Author Topic: 120-130 ft. Treadmill Generator 8AWG (Read 3300 times)

dtadpole · « **on:** December 19, 2009, 07:39:47 PM »

Was just wanting to know if I was just being dillusional or what when I ordered this wire. I got a deal on 8 awg wire one time and bought 1000ft. of this for my wind generator. I have gone through the charts, and ect. and it seems this will not be able to handle the feet I need to go with the unit as per voltage drop. My system is 12V, I have a 260vdc treadmill motor generator, If I am not mistaken it is a 100watt unit that may produce 8.3 amps dc. The controller/batteries/ect are all 120-130 feet away from the wind generator. I am currently planning on running 3 runs of 8awg wire(1 run for future 12v wind blue altenator), would it benefit me to run 4 runs of 8awg and tie them together? Would it make a difference to put the bridge rectifier closer to the controller? Just confused at this point~! Thanks for all of your help!

dnix71 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2009, 12:08:03 PM »

AC has lower line losses for a given wire size than DC, so you would get more power putting the diodes on the battery end. You will need to make sure the wire is not buried unless it is rated for that, and a/c is more dangerous to people, so make sure no one can touch the wires (either put it on poles on in conduit).

Fused · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2009, 03:25:21 PM »

If you have not bought the wind blue unit yet, you may want to search and read up about it. There are so many better ways to waste your money.

Good luck

Fused

ghurd · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2009, 03:39:25 PM »

Have you considered AL wire? AL #1/0 or #2/0 USE is cheap.

I strongly suggest you "Google search the board" for wind blue, and their stator part numbers... before buying one.

G-

dtadpole · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2009, 09:50:35 PM »

Thanks so much for the info, I plan to run the wiring in conduit buried in the ground is this a bad idea? Will the wiring become hot? thanks

dtadpole · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2009, 09:52:02 PM »

Thanks Ghurd and Fused will definitely look up the wind blue information! Haven't bought the unit but I had a buddy buy one so I will let him know what I come up with! thanks!

adaml · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2009, 05:21:28 AM »

Please read about the Windblue before spending out..............................

ghurd · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2009, 06:05:25 AM »

I think these 2 sum it up pretty well,

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2009/2/15/24229/3553

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2008/12/21/43649/305

G-

Jerry · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2009, 09:35:02 AM »

I have done extensive testing of the 540 Wind Blue. Here is a link.

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2009/9/20/04919/8646 Since this test Wind Blue has sent me the new 540 with upgraded rotor and the power has increased some.

If your going to buy and or fly one of these gennys it is to your addvantage to "Jerry Rige" it and use my blades. LOL was that a sales pitch or what LOL ??

Jerry

dnix71 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2009, 03:58:21 PM »

What does the wire say it is? UF-B is rated for direct burial. I use that to connect to my irrigation pump from a disconnect on the back wall.

I used direct burial wire because carpenter ants were nesting inside the conduit and shorting out the connection at the pump.

Conduit is supposed to provide protection against someone sticking a shovel in the ground and chopping the wires, but otherwise it's considered wasteful to use conduit to carry direct-burial rated wire.

If your wire is only THHN rated, then it MUST be in conduit if you bury it.

dtadpole · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2009, 02:54:47 AM »

Yep, only THHN so I will have to bury it in conduit. Thanks for the reply!

dtadpole · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2009, 03:00:38 AM »

Thanks guys for the links and suggestions on the wind blue unit. I have ordered a book from scoraig through otherpowers store, so I hope to build a good unit from that book. Onto the wind blue unit, I do have a friend that is flying one of these and would probably benifit from your blades jerry. Do you have a link I can send him or some information for him, I will send him your link you sited above.

Also on the topic of pre-wiring this tower to use my 12v treadmill unit now, and later upgradeing to a 7-10 foot scoraig unit. would 6 runs of #8 wire be sufficient for a scoaig unit? I will be using this tower in the future for my built unit. Thanks so much for all your comments and help!

ghurd · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2009, 06:20:11 AM »

I am not clear what the 120-130ft includes. The tower is included?

The 6 runs of #8 is 3 pos and 3 neg?

Three #8 CU wires in parallel has 0.2094 ohms per 1000'.

AL #1/0 is 0.161 ohms per 1000'.

If the wire is THHN only (not also marked THWN) it is not suitable for wet locations.

Not sure what that means related to the conduit, like does the conduit need to be waterproof?

Pulling 6 pieces of #8 THHN through 125' of conduit will not be the most fun ever experienced.

The cost of the conduit, fittings, and grease for THHN? I do not know.

Last 3 conductor #1/0 AL USE I bought was about $1.30 (IIRC). It does not need conduit. It needs some special connectors and special grease for the connections.

Might find buying AL is cheaper than than conduit parts. Direct burial wire sure would be easier.

Some more here,

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/10/21/15025/959

G-

Jerry · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:30:02 AM »

Hi dtadpole.

Have him e-mail me at audiosourcesalem at aol dot com.

Jerry

dtadpole · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:08:49 PM »

yep the 120-130 includes the tower also.

correct on the 3 pos. 3 neg.

I am not sure what the wire says I will have to drag it out and take a look,I will let you know. I know it had Gas, and oil proof on it.

Was thinking of using the plastic conduit that had the fittings built into the long 10' sections, so I would have to buy the elbows and such to come into the house and also a flexible piece to go into the pole. I haven't been able to find a good source for aluminum wire yet but I am still considering it if I can find it at a good price.

I agree with you pulling all that #8 through conduit will suck!

Thanks so much for the info ghurd! If I do end up going with the 6 runs of #8 when taking the treadmill wind gen. down and putting up a scoraig unit would these 6 #8's be suitable for my future unit? Would like to build a 8-10 footer from that book.

thanks so much!

dtadpole · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:09:15 PM »

Thanks Jerry I will send him your info!

dtadpole · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2009, 07:45:55 AM »

Got a chance to look at my wire today the 8awg and it is Thwn-2 90C, Dry, Wet, Gasoline or in Oil it says. Was thinking also maybee I should just build a building out by the windmill to store the batteries and such, Do you guys know what I would have to run to get my ac into the house of course after it has been inverted into regular AC. (Wire Wise).

Thanks guys

ghurd · « **Reply #17 on:** December 28, 2009, 08:04:24 AM »

#12-2 w/g UF-B can handle 20A at 120VAC.

Not sure where you are.

Cold temperatures with temperature compensated controllers can adjust the battery voltage higher than the inverter can handle, shutting down the inverter.

Some inverters have a low temp limit of 32F.

Batteries and inverters out in the cold can cause all kinds of troubles.

Then the issues of switching the inverter on-off if it is WAY out in a shed. Or a more expensive "bells&whistles" inverter, which you probably will not need with a treadmill motor type windmill.

G-

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