Hello mechamz,
Further to my previous post
http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2008/3/3/14933/14175 that you refer to.
I have since modified the tail on my FE1048 48V Futurenergy Turbine so that it stayed pointed at the wind and furled out at approximately the rated power (1000W) which should correspond to the rated wind speed of 12.5m/s.
Thus the turbine now averaged about 1000W (~15A ave at 57V) in high wind.
A vast improvement on the original performance.
However......
We had Gail-Force (temperature ~10degC)winds here last week up to 160Kph which had the turbine continuously producing 10A-20A into 57V-60V.
As a result the turbine has now burnt out windings that have shorted to the stator.
I have not dismantled the stator as yet, but only measured with the DVM.
Also, for your application, the PMG has a lot of heavy COGGING, that I reckon would make it unsuitable for Hydro Generation.
Conclusions:
Beware of Futurenergy Products !
1. Futurenegy PMG may not be suitable for Hydro.
- due to excessive cogging.
- High start up RPM
2. Futurenegy PMG may not be capable of more than about 600W-800W in cool weather.
- The encaptulated PMG design may not dissipate the heat generated.
- This would explain why FE persist with the short tail on their Turbines,
limiting the real-world power output to far less than their rated,
to avoid warranty claims.
3. Poor support from Futurenergy Service department...hence my posts.
- They will use any lame excuse they can to negate their warranty responsibility.
PS.. I would love to hear from anyone that experience with the other products sold by Energistar.. as I need to replace my Burnt-Out Futurenergy PMG with something that is capable.
Suggestion: http://www.ecoinnovation.co.nz/c-6-hydro.aspx
Joe