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Tower Pipe Help
By wayne, Section Mechanical Posted on Wed Jul 06, 2005 at 02:45:01 PM MST
Tower Pipe Help

Hi
Almost finished my small Servo motor generator and thought start building 30-40' tower for it. Thought 1" 20' lenghts and use 3/4" couplers to fit the long lengths together and weld. I live in Canada and thought no problem just a Home depot, Rona, Totem trip to find sche40 water pipe and done deal. I found the pipe but seems nothing fits inside each another and get the deer headlight look saying You can't do this. After much digging at work I found small 1" and 3/4" and fit perfect so I know its true. But does anyone know where to find this stuff in alberta.
Thanks
Wayne

Tower Pipe Help | 6 comments (6 topical)

Re: Tower Pipe Help (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by Experimental on Wed Jul 06, 2005 at 03:01:49 PM MST

Hi Wayne,
First off, 1" is to light for a forty foot tower -- I would suggest you use -- 1-1/2" at the top, 2" next, 2-1/2" and then 3" in 10' sections --OR, two 1-1/2" twenty foot sections, schedule 40, galvanized water pipe -- from a plumbing supply.
I have made several towers, using my first mentioned suggestion, using electrical conduit in 10' sections, with guy wires, and a light weight ginny..(hornet)
You have to build up each section by welding some "strap" about 1/8 th thick, around the smaller sections, so they slip tightly into the larger (about 6 inches) and weld them together -- or, in the case of the 1-1/2", you can cut a foot long piece of two inch, saw a leingth wise slit out of it, so you can reduce it to fit tightly around the 1-1/2, and weld it all up !!
Some guys, just weld a bead around the smaller pipe, then grind to slip inside the larger -- But, don,t try to use the normal pipe nipples, to join them togeather as they will not be strong enough !!
Also, check Hugh Piggott,s site at "scoraig wind" -- I think he may have detailed instructions on building towers !!???
Best of luck to you, and have fun building -- Bill H....

Re: Tower Pipe Help (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by wayne on Wed Jul 06, 2005 at 04:10:46 PM MST

Hi Bill

Thanks for the help but have a question is when using sch40, galvanized water pipe did it fit inside each another. When I looked at this .5", .75", 1" I found it did not fit inside each another. I will look at the conduit tonight.

Thks
Wayne

[ Parent ]

Re: Tower Pipe Help (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by Experimental on Thu Jul 07, 2005 at 01:19:02 AM MST

Wayne, No it dosen,t -- water pipe is sized by the inside diameter and differing sizes have differing wall thickness !!
They also, usually go in increments of 1/2", but some can be found in 1/4, such as 1-1/4 " -- can,t really remember finding any other 1/4 sizes though ...
As i mentioned before, you usually have to either weld a bead on the outside or as I do -- weld a strap, about 1/2" wide X 1/8 thick around the end of the pipe heating as you go, bending it around the pipe, makeing it a tight fit -- weld it in place --- do it again, about 6" above the first !!
Slip that pipe into the larger pipe, leaving about 1/4" of the second strap exposed, so you can weld the larger pipe to it --- the strap is just there to take up the space, between the two differing sizes --- (1-1/2" to 2" -- 2" to 2-1/2 etc)
1-1/2" pipe, has a diameter of about 1-3/4" on the outside diameter -- so a piece of 1/8 strap welded to the outside, is just about right to slip into a 2" inside diameter pipe --- Conduit is sized about the same but the wall thickness is thinner than schedule 40 pipe -- and i use it for small and lightweight generators!
You mentioned 3/4 and 1" pipe, but unless it is guyed about every 12 or fourteen feet -- it will very likely be to flexible for a tall tower !!
Buy, unthreaded pipe, and if you use galvanized -- be sure to sand the galvanizing off, at the weld joints --- Same goes for the conduit, as it is cad plated -- the fumes of these are toxic and make welding difficult !!
Hope I have been of help --- Good evening, Bill H......

[ Parent ]

Re: Tower Pipe Help (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by Shadow on Wed Jul 06, 2005 at 05:27:13 PM MST

Hey Wayne, Where in Alberta are you? I'm in Southern Sask and am surrounded by wimdmill towers in every direction. Most are ones that were put for the old 32 volt systems or water pumping. I advertized locally and I think I got 16 calls for towers ranging from 25-60 feet and from $50.00-150.00 Some are laying down some are still standing. They are in vacant farms everywhere around here. I'm going to get a 40 foot 3 sided tower, all galvanized made by Wincharger. I got the tower, 32 volt generator, and 32 volt light plant in the basement, plus 3 other 32 volt appliances all for 300.00 and he's taking it down.If you plan on leaving your turbine in one location then I'd shop for a tower I know theres lots in Southern Alberta.I'm not big on guy wires and dont plan on having any.If not a freestanding tower, then there is tons of oil feild pipe in your province. I was just at an oil feild battery where they took a 40 foot piece of steel 10 inch pipe, cemented it in the ground and welded a ladder up the side, it holds a bank of 5 huge(about 2feet by 2 feet each) halogen lights. I know they dont turn like a mill does but by mass they were way bigger than my 12 foot turbine. Its been up for years like that. Just a few ideas.. Good Luck..

Re: Tower Pipe Help (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by wayne on Thu Jul 07, 2005 at 10:29:51 AM MST

Hi Shadow

I am just south of Calgary. I have to travel to some small towns this weekend and I like your idea of finding a old wincharger tower and no wires. Some years ago at driving to border I saw lots in fields. I have lots of options and thanks Bill. Priced out EMT 2" at Home depot at $30.00 a shot. If I can find one for $100.00 thats good deal.Make me want to drive to Sask for one. Will send pics once its all up.

Wayne

[ Parent ]

Re: Tower Pipe Help (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by Experimental on Thu Jul 07, 2005 at 11:24:50 AM MST

That,s a better idea Wayne,
I just bought a 40' ,three leged tower all made of heavy aluminum, for $50 -- at a reclimation yard.
Also, I buy my conduit and pipe at reclimation and scrap yards and seldom go to retail stores for these products -- I love to recycle (the wife says I,m cheep, but I say, I,m thrifty !!)
Anyway, if you can find a tower already built -- Perfect -- and then you can spend that effort on bigger wind gins !!
Best of luck to you, Bill.......

[ Parent ]

Tower Pipe Help | 6 comments (6 topical)

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