car alternator vs. one sold on otherpower??

[machinist]

What are the pros and cons of building a wind turbine with a car alternator vs. the really cool looking one on otherpower?

Thanks

i_r_machinist

ps. I've been wanting to do this for 30 years.

[Tritium]

Car Alternator......... Will not work well (many threads why not have been posted here)

Otherpower Alternator...Will work exceptionally well.

Thurmond

[spinningmagnets]

Machinist, If there were a way to make useful power from car alternators, you would see many of them being used. They are so common, easy to get, and cheap, my work truck uses a fat 140 Amp unit. However, they are designed to run at several thousand RPM's to get some useful amps at 12 volts.

Many play with this as a fun hobby (like me), but the best experimental work is from some very smart people who live off-grid and DEPEND on their wind/solar/hydro. They don't waste money on things that aren't useful, and will pay what it takes for something that really works, is reliable, and will last.

"New" ECM motors and AC servo motors are expensive, but sometimes a builder has gotten a surplus used one cheap. If you DON'T want to make a custom PMA that best fits your site conditions, these seem to me to be the easiest conversion for an almost off-the-shelf wind-gen. Heres some car-alt info I felt was worth saving:

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/7/3/191357/4809

using microwave magnets in a car alternator to make 14 VDC / 1,000 RPM

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/7/4/225522/5838  

the updated version 1900 RPM = 300 WATTS

http://islandcastaway.com/stuff/windpower/Alternator%20Secrets.htm

Car alternators explained, and then hacked

[machinist]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm in the process of drawing the system in autocad. Looks like I have alot of reading ahead of me,(old posts).

Thanks again

i_r_machinist