First night with windmill outside

[taylorp035]

This is my first night that I let my 4' windmill outside for more than 8 hours.  The wind conditions are from the NW at 15-30mph at about 17 degrees F and expecting about 6-12" of snow tonight.  The thing is that the wind is not going with the direction of my back yard (video of my back yard to explain the situation with my 4-wheeler), as the clearing runs from the NNE to the SSW.  The wind is going from the WNW to NW and with the 15-30mph winds today, it did not spin at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoGfP89Tts0

As you can see, there is a nice path that goes along with the 144kv powerlines that is quite windy in the winter time.

I will update you guys tomorrow to see if she survives.  Even if it did fall, there is a nice 2ft of snow to fall on from a tower height of 8 ft.

[taylorp035]

The wind is now comming out of the west, so that is good, but they are calling for 35+ mph gust

[wooferhound]

I'm sitting on the edge of my seat . . .

[taylorp035]

I just went out there to check on her, almost got stuck on my ATV getting there (now about 2-3 feet of heavy snow).

What I found was a windmill, still standing, obviously rotated somewhat over the night, with snow all inside of my cover, so I will have to bring her in and blow the snow out of the motor and then make a back side to the enclosure and a front side.

So I think I will keep her out until the wind actually goes the right direction, as it is very windy, but still the wrong direction    

[taylorp035]

Currently, the enclosure around the treadmill motor is like a mailbox with no front or back door.

[ghurd]

Maybe a 2 liter coke bottle and duct tape is a decent start, before the wind is gone.

G-

[taylorp035]

The motor is larger than a 2 liter coke bottle I am pretty sure, but that is a good idea!  Unfortunately, I don't own any 2 liter bottles as I don't drink pop.

I have some more sheet metal from some aluminum soffeting.  

My treadmill motor is larger than most motors that you see, as it is about 16" long and about 6" in diameter and very heavy, probably 30lbs.

[taylorp035]

Or maybe a bunch of duct tape.....  I like that idea.  I will make it stronger too, hehehehe.

[taylorp035]

We should get another 12-18" of snow before I can get out there tomorrow, so this going to be interesting.  It is supposed to snow for the next 7 days, so probably a good 4-5 feet total...

[divemaster1963]

I hope everthing is going good. Man you must live by the lakes. I hope the wind stays up for you. snow could biuld up on the blades and effect the balance. if the blades keep moving friction could help with the ice buildup.

good luck and good wind

[taylorp035]

Yeah, I live south of lake erie by about 15 miles, a.k.a. the snowbelt region, where we can get 200-300+ inches of snow a year!  The snow is quite fluffy, but I am sure people with AF machines have problems with the heat in the stator and the snow (temps are supposed to be below 23 degrees for the next 7 days).  I will be lucky to get back there tomorrow with all of the snow, as I had to drive through some 4ft snow drifts today!

[taylorp035]

Day 3:  The amount of snow inside of the motors seemed to be about the same (no improvements made yet), but the snow was sticking to the blades, so I spun it and all of the snow flew at my face    

As the days progress, you can see how deep the snow is getting and what it takes to get the job done!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu5zUrOcMoM

This is my favorite video so far, you can see the windmill off in the distance, right of the power poles and left of the trees in the beginning of the movie.  As you can see, I am not allowed to make a tall tower with the power lines so close by.

[taylorp035]

Today I found a 1/4" of ice on the blades, so there was no chance of it spinning.

[ghurd]

With a tower only 8' high,

tomorrow you will need a shovel to dig down far enough to find the blades!!!

I90 and OH-SR11 area is getting hammered.

I am glad to be home, and glad home is South of that.

G-

[taylorp035]

We are supposed to get another 12" today, and maybe, just maybe some north winds...

The wind has been out of the nw = bad = 90 degrees off of my back yard.

[taylorp035]

Yesterday I went out with a lawn chair and sat in the sun while watching my windmill (about 15 degrees outside)  The wind was very light, and by some crude estimations with some fluffy snow, I calculated about 1-2 m/s so 2-4 mph winds....  It did hit 6 volts at one point, and I was quite impressed with how fast it spun.

Unfortunately, according to the local internet based windmill, it hasn't produced any power in 6 days and it is on a 140 foot tall tower.

[taylorp035]

http://view2.fatspaniel.net/NorthCoastEnergySys/greenetownship/HostedAdminView.html?&eid=132262

[taylorp035]

Check out the wind section where I posted my new record of 43 watts, with much more to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!