A Genny using computer hard drive mags

[Mick S]

I have access to lots of used computer hard drives

Use 2 pairs of pliers to bend the backing plate - the mag will lift off easily.

these are some of the tools used to dismantle the hard drives

There are many different shapes in hard drive mags

Cut the mag in half using an angle grinder with a non magnetic cutoff wheel

I made a ply wood template to accurately place the mags.

When you cut a mag in half, turn over on epiece and you will have a magnet twice the size.  You will end up with a magnet close to 20 mm wide by 40 mm long.

Stack as many as you want on top of each other to obtain the thickness you want.

Make sure you end up with each pile the same height.

Rotor taped up ready to pour in the resin.

Here is the start of a new and bigger rotor I am making - 300mm diameter

The resin is poured

I put my rotors im my wood lathe and sand them to make them nice and smooth

My source of copper wire is from microwave transformers

The copper wire is easy to unwind - even if it has some glue on it. Use gloves and grip firmly and the dried glue comes off leaving reasonably smooth copper wire

I made this stator too thick.

It is 3 phase - 5 coils per phase.

So i drilled a hole in the centre of each coil

Then mixed up a batch of resin and iron filings and filled the holes

The genny up and flying - the iron filings in the cores increased the output to a level I am happy with - 10 amps into a 12 volt battery in a moderate wind. I have seen it peak at 18 amps.

This design I have come up with is an experiment. I have made 3 genys all using the common furling method and they work well.

I thought I would try this method just to be different.

It works well once you get the tail size and the balance weight just right.

More on that later if anyone is interested.

[Norm]

   I see you 'gave it a go, mate' !

lot of programs don't like long file names.

 Glad to see it worked out for you...you must

have been trying all day...judging by your pics

you don't give up easily.

  I must say scrounging for hard drive mags is

a lot more rewarding than scrounging around for

microwave magnets.

  Nice looking mill.

         havin'      Fun in NE Ohio !

              ( :>) Norm

[Mick S]

I left out a photo.

This one shows the whole genny.

Also I like to use slip rings and brushes so I dont have to worry about unwinding the power lead.

I have had one running non stop for 2 years powering the lights in a friends house and so far there has been no need to replace the brushes.

[Norm]

   Mmmm!  Oh Right You use microwave parts also.

I always have trouble unwinding the wire as it

seems you don't. and I worried about bare spots

How do you resolve that problem?  or isn't it a

problem for you.

              ( :>) Norm.

[electrondady1]

micks, i am so jealus of your abillity to gather so many hard drives. i have three small shops saving them for me and drop in every two weeks to pick up what ever they have . so how are you getting yours?.

[SmoggyTurnip]

Very nice machine. - I don't understand the furling system you have. Could you explain a bit?

[whirlybird]

I have to ask this..... why are you not flying the fisher and paykel motor you have in your junk pile ?

They are very good and easy to set up.

cya

whirlybird

[Mick S]

Here in Aussie we have centres called Transfer Stations.

It is essentially a place where people bring anything they dont want anymore - that includes general household rubbish.

The workers sort and salvage anything of value - i.e. paper , cardboard, glass, metal etc, etc. and sell it to the big recyclers. There is big money in this.

At these places, old computers are also brought in - dozens every week.

Some get sold as they are. The ones that dont sell are trashed into the scrap metal bins and sold as scrap.

This is where I come in. I have a deal going where they save me the pooter boxes and I get any hard drives out of them before they are trashed.

Even some of the local computer shops bring in old hard drives to be dumped. By the cardboard boxes full.

The workers grab these for me also.

I dismantle the hard drives at home and return all the leftovers to the centre.

Because they are stripped, the parts go into their non-ferrous recycling bins, which is worth a lot more money than ferrous metal.

Non stripped hard drives used to get tossed into their ferrous metal bins.

So you see I am actually doing them a favour and making money for them.

Regards,

Misk S

[Mick S]

It is essentially a down wind machine.

It will follow and face into the wind even without the tail on it.

The tail is what causes it to furl.

In a strong wind the tail lifts up causing the blades to move to a near horozontal position - then they are side in to the wind just like the conventional furling, except that they are horozontal to the ground.

The genny section pivots up and down where it is joined onto the top section.

The size of the tail (and its weight)determines how easily the thing can furl.

The counter weight up top and leaning forward helps in the final adjustment.

It is made up of lead weights.

Also the side flaps in the tail need to curve so thet when it is furled, the wind pressure also pushes the tail sideways to resist the opposing force of the alternator.

It takes some fiddleing initially - its is also important where the centre of the prop rotation point is in relation to the pivot point.

If the prop centre point is above the genny pivot point then the wind force onto the face of the blades makes the thing very difficult to furl in a strong wind.

Reading this explanation I am not sure if it will make things any clearer. It is quite hard to put something which is mechanically really simple into words.

One you get things balanced to furl at your desired wind speed the tail just seems to float and as the wind gusts gets stronger it just floats up higher, until it is streaming directly out behind and the blades are nearly horozontal

Hope this all makes sense

Regards,

Mick S

[Mick S]

Uhhmmmm,

I've got lots of the Fisher Paykel sets.

I am still experimenting with them - not so sure they will take the ultra violet on the plastic for very long.

The one you see is deliberately being left out in the elements to watch the effects of the weather on it.

So far it is looking a little sad.

Have you had any success?

Regards,

Mick S

[Mick S]

So far they unwind ok and the enamel coating does not crack or peel.

No bare spots so far.

I do admit to avoiding the coils that appear heavily soaked in epoxy.

Regards,

Mick S