Author Topic: Low wind generating  (Read 1827 times)

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redneck power co

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Low wind generating
« on: June 30, 2008, 02:51:39 AM »
we have 1/2 horse power 180 volt dc motor being proppelled by 6 12 foot blades and a 20:1 gear ratio in low wind we can chage 6 volt batteries. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to convert the 6 volt to 12 bolt batteries? We are currently using a car to car battery charger to convert the power but it is very slow.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2008, 02:51:39 AM by (unknown) »

ghurd

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2008, 10:56:23 PM »
I don't understand the concept of the windmill.


Half-HP = 373W, at 180V is 2A.  Push it to 4A?

So the 12' windmill is designed to make 29W at 6V?  58W at 12V?


The motor resistance is killing the output.

Sounds like it would be a lot better if you start over with a new windmill.

Something that size can make 1000W.


Band-aids only soak up so much blood, stitches stop the bleeding.

G-

« Last Edit: June 29, 2008, 10:56:23 PM by ghurd »
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Flux

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2008, 11:32:09 PM »
Double the gearing to 40:1 it might reach 12v.


Flux

« Last Edit: June 29, 2008, 11:32:09 PM by Flux »

Norm

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2008, 07:01:38 AM »
What do you consider low wind ....3mph?

6 12ft. blades sounds like a lot of torque and

not enough speed in low wind....do you ever get

higher speeds in a stronger wind that can charge

a 12 volt battery?
« Last Edit: June 30, 2008, 07:01:38 AM by Norm »

redneck power co

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2008, 02:56:20 PM »
1. we have 6 blades each are 6 foot long so over all its a 12 foot span the winds are between 2 and 6 mph and that charges a 6 volt battery very easy and packs it full (amps about 250 amp hours) Our problem is that the low wind speed its hard to charge a 12 volt battery. We have been figuring this out and the best way to generate power most of the day with low wind speed is charge a 6 volt and from that 6 volt to change it to 12 volt. But we need to figure out a way to switch it from 6 to 12 better than a car battery jumper system.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2008, 02:56:20 PM by redneck power co »

Flux

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2008, 01:23:48 AM »
There is no fundamental reason why it is more difficult to charge a 12v battery than a 6v one. Voltage doesn't come into the equation.


You seem to be struggling by choosing some motor at random that doesn't suit your 6v condition well and suits your 12v condition even less. Unless you are willing to use a more suitable generator then you are forced to use inefficient methods of adapting your 6v to higher voltages.


You can use voltage converters but at 6v you need decent circuits to avoid big losses from diode drops. It may be your only way unless you are prepared to break away from the unsuitable high speed motor.


Your 20:1 gearing is crazy and it was as a joke that I suggested increasing it to 40:1. Even then it may not be much worse than boosting the 6v to charge 12v.


With a suitable efficient low speed alternator and perhaps a modest amount of gearing you could improve the results immensely. In fact I doubt that the gearing will ever let you get the best results but it may let you get there more cheaply rather than using more expensive magnets.


If you must work from 6v then you have the options of a boost converter ( which for best results would need to be specially designed) or you can use two 6 volt batteries in series and devise a way of connecting your charging power alternately to each and if you incorporate some voltage monitoring scheme you may be able to keep them reasonably in step so that each maintains a similar state of charge. You could charge the batteries in parallel and discharge in series but in that case you can't use power as you generate it and you would need 4 batteries and work them in pairs alternately, charging 2 and discharging the other 2.


Flux

« Last Edit: July 01, 2008, 01:23:48 AM by Flux »

elvin1949

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2008, 01:58:11 AM »
          redneck power co

 First a few wild guesses.

You have no wind.

That is a high rpm motor.

 So #1 get it up as high as you can [hunt some wind].#2 Get rid of that 20:1 reduction,that ain't going to do you any good if you have no wind.I have a 2.5 hp 130 volt at 6750 rpm.It will hit cutin at 485rpm in a 10 mph wind with 4ft 3 blade running at tsr of 7.

 Cut the reduction down to 3:1 and take 3 blades off and raise it up.

 Unless you have [some] wind it still won't work.

Bigger diameter=slower rpm.If you insist on 6 blade you will most likely have to cut them off some to get enough rpm.

 Wasted enough of my time,got work to do.

later

Elvin
« Last Edit: July 01, 2008, 01:58:11 AM by elvin1949 »

ghurd

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2008, 07:32:47 AM »
Pretty much what everybody said.

Three shorter faster blades, gear it 3:1, put a Surplus Center $22 treadmill motor on it.

The output will go through the roof (compared to what it is now).

Cheaper than a custom boost converter,

which won't increase the watts you get out of the current set-up now.

G-
« Last Edit: July 01, 2008, 07:32:47 AM by ghurd »
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redneck power co

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Re: Low wind generating
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2008, 10:07:17 PM »
We have recently modified the gear ratio down to 5.47 to 1 and we are now generating at 12 volts and we have several batteries hooked up together and working a whole lot better  thanks for all the advice im sure i will be needing more in the future
« Last Edit: July 04, 2008, 10:07:17 PM by redneck power co »