Windmill Maintenance

[WXYZCIENCE]

Summer has come to our home town, so technically I missed the spring cleaning of my down windmill.

Here I'm putting it back on the tower and setting the brushes.


The brushes are from an old automotive alternator.

This slip disk sits on top of the hub and transfers the power throughout the mills 360 degrees of rotation.

This unit develops a maximum of 150watts (90 volts at 1.7amps).


The brushes and disk can easily handle this amount of power.


The genny is a DC PM motor that puts out (13.45v at .3amps) at 340 rpm.

The transmission can be seen here. It came from an old mini washing machine.


A stainless steal clamping system makes maintenance easy.
You can also see the profile of the blades and hub assembly.


The bronze seal stops water from entering the main housing.



The increase is 2.33 to 1.


If the blade is turning at 200 rpm, the genny will be turning at 466rpm.


The transmission and genny are held in place by rubber o-rings.


This also removed noise transmitted down the tower.


Complete for another year.



Cody wants his picture taken again. Joe.

[coldspot]

Thanks

Looks good

You did promise us a picture of the gen close-up

when you did yearly mantaince

And you delivered !!!!!

lol



What more can you tell us about the washing machine tranny???

How old?

Make model?

Brand?

I want one!

LOL

[WXYZCIENCE]

Coldspot, what would I give for a truck load of these little transmissions? Can't remember the name of the washing machine. It was a mini type with an actual agitator. I will try to find some of the other stuff that was attached to the machine. Maybe I can pull a name off of it. The transmission was almost brand-new when it was first put up. The washing machine's motor was seized. Water got into the motor so they threw it out. This is the third year it has been up. Figure I will get ten years on it. Joe.

[dinges]

Hi Joe,

Looks like a very nice genny. Downwind too. Could be an idea for the next (130W) conversion project that I'm thinking about.

BTW, I notice in the first picture there's someone else in the background that likes her photo taken

Very much like the stainless steel housing for the motor, should keep it safe from the environment.

Sliprings look nice too, though personally I'd prefer more than one brush per line. However, in your case the maximum current is very small (1.7A), which may explain any lack of problems you would experience. Also you have relatively high voltage that might break through any oxidation that could have occurred over time.

Personally I prefer direct drive and wooden propellors (at least I assume you've checked your aluminium blades for fatigue cracks ) but it looks like a very nice machine.

What kind of motor/generator are you using?

Peter.

[WXYZCIENCE]

Peter, the motor came from a surplus store. One off a kind, it was advertised as 90v DC 3 amps. The name plate is gone. After three years of operation the brushes still look like new. Monica says, she is amazed you saw the yard chicken in the first picture. Joe.

[coldspot]

Speaking of the First picture-

Every time I see it I'm thinking-

Hugging a Windmill!

LOL

Kind of gives ya a warm feeling!

[WXYZCIENCE]

My wife said the same thing. Joe:-)