RACA Completed
By WXYZCIENCE, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 08:14:05 AM MST
Sixteen Days Later

First I want to thank Ed for the combined effort to get this idea off the ground and into a workable form. Thank you Zubbly. You don't know how much a real positive comment goes to help out. Forcefield members it is an honor for me to post my work on this site. DanB your site is the best! Sixteen days and this is the end result. Three tries, 36 coils, lots of ideas. Couple of cuts and scratches and worn out, glued together fingers. The RACA2 The RACA2 is a single phase radial air core alternator that has met all of my expectations. Weighing in at just under seven pounds. My cost to build the unit was around sixty dollars. With two fingers a simple twist, absolutely zero cogging. The 18 coils had a last minute change 28 turns of #14 gauge magnet wire. Tests were done on my drill press at 420 rpm the open circuit voltage 13.45 volts and 26.50 volts at 900 rpm. 600 rpm under load of 5 amps the voltage holds 13 volts. At 900 under load 12.25 amps at 12.89 volts or 157watts. Now armed with the understanding learned from working on this one. To build or not to build the next one? Joseph.

RACA Completed | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#1) by motoman465 (bigdaddy6990@yahoo.com) on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 07:59:25 AM MST (User Info)

WOW!  That is my initial reaction.  I cannot believe the work that you guys produce.  I hope that one day I can do the same.  Keep up the great and inspiring work! Todd

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#2) by windstuffnow (elenz(at)windstuffnow(dot)com) on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 09:02:49 AM MST (User Info) http://www.windstuffnow.com/main

Beautiful Joseph!  I've always been quite impressed with your work.  I'd say with what I've learned from building a couple of them there is definately some potential for this style.   Building another one is definately in future plans... for me anyway. Great work! . Have Fun! Windstuff Ed

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#3) by wayne (wayne.jones@sait.ab.ca) on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 11:40:38 AM MST (User Info)

Joseph Very well done and hope more will try this. Between you and Ed with different construction this will only get better and easy for most. I hope to have something next week if all goes well. I would vote on To Build! Nice One Wayne

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#4) by stop4stuff on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 12:02:56 PM MST (User Info) http://www.stop4stuff.com

cool joseph. I got to thinking about a zero ferrous alt a while back... & never did any more than my 1/2 lego alt with repelling magnets... 12 magnets, 4" rotor, 10 coils, 5 phase, output ~3.5 watts (14v) @ 1000 rpm. You've inspired me to take it further, maybe a design like yours, but with repelling mags & no ferrous material. paul

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#5) by zubbly on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 01:59:51 PM MST (User Info) www.zubbly.com

WXYZCIENCE,  you are more than welcome, and congratulations with the excellent results you have done. its guys like you and your contributions that make this such a wonderful place. zubbly

"Really Sorry" (3.00 / 0) (#6) by WXYZCIENCE on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 04:37:40 PM MST (User Info)

Got this emailed to me, had to share it! Joseph.

Re: "Really Sorry" (3.00 / 0) (#12) by willib (willibur at comcast dot net) on Wed Oct 25th, 2006 at 07:29:37 AM MST (User Info) http://www.njwind.com/webcam.html#

AWWWW too cute!! Carpe Ventum (seize the wind) [ Parent ]

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#7) by RobD on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 05:30:02 PM MST (User Info) http://www.dsgnspec.com

Joseph, Nice work. I like this design. It solves a couple of problems for me. I can build an alternator to fit MY magnets. It uses 1/2 the amount of magnets as the axials. The windings run cooler and can be worked on and changed easily. No caustic epoxies and it's more compact although I can't say power to weight ratio is any better yet. I have resolved the amature removal problem. I think it's important to be able to get to it. I'm looking for material to support the windings that won't cause eddy currents and yet won't melt when things get going. I like some of the teflons mixes but they are costly.

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#8) by wdyasq on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 08:23:30 PM MST (User Info)

Stiffners could be placed near where I have located the 'yeller' pieces. 'Not to scale or even using the proper number or size of parts - not for use in construction - if used for concept may cause misscarriage.' Ron Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#9) by WXYZCIENCE on Tue Oct 24th, 2006 at 10:36:21 PM MST (User Info)

Ron, I have 4 - 1/4" stiffeners made from old fiberglass tent poles between the coils holding the end plates apart. Could use more if the coils weren't so stiff. The coils touch and are wound one forward then one reversed around the perimeter. The magnets are 1/2" wide with 1/2" space between them. Your 3d rendering looks good. Could yours be wired three phase? Joseph. [ Parent ]

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#11) by wdyasq on Wed Oct 25th, 2006 at 06:06:11 AM MST (User Info)

As my machine is completely imaginary, I imagine it could be wound in any phase the mind dreams up. While we are imagineering, I think I might change concept and make winding forms of wood, one of my favorite carbon-fiber materials, and just leave them in place. I know I would do the test coils that way. One might wind half the coil, put a stiffiner in the coil, and continue winding. Linear strand fiberglass could be wound in the coil and the entire coil infused with epoxy. When one is only 'imagineering', all kinds of things can be tried. Only when they are implimented does one realize how bad the idea might be. Or, in rare instances how brilliant one was! There are so many things that 'might' be done. My imagination seems to be unlimited. But time and money place contsraints on what can actually be acheived. As I am living 'in town' right now and for the next few years, I have no place to actually put up machine I build. Ron The information divulged is not to be used without credit given to the local brewery, politician or Leisure Suit Larry. Use at your own risk but don't risk much. Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen [ Parent ]

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#19) by spinner (itsmejonny@email2me.net) on Fri Nov 10th, 2006 at 08:42:57 AM MST (User Info)

hello "xyz..." guys like U or ED would know much more about this than I but I wanted to see what your take on it is... I noticed some suggestions about incasing the unit in metal and, i think you posted that something would need to be done to make the unit weather proof....I have a mental image of a metal cover that encloses the unit BUT that unit is capped on both ends by non metallic endplates....it seems to me that doing so would enhance your magnetic flux path near the coils but the nonmagnetic end plates would not allow a complete flux path thru the entire unit, much the same as the dual rotor units so often built by members of this site. ( the coils in dual rotor machines being isolated from one another and from the rest of the unit by the poured stator )  probably some reason y that won't work...just thought I'd pass it along thanx, spinner   [ Parent ]

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#10) by tecker on Wed Oct 25th, 2006 at 05:40:05 AM MST (User Info)

Wrap some steel around the outside and retest

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#13) by kitno455 on Wed Oct 25th, 2006 at 07:48:53 AM MST (User Info)

wrap some steel WIRE around it and test. flat steel band would make a great brake. allan [ Parent ]

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#14) by WXYZCIENCE on Wed Oct 25th, 2006 at 10:51:44 AM MST (User Info)

tecker, yes I tried that and got a 10% increase in the output power. The vibration in the unit also increases so I don't know how much it added at what cost. The unit does need a cover if it is going to be use in an outdoor application. Joseph [ Parent ]

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#15) by tecker on Wed Oct 25th, 2006 at 08:14:59 PM MST (User Info)

Yeah 10 4 the coil structure is too coarse to curb the vibration . I want a small version to use for limited space medium out. I think  you done good . I hope you don't mind me taging along If you do I'll butt out. I really like the first unit you putt together with the loop over. I know you did a lota work on this unit .

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#16) by WXYZCIENCE on Wed Oct 25th, 2006 at 09:43:58 PM MST (User Info)

tecker, I am working on a test system that will give me real good info out. Want to test Horse Power in vs Watts out over a wide range of RPM. More accurate than my drill press. Then I can tell if the flux return path you suggest will add any real efficiency. Thanks for the interest. Joseph [ Parent ]

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#17) by spinner (itsmejonny@email2me.net) on Thu Oct 26th, 2006 at 08:38:01 AM MST (User Info)

very impressive!! another thing for me to try<G> spinner

Re: RACA Completed (3.00 / 0) (#18) by bj (jackbp996@msn.com) on Sun Oct 29th, 2006 at 05:20:48 PM MST (User Info)

Joseph-- Your work is of the highest callibre.     bj thanks all bj

Login

Make a new account Username: Password:

Total Views

248 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

· magnet · Also by WXYZCIENCE