Finished my windmill + new record
By taylorp035, Section Diaries Posted on Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 05:02:22 PM MST
Hit 54 watts with more to come.

I finally got my treadmill windmill completely finished, by adding a protective layer to everything, balancing the blades, and re wiring the electrical connections. Today it was somewhat windy, so I put it on top of my 10 ft pvc tower.  After about 5 minutes of waiting, it hit 4.16 amps, so 50-54 watts.  The windmill spun very well, without any shaking like before.  In the higher winds, the rpm stayed pretty much the same, so you could tell it was making power.  When I took the load off, the blades spun much fast (maybe 1000 rpm instead of 400-500 rpm).  If I had let it stay connected for another hour, I am confident that it would of made 100 watts. The pvc tower held up well, as I watched it all after noon from my house and it seemed to be ok.  I wouldn't trust it to 40 mph winds, but 30 would be ok. The only thing that I need to do now is put a diode in the circuit so the motor doesn't spin the blades. I will see if any of my videos that I took were any good and then post them for you guys to see.

Finished my windmill + new record | 11 comments (11 topical)

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#1) by taylorp035 on Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 07:27:54 PM MST

Here you go.  You might see that battery buzzing around (my brother on the fourwheeler) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5TuLH7BnGk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz8jva9YB78&feature=channel

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#2) by taylorp035 on Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 07:30:07 PM MST

I hope you guys like the new enclosure, which now makes it so snow can't get inside of the motor.  Also, it is easier to handle than the sheet metal cover.

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#3) by willib on Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 10:44:21 PM MST

Looks like your having a lot of fun ;-) we just got 8 or 9 inches of that white stuff. Carpe Ventum (seize the wind)

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#4) by electrondady1 on Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 06:43:50 AM MST

i have been following taylor035's adventures and i find him guilty of having a  heck of a good time! [ Parent ]

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#5) by taylorp035 on Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 07:33:40 AM MST

I am having a really good time today because its my birthday and its the super bowl  :) Here are some more links to some of my fun with my 4-wheeler on the compacted snow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_B303J0kY0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djTgO-HGyEY [ Parent ]

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#6) by taylorp035 on Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 07:50:45 AM MST

According to a wind power calculator online, with the efficiency of 20%, the wind speed was 7 m/s or 15.6 mph, which seems about right.  I think it could of been a little closer to 18 mph.  The wind mill put out over 30 watts for about 30 seconds.  I didn't dare get close enough to the amp meter with the camera because it was it's maiden voyage and I hadn't seen it in high winds.

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#7) by taylorp035 on Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 08:08:42 AM MST

And one more video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3khTlBgBKbY

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#8) by taylorp035 on Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 02:39:13 PM MST

I am finding that the forums are getting much faster!  Thanks admins for your hard work.

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#9) by taylorp035 on Sun Feb 14, 2010 at 03:23:56 PM MST

I am finding that i only get about 1 good wind day ever month, so this waiting game is killing me.

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#10) by TomW on Mon Feb 15, 2010 at 05:20:37 AM MST

035; I am finding that i only get about 1 good wind day ever month, so this waiting game is killing me. You need to see this from the right perspective. It builds character and teaches patience and humility. Plus the joy when it shows up. Just my theory anyway. Tom The Truth is the Truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it [ Parent ]

Re: Finished my windmill + new record (3.00 / 0) (#11) by DamonHD on Mon Feb 15, 2010 at 05:42:35 AM MST

Complete lack of useful wind power in my neck of the woods has totally failed to increase my humility one jot, TomW. Have you been massaging the numbers and hiding the declines to make your theory come out the way you want?  %-P Rgds Damon "Once you have licked the windows of freedom your tongue gets stuck." [ Parent ]

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