Claiming my windgenny

[Phssthpok]

Link to photo album:

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/Phssthpok/generator/windmill/?sc=1&addtype=local

Not much to tell. Biggest mistake I made was to get too excited and climb the dang tower without tying off first. No injuries occured, but I had a bear of a time tying off AFTER I was at the top, while trying to hang on. First thing I did after getting into a sitting psition on top of the tower was to give a little tug on the blades to see just how 'seized' it was. They turned with minor effort, but the 'grind' of the bearings was quite noticeable.

The tower drop pretty much went without a hitch. Popped the genny off the top (sliprings) and lowered it by rope. Snipped the guy wires as I climbed down...tower was anchored through the side of the shop with two bars of 1/2" all-thread, so the guys were more of a back-up system for severe winds than primary stabilizers. After the all-thread was unbolted, we tied a rope off at just over half-height, and with one person on the shop roof holding the rope we tipped the tower toward the drive and 'walked' our hands up the tower as it laid itself down.

Once on the ground it was a simple matter of undoing a few bolts, and lift-tug-shaking on the tower sections to get them to come apart. Once apart it was a simple matter to pile them onto the back of the truck, top it off with the genny, and lash everything down with a pair of rachet straps.

This is definately not a 100% commecially  produced wind-genny, thought the spars for the blades DO have a second set of drilled and tapped holes for a different 'pitch' on the blades, and the whole air-brake system seems to be quality stainless steel.

The power head and tailspars are mounted to a piece of 3"x5"x5/16" angle iron with the mount tube welded to the bottom. There are no discernable markings on the powerhead, so I have no clue as to what I'm dealing with other than what I was told by the owner: "...it has four poles on the rotor",and "....24 volts, but can be rewired easily for 12". I also noticed on the control box a provision for 'bump starting' in light winds, so I'm thinking it's a PMG of some sort. (overcoming cog with a slight backflow of power to kick it into motion)

So... anyone here have any ideas as to just what it is I scored?

[stephent]

Good looking tower. Genny might need a bit of work (look at brushes and bearings).

What you will need to do though is cut off the bottom of the tower and weld a new/reconditioned old one plate AFTER drilling a hole (in the mounting/tilt plate) just under each tower leg to let the water out. Check for water freezing/splitting damage at each tower leg bottom.

Same thing happens with towers set in concrete without any place for water to seep out at the bottom of the legs (put bottom of legs in sand or use weep tubes outside the concrete).

Tower looks like a Rohn type--maybe 25G?? the heavy duty one.

The electronics look like they would be loafing at the output of that genny.

Looks like you made a good buy just for the tower at that price.

But if you are going to climb that tower much--buy a safety belt! PLEASE!! One of the older non full restraint types is cheap now--DON"T use the newer halyard straps for belting off with and kicking back and working--they have a break-a-way 5 foot piece of fall restraining/slowing web built into them and it does do it's job well--but will drop your butt 5 foot when it breaks loose.

Use an old type safety solid rope type halyard to belt off and work on--kick back and enjoy the view from the tower top--etc...use the break-a-way belt for safety.

In other words--use 2 belts at the top.

A small gin-pole clamped on top with a pulley and rope makes easier lowering/raising of heavy objects.

But at least grade 5 and preferrably grade 8 bolts (buy NEW ones--using old bolts is false economy and safety) to put back in the tower joint sections when reassembling--double galvanized is best.

Those towers aren't exactly made for raising and lowering in one piece--they are made for stacking up one section at a time (usually), certainly without any load on the top.

Look inside the tower sections for interior rust--especially the bottom section.

I won't climb a power pole (wood) for a thousand bucks with a set of hooks ever again--but I kinda like climbing those type towers every once in a while----with the proper belt on of course....your pics with you at the top --sans belt (genny013.jpg)---bring back a few memories of Ham Radio friends who fell--some of them are remembered post-humously now....please climb safely--the forum needs you.

[Phssthpok]

Yeah, I hear ya about the saftey bit. I had even gone so far as to search up tying rope into a harness (rock climbing style) so I could be really secure. Funny thing is I'm scared spitless of heights, yet I was so excited to get this thing that I went right up that tower like a monkey on crack!

Trust me....I AIN'T makin that mistake again!

[stephent]

Know the feeling about heights--I work them frequently with scissor lifts--boom lifts or anything I can that will "power" me up there.

Extension ladders suck...nuff said.

But I have climbed a few towers here and there---one on top of a 40 story building (30ft or so up on top of it) with 40+ mph breeze blowing. Can't be paid enough for that one again!! Someone else can change the light bulb!

But check around with a few construction places, they have had to update the belts in the last few years (in the US anyway) and the older ones that are just a belt are laying around fairly cheaply.

The fellers who designed the new belts (full fall restraint/harness types)and the idiots who require them should have to wear one for a month 24/7 continously!! I prefer the older styles for even working in.

But at the tower top I belt off with the rope/lanyard (again an solid rope with hooks--don't home brew something your life depends on!)-- wrapped around 2 of the main support legs--don't trust your life with the small connecting bars. Then after securely belting off--I can kick back taking the strain on the belt and work with both hands---I noticed you were even using your mouth for holding stuff....usually makes me want another couple of arms and hands up there too--hi--hi. The pull up--let down rope is a good thing--makes you figure out what the little canvas buckets the linemen use are for---hi--hi

I used to have a 2 D ring belt and used 2 rope lanyards with "gorilla" hooks on each--makes it easy to climb completly full time hooked up and makes it real easy to remain where ya want--ON TOP and working.

You could find an old lineman who doesn't climb poles any more--they have the best type belts usually--comfortable and it's like sitting in a chair almost. Those fellers kept the belts in shape and now usually never want to climb again..

You looked inside the genny yet?

Brushes can be made--go to an old alternator/generator/starter fixing place and they can match what ya have usually or cut some down to fit.

[Flux]

Looks to be completely home made. The air brake governor is a copy of the Wincharger.

The generator seems to be a fairly big dc servo motor. If it has had bearing trouble before it may benefit from a slinger disc to keep water out of the front bearing.

Blades presumably have been well tested but they don't look to me as though they would survive a high wind area.

Nice catch, well worth it for the tower alone/

[whatsnext]

I'm curious about the control panel with the 'bump start'.

John....