juiced on Mon Nov 22nd, 2004 at 09:37:56 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.juiced.ca

let me try that pic again.



Canada's -Debatable- A.E./R.E Debate Site
News, discussions and debates!
www.juiced.ca
[ Parent ]



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by Tyler883 on Mon Nov 22nd, 2004 at 02:24:08 PM MST
(User Info)

Hi everyone,

I agree that a solar panel is a simpler solution, however, I was hoping to get my feet wet with a wind project as well. And a very small wind turbine is about all that my neighbors could tolerate for noise.

One of my ideas is a lantern sized vertical axis squerl-cage - possibly disguised as a garden ornament like a lantern or light house. Maybe I could design it to mount on the end of a pvc pipe  then place them on the corner posts of my yard,etc.

So what do you guys think? Where do I find a tiny motor that will spin on a light breeze, yet be capable of a 12V output?

I fully understand that it won't work well so close to ground, nor will it work well if it is so small. I really don't care if it doesn't produce much power....even 1-10 mAmps would be fine for me. Heck, if its a wimpy powermill, I might be able to use a single chip solution for the charger/regulater, I used to do work on a cradle for a hendheld PDA that had a single chip in it that handled the entire charge profile for a lithium ion battery, and if my memory serves me right - it was capable of charging different batteries depending on how you set up the reference voltage pin.

thanks guys

Tyler

[ Parent ]



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by juiced on Mon Nov 22nd, 2004 at 06:04:56 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.juiced.ca

" I used to do work on a cradle for a hendheld PDA that had a single chip in it that handled the entire charge profile for a lithium ion battery, and if my memory serves me right - it was capable of charging different batteries depending on how you set up the reference voltage pin."

 I belive thats a resource we lack here. LI ION is like taboo for DIYers.

Canada's -Debatable- A.E./R.E Debate Site
News, discussions and debates!
www.juiced.ca
[ Parent ]



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by Tyler883 on Tue Nov 23rd, 2004 at 01:35:41 PM MST
(User Info)

For the life of me, I couldn't remember the chip, but I was able to google up an index page that will take you several different choices

http://www.national.com/catalog/0,,88,00.html

[ Parent ]



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by Tyler883 on Tue Nov 23rd, 2004 at 02:14:38 PM MST
(User Info)

it just occured to me that it might be best for me to describe what I mean by a "small" turbine....I'm just looking for something with a prop of maybe 12 to 24 inchs,.... or smaller.

You guys that are fortunate enough to have a site that will allow you 10 foot blade might consider this highly ornamental.....but hey! I've got to start somewhere, right? LOL

cheers

Tyler

[ Parent ]



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by juiced on Tue Nov 23rd, 2004 at 03:24:58 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.juiced.ca

If you look through some of my posts (not my diary, because i didnt realise; stupid me) youll see how small the one i first built was.

  the genny was about the size of twoonie.. or silver dollar (?) from VCR parts. Youll get an impressive amount of juice with enough tinkering.

  look up picoturbine to get an idea.

  Let me know if you have question because most of my first projects are still withen reach of my bench.. for now... :D

Canada's -Debatable- A.E./R.E Debate Site
News, discussions and debates!
www.juiced.ca
[ Parent ]



Re: Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by nack on Tue Nov 23rd, 2004 at 05:27:14 PM MST
(User Info)

www.picoturbine.com has plans and templates to make a modified Savonius type turbine that charges NiCad batteries - if you need higher voltage, use more wire and/or stronger magnets.

[ Parent ]


Small mills in europe (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by juiced on Tue Nov 23rd, 2004 at 06:12:59 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.juiced.ca

I almost forgot, if decide to spend a little dough and still have to mount it on your roof (i noticed the stackable units are a bit pricey), there is a company in europe (utility) that is installing a mill on willing particpants roofs. The mill is made by a seperate company.

Canada's -Debatable- A.E./R.E Debate Site
News, discussions and debates!
www.juiced.ca


Re: Small mills in europe (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by Tyler883 on Thu Nov 25th, 2004 at 09:51:32 AM MST
(User Info)

I really like the picoturbine but it seems more suited for a science lab instead of a real world application. If I have to start redesigning it so it has bearings, and a stronger stator, I'm thinking that starting from a different platform such as a hobbyist motor would be a better idea.

Question: the one gentleman here, said to use a dc motor that was rated for a high voltage, so that it will have a better chance of delivering a 12v output. Where can I normal find a motor like this around the house or work that I could maybe salvage?

regards

Tyler


[ Parent ]



Wind Turbine - Cheap and simple | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)
Display: Sort:
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:

Total Views
  117 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links
· Also by Tyler883

Powered by Scoop
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!