Tecker,
I think that you've confirmed my suspicions about the Magnetite, I thought about including a brief note about Hysterysis (sp?) but don't have enough of a clear understanding to make a complelling arguement.
A new stator is definately on the to-do list, though I'm saving my pennies for a Mig welder, and would really like to pick-up a spool of AWG#20 or #18 wire to track the improvement.
ElectronDady1,
You're more than welcome to come-out for a visit (there just aren't that many folks around here that are into RE or even DIY to exchange ideas with)...
Though I'm located 100Km North West of Ottawa, right on the edge of the Quebec border.
Gizmo,
I periodically check the BBC world service for news from a european perspective and ABC for the Australian perspective, as in Canada we are being fed a watery pap of sorts when it comes to alternative perspectives (or hard news).
What I've been hearing is that you folks are in the midst of one of the worst droughts in 200 years... As well (though unrelated to Water) your parlimant actually has tabled a "Peak-Oil" report...
As to the PicLog, it is the ultimate! I was explaining to one of the kids that a set-up like this was only found in research labs a few short years ago.
Although I want to get-back to finishing the CNC Blade Carver that has been stalled since last summer, I was thinking that your design as is could be easily adapted as a "Star/Delta Switch" with a minor change to the firmware. By using just the RPM sensor and using the MOSFet circuit from the "Load switch" it could toggle the relays. But it will have to wait...
WilliB,
Yes, the 100Watt mark was more of a mental barrier than a physical barrier... Over the last year I did have lots of solid advice on how to do this right (especially from this board) but I was too thick to follow it properly (the main thing from the word go was my hesitation at cutting the Mags in half, which ment that the poles were not spaced properly).
As to PWM for cadence control, it's not obvious from the pages but there are 10 speeds available betwen the cranks and the jack-shaft, I did reduce the gearing from 1:6.5 down to 1:5 when I installed the dual rotor, as it was just a bear to pedal at such a slow rate.
Though I'm currently working on a PWM circuit that will do the current limiting for the stepper drive circuit on the Milling machine. So I can see how it could be adapted to the generator.