Forgen VAWTs

[DamonHD]

Hi,

http://midsummerenergy.co.uk/buy_solar_panels/forgen_wind_turbines.html

Apart from a some dubious grammar and unit-mangling in the datasheets, these look quite plausible to me.  I wondered if anyone here has actually deployed one.

Rgds

Damon

[fungus]

Wow, expensive ..

I've seen one on a boat once but thats as far as my knowledge about them goes ..\

[wdyasq]

From the chart on the PDF the "500" makes .8A @ 12C (10W?) in 'Force 8' wind.

Force 8 wind: 39-46mph, Breaks twigs off trees, generally impedes progress, All smacks make for harbor, if near.

So, for your ~$750 + tower, +shipping one gets a machine that makes 10W in winds it is uncomfortable to stand in and just before trees start going down the street.

Ron

[DamonHD]

So really I'd be better off putting a winch on the trees and as they blow away use that to drive a generator?  B^>

I'm afraid that I take zero notice of claimed power charts, which is why I was interested to know if anyone had any experience to report!

And to be fair to them, I think it is indeed aimed at very windy spots.

Rgds

Damon

[Simen]

A costly tricklecharger...

At least they didn't promise 500W or 1000W, which one could easily derive out of the modelname...

[fungus]

more like 500ma

[TomW]

Damon;

Personally, I find these posts off topic. Why even post about commercial units on a DIY board in the first place? I did not even look at the link.

It would be different if we had a products category.

Otherwise we just drive hits to commercial businesses.

From a new user this would have been hidden.

I would appreciate it if you refrain from posting these seller links in the main forum.

Tom

[DamonHD]

Beg your pardon Tom: was considering buying one since a company I trusted has started selling them.

Rgds

Damon

[ghurd]

I know you UK guys have to pay a lot for this stuff, BUT...

If it works just as advertised...

I can't help but think for that kind of money you could get a 180V PM DC 1/2HP 1750RPM shipped in from the US, add some VAWT blades, and beat the tar out of those output numbers, for a LOT less money.

Gosh.  $750 for 10W at Force 8 / 40MPH?

Force 9 wind causes 'Light structure damage'.

Force 4 / 13-18MPH looks like only 3W, which is easy to beat with a (non-VAWT) box fan blade and stray parts in a Force 3 wind.

Force 3 / 8-12MPH looks like only 135ma.

Even if it sells for 1/4-price... Wow.

G-

[electrondady1]

this is a very small windmill!

i'm old and  still need to transpose metric into imperial to get a feeling for the size of things.

200mm x 310mm is a lot like 8"x 12"

so it's sweeping about .66 sq.ft ??

for about $800.oo bucks !!

[electrondady1]

i can make a lot of "little erma" windmills for that

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/2793/little_erma_004.avi

[jjrob80]

Damon

Im just starting to understand this stuff but do know that for the time and effort that thing sure does'nt produce much power.  i have to agree with ghurd, you can do better with a PM motor and slap some blades on it. I have built a 4'er with a 1hp PM that is making more than that and im only 16' high and $50.00 in the hole. And some bad wind coming in. I am finding that they are very turbulint.  But i do like them for the looks. Just me Got a pick if ya want to look at my user info page.

John

[midsummerenergy]

The Forgen units are definately low power machines. However, they are extremely reliable. I've used them for powering scientific equipment in Antarctica a few times - they are the only commercial turbines I've found that will last an Antarctic winter and still be producing power at the end of it. Most horizontal axis machines just yet blown to pieces.

That said, the power-per-pound (or dollar) you get from a Forgen is certainly nothing to write home about. Like other VAWTS they are remarkably simple from an engineering point of view, and it's always rather surprised me that no one else has produced anything comparable for a better price! Anyone fancy a little business building small VAWTS?

[ghurd]

They are too small to blow up.  Not sure why anyone would make a commercial turbine so small.

G-

From `Mother Earth News, #24- Nov/Dec 1973.

Admiral Byrd set up one of the Jacobs systems at the South Pole in 1933. On June 17, 1955, Richard E. Byrd, Jr., wrote a letter to Mr. Jacobs in which he said:

I thought it might interest you to know that the wind generator installed (by my father)...at the original Little America, was still intact this year after almost a quarter of a century...The blades were still turning in the breeze (and) show little signs of weathering. Much of the paint is intact.