Fieldlines.com || Diaries

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Reviews - Diaries - Our Products

Diaries
By bj, Section Diaries Posted on Thu Jan 18, 2007 at 03:45:35 AM MST
still love the wind, but::

SO new P.M was up, and put out expected watts. For a couple of
days. Then we had this WIND. Published speeds were 90 kph. O.K.
I've seen that. Anyway, as Flux said, resistance loads, like lights, or heaters, decrease draw with temperature. But my load, a big 1500 heater
would be enough, I hope. Wrong.
At 11:00 I knew I had trouble. Blinding snowstorm, But I have a
rope to the shop for these storms. Genny is going nuts. Resistant
load #1 is burnt. Out comes the 1500 watt heater. Hooked up, Not
much change in rpm. So waited for a calm, and tried shorting it out.
Big arc, but not a bit of slowdown. Gave up, as I was very cold,
and the blades are supposed to keep up with 160 kpm winds, as long as
they are spinning. And they were spinning.
So to bed. About three in the morning, I noticed a change in the
sound, then all was quiet. In the morning, what I saw was interesting.
Top tower mount was torn out, and tower had folded. All is sitting
on the roof, but blades and genny are fine. Looks like the tower folded
slow enough for the blades to slow down. Tower, don't care. Experimental only. What the blades endured is, at the least interesting.
Pheonix will be better.
It has been fun. Learning is fun.
bj

Diaries | 10 comments (10 topical)

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by RP on Wed Jan 17, 2007 at 09:20:57 PM MST

Sorry to hear it bj.

As to the slow folding of the tower, I've often thought that the gyroscopic forces from the spinning blades would tend to slow the falling motion from a guy wire break. Perhaps that played a role in this too.

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by coldspot on Thu Jan 18, 2007 at 11:47:57 AM MST

Bummer deal !!!!
I'm sorry to hear about that.
But would like to know more for "Learning Fun".
Like what was tower made from and guy system used?
And pictures are always good.
I hate to hear about these things but I also think we all are learning to build them better as we hear about them going down.

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by bj on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 06:52:41 AM MST

Hadn't thought of gyro forces. But your thought makes sense.
Something made the blades stop before they hit the roof. As load
was gone, Gyro makes sense. THANKS. That is why this board
is so great, as the single mind can't do everything. Although, some
do better than mine.
bj
bj--- Lamont, AB. Can.
[ Parent ]

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by bj on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 07:15:09 AM MST

cold---- thanks, but is not a big loss. Tower was just a test
tower, so, no real loss. And have ten more sections, so loss
isn't so much. Loss was due to poor connectionns at the top.
Single connections won't work in strongh winds. Next time
will be smarter.
bj

bj--- Lamont, AB. Can.
[ Parent ]

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by vawtman on Thu Jan 18, 2007 at 03:55:50 PM MST

Bj got your email and pic thanks.Thats one awesome eggbeater turbine.

You guys really got it cold there could that be weakening things?Hang in there and sorry for the loss.

Has far has pics go i think there might be free stuff out there to help size pics to post here.My cheapie camera came with this Photoimpression software that you can set the size to 480X640 then jpg tag the file.Im getting a slight grip on this stuff.

p.s.The pic was huge.but if you can figure out how to upload them, guys here could help.

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by wil on Thu Jan 18, 2007 at 08:29:26 PM MST

Someone here suggested IrFanView to resize pictures, I can say from experience it's easy to use and works very well.

Wil

[ Parent ]

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by bj on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 06:41:37 AM MST

Vawtman: Sorry for the size, but wanted to give as much
detail as possible. If, after going through all the varous
checks, as I do do, before I send, you save to a file, then
the file is more friendly. Size is automatically adjustded
resized to screen size.
And yes, cold may have played a role. Have seen winds
this strong, and no problems. So, cold has a definite effect
on steel. But, again, no real loss. Just an experiment.
The pics were just to show you that someone thinks
that vawt's are great, and is willing to put money where
their mouth is.
Keep trying.
bj
bj--- Lamont, AB. Can.
[ Parent ]

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by coldspot on Sat Jan 20, 2007 at 03:41:34 AM MST

Yes
Irfanview
free download
easy as pie to use
just wrong click,(the right mouse button)the pic
pick open with irfanview,(best to make a new folder first with pictures named resized)
once open on top tool bar click image, then about half way down click resize/resample, then type in new size, i use 300 as first number 2nd number is auto after that, that gets mine down below the size wanted here but you'll have to test and it shows the kb after you pick size.
I then reclick image and towards bottom I click sharpen for better pic's
then click the little a-drive disc looking image at top and then save in the right folder
it's best to name pic's first then you'll be able to know whats what when looking later like here at your images uploaded without seeing as thumbnails

just my
$0.02

Re: Diaries (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by bj on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 06:25:20 AM MST

Your .02 might be worth much more. downloaded this morn.
Takes a lot of time on a dialup. If works, will post.
bj
bj--- Lamont, AB. Can.
[ Parent ]

Re: Diaries Thanks To All (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by bj on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 01:50:48 PM MST

Been gone for a while, as hard drive has gone to a better place.
Been lots of good comments while I was away, and thanks to all.
Genny is in the shop, is alive, but one blade is bent from pressing on the roof. A short test with a heat lamp, with the blades level to
the floor, reduced the bend from 8 inches, to two. It will heal. I think.
Contrary to previous post, the blades were still turning when they
hit the roof. Tracks in the galvanized roofing told the tale. Tough
material, as I can't find any impact damage on the blades. Only a
strong wind will tell, I guess.
Won't give up.
Again, thanks to all
bj
bj--- Lamont, AB. Can.

Diaries | 10 comments (10 topical)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��153 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

� bj's Diary

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 � 2009 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!