low wind

[bartonj]

I really like the Homebrew 10 ft, but I live in a low wind power area. I was wondering what windings could be used to optimize it for low wind, say 8-10mph.

Higher voltage prefered. I live on a farm so I could use the power multiples of ways.

I know I need to do more research before asking such but I got an itch...

I also have already ordered Hugh's book but I couldn't wait.

[Flux]

Probably time to look at this realistically before you get too excited.

If you have an average wind speed of 8 -10 mph then that is not so bad. If you mean extracting power from winds at 8-10 mph as I think you mean then whatever you do to the winding is not going to make much difference. If you are really lucky you may see 60W at 8mph and 120 at 10mph.

Not useless if you have nothing, but when you say high voltage preferred and mention uses on a farm then I suspect you are thinking of power saving from a grid supply. It will make negligible difference.

You could charge batteries and run a few lights or perhaps pump some water but if you are thinking of powering loads direct then you need to think again.

Wait for the book and read it carefully.

Flux

[hvirtane]

You can calculate approximately the power available:

P = 0,15 x (D*D) x (V*V*V)

where D is the diameter of the wind rotor,

V is the wind speed and all the dimensions

in SI, it means m and m/s; the result in watts.

The way to extract significantly more

power at a certain wind speed is to use

a bigger wind rotor.

- Hannu