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turbine interference


By para t8, Section Wind
Posted on Mon Dec 26, 2005 at 08:20:29 PM MST
dec.24-05

question,will a wind turbine cause interference with tv,tele,or anything else.the site is closer to my house than anyone elses.i don't want to make any one mad at me.  10'machine 24volt,want to go biger.i was reading about the tesla coil and that makes interpherince.still i would love to have a tesla coil but the interpherince any feedback on the genn.         para t8
turbine interference | 10 comments (10 topical)

Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by terry5732 on Sat Dec 24, 2005 at 01:26:49 PM MST

A lot of peoples complaints are misdirected. A wind system shouldn't produce any more RF interference than a passing car. If you have very large metal blades there could be some effect on receptions. Composite or wood blades can't cause any effect. The genny itself would be no different than running an electric motor or generator. But any problem neighbors experience will be attributed to what they see.



Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by dinges on Sat Dec 24, 2005 at 01:40:58 PM MST

A turning propellor itsself doesn't generate RF, so no interference from that source.

But:

the rotating prop can reflect RF, i.e. act as a radar reflector. Esp. props of aircraft are known for this. Back when I was styding in Rotterdam, I had a small B&W tv that used a whip antenna. I could detect a plane about one minute before I could hear the sound of the engine, by the interference pattern on the tv :-) I considered it my own little private radar set...

It might be an issue with windturbines, but since usually the blades are made out of wood or composite materials, unlike many a/c props of aluminium, I wouldn't worry about it.

We had a ham nextdoors who of course always got the blame when there was RF interference; even when he was on holiday. when I got into electronics & RF, whenever there was some interference on the telly, I'd know about it from my old folks. Usually when they yelled 'stop messing with our tv picture' I had to walk away from my desk, study book still in hand, wondering what was going on :-). And when the lights of our neighbours houses flickered, my dad usually got the blame because he was probably welding again... I was going to make a remark on human ignorance, but since I'm in the christmas mood, I won't pass judgement :-)

Peter,
The Netherlands.

[ Parent ]



Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by georgeodjungle on Sun Dec 25, 2005 at 01:48:49 AM MST

same here with the airplanes and welding, some cars, most bikes and quads allso trains to.
i can tell what is coming.
but i'm on a beam type antenna.
no satellite here.
i agree, metal blades might.

[ Parent ]


Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by finnsawyer on Sun Dec 25, 2005 at 09:05:55 AM MST

When I was an undergraduate I used to light a fluorescent bulb during snow storms from the static electricity that built up on my outdoor short wave antenna.  Any time you have something moving in air you can have a build up of static electricity.  When this discharges, it can generate radio waves and hence cause interference.
GeoM


Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by witapple on Sun Dec 25, 2005 at 09:41:12 AM MST

I currently use a Piggott style turbine to power 2 radio repeaters and have also had an electrical generating turbine here at my home for 24 years. I cannot say that either of them have ever caused any detectable interference. Will the neighbors think they do? Possibly.... but I don't live my life by what someone else thinks...In fact I will be willing to bet that when the power goes off and the lights are still on at your home the neighbors will take an interest in what you are doing. Sometimes you have to just do it and not worry about what someone thinks. A couple of my neighbors refer to me jokingly as Whitney's Power Company. And for the record, after the first couple of years of complaints they got used to it being there and nobody says anything about interference anymore.
Dan W



Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by ADMIN on Mon Dec 26, 2005 at 01:18:56 PM MST

We've never seen RF interference from wind turbines up here. The frequencies that are happening in a turbine alternator are very low -- audio frequency.  Sometimes there is audible noise (usually very quiet compared to the  wind in the trees), but it is from vibrations as magnets pass over coils and give a 'bump' of power....something in the tower or frame sometimes rattles. Not loud at all.

My biggest RF problem is from my E-meter system monitor -- I used twisted pair as recommended from the shunt and for power leads, but not foil-jacketed. I'm going to replace the wire -- I pick up interference (short clicks at one-second intervals) on VHF fire dept. and 2m ham frequencies and their various harmonics. Oddly enough, Sheriff's dept. dispatch for the fire dept. says they can hear it when I transmit -- working on that problem here.

By the way-- ADMIN is a ham operator now!
ADMIN (DanF)
KC0VRD




Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by richhagen on Mon Dec 26, 2005 at 03:50:28 PM MST

Congratulations on the ham license!  Placing the signal wires and conductors in grounded shield wire, or conduit should go along way towards eliminating any RF from those sources.  If the E-meter has a metal case ensure that that is grounded as well.  In theory if you block everything with grounded metal, essentially nothing will get out to interfere.  Rich Hagen
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'
[ Parent ]


Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by RayW on Mon Dec 26, 2005 at 05:04:36 PM MST

Congrats on getting your ham ticket.
           RayW  .-- -... ....- -- --.- --

[ Parent ]


Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by Old F on Mon Dec 26, 2005 at 06:21:53 PM MST

The  blades wood or metal cant generate RF.

But if your using an old generator that uses a comutater  and carbon brushes that are worn and arcing and sparking can generate all   kinds of  RF hash  an trash.
What we are building here will not. So don't worry  about it.  Just go for it and have fun.

         KC0VRD  DE N8QJU  

Con rats big furry ones on getting  your ticket  OM   73   :  )
Have any HF gear?

Old F



Re: turbine interference (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by Flux on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 02:51:07 AM MST

Permanent magnet alternators with rectifiers generate a small amount of interference to long wave radios near the wiring, particularly radios with ferrite rod aerials. The effect is small and you have to be close for it to be a problem.

I have not noticed it on medium wave, it is due to the rectifier commutation. It should not affect neighbours as it only seems to travel a few yards. It is not too difficult to remove with a ferrite cored choke and a couple of capacitors if you happen to be in a part of the world that uses long wave radio.

If you don't use a metal prop there should be no other trouble.

Flux

[ Parent ]



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