Tom,
I teach school and in the summers I pick projects to work on. This last summer I put up 2,760W of solar cells with 48 volt battery backup. That in itself was quite a learning experience. I actually thought I could do the wind and solar all at once. And now I find out that there are a lot more things to deal with installing a wind machine.
So 30 years ago we lived in town and was working in energy conservation. I bought a used Jacobs that had been rebuilt and a friend sold me 31 ft 4 legged tower for my 3 legged stub. I never was satisfied how to make the transition between the two, so it sat on the back burner. Then we moved into the country with 60+ft trees and I started teaching. I had already had a friend who worked in a machine shop dress down the commutator. He told me the nose was .007" out but was able with their equipment to bring it to .002". It must have done a face plant at some time.
So to answer your question.
The generator is in my classroom where my friend tested, cleaned up the wiring and recoated them. The controller he cleaned up also and its in the lab with the slip rings. The tower stub we refelted and is in my classroom also. And there is a 32 volt motor the original seller threw in. Oh, I almost forgot the fly balls, which are really neat the way they work is in my room also. And another important part I forgot. The blades are in the basement. They look original. Someone put a metal strip along the leading edge, but it still has small dings in it. One of the metal straps that backs the blade attachment is cracked and I was never comfortable welding it, so that slowed me down too. I have a lot of the manuals on the system. Amazing the things that can stop a project.
Sorry for being so wordy, it nice to chat with someone that has an interest in wind, it been a long time for me. But to answer your second question. I need a turbine that will tie into the 48 volt system, so it doesn't seem the Jacobs will work. Plus it seems it may need TLC and special controls to tie it in. So I am looking at newer models, and I can't afford the new Jacobs.
I have ideas, I am hoping yourself or this forum can help me out. The solar cost a lot more than I expected, but the local utility and 30% is going to help out a lot this year. Now I am checking out tower prices. I don't want to climb anymore, I could though, so I am wanting a folding tower. $$$$, And the 5K Jacobs is not for stand alone or backup and its $$$. So I am planning on selling the 1800 Watt sometime to help defray a bit of the cost.
Boy, I bet you never expected to get an answer like that!
Archie
