question about using 50vdc motor for power
By Aaron, Section Controls Posted on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 02:15:54 AM MST
brushless dc motor 50vdc

Hello, I'm working on a small wind project (rather a sculpture), that uses a Ametek 50 volt dc motor as power to light some LEDS. It really only needs to light up when the wind is blowing. Due to the design of the blades I only get about 100 RPMs and this produces about 10 volts. I'm wondering what the best way to wire up my LEDS would be, with a regulator or just straight from the power with a resistor? Also, wondering if it would   be better just to go with a simple battery charging system? Any ideas? Thanks, Aaron

question about using 50vdc motor for power | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: question about using 50vdc motor for power (3.00 / 0) (#1) by stm on Mon Feb 14, 2005 at 07:22:41 PM MST

Hello, You might want to take a look at the picoturbine.com website - they have the schematic for exactly what you need - a small and easy to build alternator, which produces just enough to power a small bicolor led. The alternator is easy to build and since it is designet to be used on a savonius (vertical windmill) which gives you a low rpm, then this could be the way to go. Have fun /Steffen

Re: question about using 50vdc motor for power (3.00 / 0) (#2) by Chiron on Mon Feb 14, 2005 at 07:40:09 PM MST

If your just powering a few LEDs with 10V I'd just use dropping resistors and protection diodes. Messing too much with the blade design would only be a last resort since it's primary purpose is as an Art piece Chiron > > I was here

Re: question about using 50vdc motor for power (3.00 / 0) (#3) by stm on Mon Feb 14, 2005 at 08:06:51 PM MST

Hello, I think that a zener would be a perfect, simple and cheap solution, when we are talking about a low power application like this - wouldn't you agree? /steffen [ Parent ]

Re: question about using 50vdc motor for power (3.00 / 0) (#6) by ghurd on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 09:16:34 AM MST

A big wattage zener.  A gust could easily get the amps past a small zener's ratings. G- Ghurd.info [ Parent ]

Re: question about using 50vdc motor for power (3.00 / 0) (#4) by hiker on Mon Feb 14, 2005 at 08:41:42 PM MST

all i use on my minnie mill is one big fat resistor.. i have all the l.e.d.s wired in parrell.. the dc l.e.d.s work okay on ac-- they blink on and off.. with a diode they would not blink... WILD IN ALASKA

Re: question about using 50vdc motor for power (3.00 / 0) (#5) by Chiron on Mon Feb 14, 2005 at 09:42:07 PM MST

Lots of solutions here, take your pick ;) I'd thought about building a scale model of a Z750 or V90 for a lawn ornament and use any output to run some superbright LEDs to simulate the strobes. Problem is to keep the lower blade tips above where they'd whack someone on the head I'd have to do them at 1/10 scale, that's 18' at the hub for the z750 or 24' for the V90 if I want to keep it accurate :/ Besides if I'm going to build something with a 15' or 21' diameter blade it's going to have to put out a lot more wattage than a few LEDs ;) . Chiron > > I was here

Re: question about using 50vdc motor for power (3.00 / 0) (#7) by Aaron on Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 11:02:04 AM MST

Thanks for the responses, I'll look into the zener idea. There's an electronics store nearby and if I'm lucky there's someone there who actually knows about what they're selling. I know I basically need to have a resistor to keep from frying the LEDs but what does the diode do? If I spin the dc motor by hand I can produce an unflickering steady light from the LED. One more thing, has anyone ever used a "gear reducer" backwards to up the RPMs? I know they have "gear increasors" but the ones I've seen in catalogs all have too high ratios. Thanks for the expertise. aaron

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