First Windy!

[theTinker]

i started my first wind turbine 2 days ago and after learning every bit of theory ever i realise im a noob.

i must admit being a noob to this does let me say things like "im new at this, how was i suppose to know it would catch fire"

COILS

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i built my 3 coils badly around an empty round pill container and bought myself some magnets in petes electronics, 5 magnets cost me 10 euro!!! what a rip, they are small about 1/2" diameter but they seem strong enough.

STATOR AND ROTOR

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ive made my circlular parts stator and roter of ply wood, the smallest sheet was 12.99 and WAY WAY WAY too big for what i needed, ives used about 5% of it

the center shaft through the lot is a screw! seems to work well enough though.

PROBLEM 1:

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i am only getting voltage from it on the milimeter when i check for DC 200m(unclear wat 200m is). using a star configuration on a 3 phase alternator setup, i might have the coils connected wrong,

is there any arrangment for them like clockwise and counter clockwise?(any info on this would be great, i can find diagrams for it but no pictures to check the arrangments)??

BLADES

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working on my blades now, only 8 euro for the 3 lengths wood! the ply wood was a rip off!

found a nice site for carving blades.

http://www.scoraigwind.com/selfblade/

will post sum pictures after i get a camera it looks terrible though, maybe a splash of paint

[theTinker]

i believe i found the problem to the low voltage. maybe sum1 can verify this for me?

when i was measuring the voltage i had my millimeter connected to the outer connections of my star layout(the positive i believe) but i had my negative connected to the center wire connect(the place refered to as been neutral)

i think i might need to run the current through the rectifier circuit first so i can get negative and positive outputs to measure? anyone verify if this is what i need to do?

[drdongle]

Your meter should have an "AC volts" setting you cna us with out a rectifier.

[theTinker]

i was hoping it was not that

on my AC volts setting i get 0 volt reading, it only seems to give a very very small DC output, on 200m DC , i get 2.8 reading.

i think i will rework it into a single phase alternator.

[ghurd]

The magnets should be mounted on a steel disk.

[ghurd]

Magnets must alternate poles facing up.

N-S-N-S.

[theTinker]

ah i didnt know it needed to be a steel disc, i just assumed they were used because they are stronger than wood. i suppose with such small magnets that would make it important. is there much difference in the magnetic field strength if they are placed on a metal difference?

i think i shall build it all anyways regardless of results. ive learnt alot builting it and have a blade carved for it, would be nice to see it spinning in the air .

thanks for the help.

[willib]

old hard drives have motors that I have used  as a  BEARING , for a single rotor design..

for the rotor i have used an 8"  saw blade ,

esentially i just screwed the " bearing" to a board , leaving room underneath for the other side of the motor.then i attached coils to the board , it made a nice test bed..have fun.

[Norm]

ah i didnt know it needed to be a steel disc, i just assumed they were used because they are stronger than wood. i suppose with such small magnets that would make it important. is there much difference in the magnetic field strength if they are placed on a metal difference?

.....All the difference in the world....

like night and day...

                   ( :>) Norm.

[ghurd]

The flux path should be as short and 'easy' as possible. The steel helps a great deal.

If a paper clip sticks to the back of the steel disk, you need thicker metal (coffee can lids won't work).

Same concept for the front of the magnets.

Either a rotating disk very close behind the coils, or laminates.

Search the board for 'laminates' or 'single rotor'.

Have you seen these?

http://www.otherpower.com/bdwm53.html

http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/alt_from_scratch.htm

G-

[willib]

why does the disk have to rotate? that doesnt make sense to me .

would'nt the disk ( without magnets) behind the coils  , be just as effective if it was stationary?

[ghurd]

Eddy currents.

If the 2nd disk is not rotating, it should be laminates.