Options using 13 gauge wire

[hapuna beach]

Hi Everyone,

I'm just about done with a 10 foot Dan design (24 volt) where I used 14 gauge wire. I happen to have a large amount of 13 gauge wire available and would like to construct another mid size machine with it. I'm grid connected, so am not dependant on windpower at this time, but enjoy the many aspects of contruction as a hobby, and perhaps off grid in the future.

I have both the Dan's and Hugh's books, and would like to stay close to a tested standard design, 24 or 48 volt, from 6 foot to 12 foot.

Any thoughts on a machine where I could utilize the 13 gauge wire?

Thanks,

Hapuna

[Flux]

I can't go through all the options but if you used #13 wire in place of #14, and increased disc size a bit you would probably get similar results. You wouldn't need to increase disc size a lot to get a similar number of turns. Being a few turns short may not hurt you either.

If you can go up a grade with the magnets then you may even do it on the same discs with a reduction in number of turns.

You should have a good idea from your previous machine whether it is running stalled or not, it may depend to some extent on your line resistance. If it does show stall tendencies and a bit of series resistance livens it up you may be just as well to keep the same and just use what turns you can get in. Squeezing the coils a bit more triangular to gain a bit of winding space at the centre would get you a few more turns in with little loss of flux linkage.

If you are not showing any stall tendencies on the present machine then I think larger discs and keeping the same turns would give you a more powerful alternator.

There are many ways of dealing with #13 wire but if you want to keep to something tried then you should be looking at Dan or Hugh's designs that use #13. I can't cover every possibility of blade size and alternator design with no starting point.

Flux

[hapuna beach]

Thanks for your insight Flux. I beleive you were also intrumental in helping Oztules on a different forum with a 12 footer using #13 gauge.

I just noticed that the Dan's used #13 gauge at their recent training at the Evergreen Institute. Not sure what magnets they used for the larger machine, but latley they've been using the 2" diameter round ones:

 "The 10 foot and 12 foot turbines were 48 Volt.  The little 7 footer was 12 volts.  The machines were wound with 70 turns of #13 guage, 105 turns of #15, and 70 turns of #13 respectively.  It did confuse folks that the 7' and the 12' were both wound with same guage and same number of turns... it was purely coincidence that things work out that way."

I appreciate your help!

Hapuna

[milltech1]

hapuna,

     I've recently completed a dan's 10' turbine with coils wound from 13gauge. So far I am very pleased with it's performance. Everything is built right from the book exept the difference is I used grade n50 neo's instead of 42 and I wound the coils with 60 turns of the 13 gauge wire instead of 70 turns of 14. This is also a 24 volt system. It cut's in at 148-150rpm, measured with a photo-tac. I've seen sustained outputs of 800-900 watts, not sure what the wind speed was  but it was nice to see that much power comming in. So far no troubles with the machine but it's only been flying for a couple of months. Hope this helps some.

Eric

[Flux]

Yes if you can use the higher magnet grade it will be very similar and the thicker wire can carry more current safely.

Even with N40/42 magnets I still think it will be fine with #13 wire unless you are in a really low wind area.

The comparison of 60 to 70 turns with #13 wire is helpful. With lower grade magnets I would think about increasing disc size a bit to get a few more than 60 turns for a low wind area but it's going to work well enough either way.

Another trick would be to copy Hugh's 10ft blades which are faster than Dan's. They are very similar but slightly narrower.

Flux

[hapuna beach]

Thanks Eric and Flux....more options to consider! I'll have to check the cost differential between the N42 v/s N50 magnets, but I like the idea!

Hapuna