New and confused

[TurdFerguson]

I have been thinking about moving to a small village atop a moutain in Haiti (NO POWER) I am wanting to build a small PM ALT. to genarator enough power for several lights and small draw items. I am new to all of this, however I have been reading around and I feel like I haven't gained much understainding where to start. I am wanting to build a small genarator ( 4' or so ) and then move up to a 8-10'.... I am good with my hands and have most all the tools I could need, I think what I need is a little direction. The idea behind how theses things work is fairly simple, but then you get into it and start asking yourself " How big should my windings be", " How man magnets should I use". I am sure these are common questions asked, I have tried to do my home work and look through all the old archives I just can't seem to find that speical website to hold my hand and walk me through it step by step. If anyone has any direction, comments , web sites..... Anything that could get me closer to my first genarator taking flight ..... that would be awesome...

Go easy on me.... I'm new!!

Sean

 

[luckeydog]

The first thing you need to ask yourself is what are your average wind speeds in the area you are looking to use the wind turbine. this will determine weather wind power will work for you. and if you have adequate wind then you can start figuring out what size of wind gen you will need based on your power needs.

[Gordy]

Sean,

Hugh Piggott has a web site, and books for sale here, Just go to the top of this page and click on  "our products" then click on "book's" and look for his name. It can be confuseing with so many variables in enviroment and designs.

Gordy

[Capt Slog]

As a fellow newbie, I can recommend this site

http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/

which I found before Otherpower.  There's no doubt that Otherpower is brilliant, but it is so big that I think it can take a little navigating through for the beginner.

For a step by step guide both this

http://www.otherpower.com/windbasics1.html

and this

http://www.scoraigwind.com/pmgbooklet/itpmg.pdf

are very good, but the latter is a little out of date.

[luv2weld]

If you want step by step instructions, get Hugh Piggotts book How to Build a Wind Turbine, June 2005 edition. It includes plans for a 4', 8', 10', and 12' generators.

At $20 for the book, that makes each set of plans only $5!!!!

Probably the best $20 you will ever spend.

I tried to find out if our hosts have it, but the picture is not the same and the description doesn't say which edition it is. You could email them and ask.

If you happen to be in Ontario, Google says that they have it in the library there.

http://worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/61202117

For free from our hosts, instructions for a 10 foot

http://www.otherpower.com/turbineplans.html

For free from our hosts, the basics, with explanations and lots of links

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_wind.html

Ralph

[luv2weld]

Just looked at ebay and found our hosts selling Hugh's book

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wind-Turbine-Plans-How-to-Build-a-Wind-Generator_W0QQitemZ200076883309QQihZ010QQ
categoryZ121837QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[TurdFerguson]

Thanks for all the help... I guess I need to start reading. I hope by the middle of August I'll have one up and flying... Thanks again guys...

Sean

[TurdFerguson]

In the plans for that 10' GEN. Could I use the same size GEN. and scale down the blade Dia.? I was headed to where I use to work  tomorrow (use to run a water jet) I was going to make a template over lunch, but I wasn't sure if I had to scale the stator down.