Diaries

[bj]

     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

[RP]

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.

[coldspot]

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.

[vawtman]

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.

[wil]

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

Wil

[coldspot]

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

[bj]

     Your .02 might be worth much more. downloaded this morn.

Takes a lot of time on a dialup.  If works, will post.

     bj

[bj]

    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]

    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]

 

   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]

    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