Last week, I flew my 7ft, 2 disc alternator (12-9) wind turbine for the first time.
As soon as the wind picked up, the amp meter peaked out. The wind was probably blowing between 8 and 15 mph (according to several glances at my windspeed meter in the shed).
It was a 15 amp meter and I was under the false assumption that I actually generated that much power (about 250 watts).
After taking it down again that day (safety), I realized that it is impossible because there is not even that amount available in about 10 mph wind. So something went wrong.
I just finished some testing with multiple meters and an rpm meter.
The following numbers are the result.
Do they look more trustworthy?
The system was hooked up to a small, temporary, 20AH battery.
The battery read 12.3V at rest.
The amp meters started reading a small current at 135rpm (cut-in?).
[0.5 amp at 155rpm]
[1.0 amp at 165rpm]
[1.5 amp at 170rpm]
[2.0 amp at 175rpm]
175 rpm was the highest I could comfortable reach while holding the rpm meter with one hand, spinning the alternator with the other, and reading the display panels at the same time.
The volt reading at the Battery side was:
- 42V at 0.5 amp
- 50V at 1.0 amp
- 60V at 1.5 amp
- 70V at 2.0 amp
The volt reading at the Bridge Rectifier side was:
- 51V at 0.5 amp
- 70V at 1.0 amp
- 85V at 1.5 amp
- 00V at 2.0 amp
Are those numbers completely ridiculous, or do they seem in the ballpark?
Will I stall with the fairly low cut-in?
You can see some images of my little 'baby' at
http://www.fieldlines.com/story/200852130125592Thank you,
Zenpi314
(I hope it is not a duplicate post. The last one seems to have disappeared in limbo)
