Author Topic: streaming video (Read 3996 times)

Propwash · « **on:** December 09, 2005, 05:51:52 PM »

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/4796/S4200204.AVI

Click on the link to see the video. It may take a while to load if you have dial up. I hope it works.

Kevin

Propwash · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2005, 10:56:43 AM »

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/4796/S4200206.AVI

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/4796/S4200205.AVI

Here are a couple more short videos. Now that I have figured out how to do it I'll get some more.

willib · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2005, 05:00:59 PM »

Pretty cool, How much power does it generate?

wooferhound · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2005, 08:05:31 PM »

Looks awesome, and its very quiet too . . .

Propwash · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2005, 04:04:50 AM »

Thanks guys, The mill is 12 volt and still in the tweaking process. I seem to be getting about one amp per mph of wind up untill about 30mph. Winds above 30mph have been giving me 40-50amps. We had winds gusting over 40 a couple of nights ago. The needle on my 50amp guage was pegged for about 3 hours. I didn't get much sleep that night!! My stator air gap is very wide and I think reducing the air gap will give me some better readings.

Kevin

willib · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2005, 06:22:08 AM »

Kevin

how much resin did it take to mold your ststor?

Willi

Propwash · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2005, 08:22:36 AM »

I used a bunch of West System that I had kicking around the shop. I didn't pay much attention to the quantitiy but I would guess between one and two gallons. I used a lot of filler to thicken it up. West System makes fillers for thier products so that you can fill them and still keep the strength properties. I used polyester resin and filler on the magnet discs because I didn't think they required as much strength as the stator.

Kevin

DanB · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2005, 08:35:14 AM »

I cant seem to open this with my system running Linux. Im curious though. Can you post some .jpg's of it and perhaps describe some detail about the machine? How big is the blade diameter?

Propwash · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2005, 02:07:04 PM »

DanF helped me figure out how to post streaming video. He mentioned that he had problems with the Linux system also.

The mill is a 12' Hugh Piggott design. I built it pretty much from the plans in his book. It has 14" x 3/8 discs, 16 - 2"x 1" x 1/2" Neo magnets on each disc, 12 coils wound 25 turns of #13 wire, two in hand which is for 12 volt output.

I have it mounted on a 20' test tower for now and glad of it. I have had it up and down at least 20 times tinkering and adjusting. I had to lengthen out the tail and make some weight adjustments to it. It seems quite fussy about staying square to the wind and being able to furl when it is supposed to. I spent most of today tightening up the air gap. I didn't have my discs machined and when I cut them out with a torch they must have warped. They have just enough wobble to keep me from getting the air gap that I want. Lesson learned. All in all it is working quite well and has been a really fun project. Very time consuming but well worth it. The second one should be much easier to do. The enclosed links have construction pictures as well as finished photo's. You might find the planer jigs interesting that I made most of the blades with.

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/11/25/24121/030

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/11/5/2230/46137

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/11/29/34622/677

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2005/12/5/12530/0959

Kevin

jmk · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2005, 09:30:21 PM »

I couldn't load it eather. I wish I could. Is there anouther wat to load it through the field line?

Propwash · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2005, 06:06:48 AM »

I'm not real clever in format's etc. I'll check with DanF and see if there is anything that I can do on my end when posting that will make these more usable for you guys.

Kevin

Propwash · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2005, 06:17:05 AM »

jmk send me an email so that I can get your address and I'll try sending the videos to you that way as a test.

Kevin

Propwash · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2005, 07:14:01 AM »

Give this one a try. I converted the video to wmv formatt.

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/4796/converted_movie.wmv

jmk · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2005, 10:16:10 AM »

Yes! It's loading right now.

jmk · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2005, 10:34:25 AM »

Allright, I want to see the other ones. Can you load the other ones in that format? Do you have one with it furling? How far did you have to exstend the tail? I know you are useing lighter angle, and this plays into the picture. Did you get the furling to work right yet? great stuff!

Experimental · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2005, 11:37:47 AM »

Hi Kevin,

I really like West Systems-- but I,m sure glad you didn,t use it on your mags, as I,ve had problems with it , sticking to metal !!

On your stator, it will take much higher heat, and it has some UV protection as well..

It was actually designed as a adhesive for wood,(if used with the 403 filler) and I use it exclusively on my prop blades..

Part of the reason I like it, is due to the fact, it will cure, down to 40 degrees--- nice in a poorly heated shop..

I too, could not run the vidios, But I plead ignorance, when it comes to these computers !!!

Would sure like to see some pictures -- I can open them (I think!!)

Good day to you, Bill H.....

Experimental · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2005, 01:12:47 PM »

Hi Kevin,

I,m surprised to hear that your discs are(badly) warped from being cut with a torch !!

BUT, of course, it certainly will happen, but I haven,t made anything larger than 12" and hot rolled steel, isen,t truely flat in the first place !!

I have cut discs, with a band saw, and aquired some that were cut with a high pressure water system -- compared to the ones i cut with a torch -- didn,t see a lot of difference, when put in my lathe..None were truely flat !!(I true all in the lathe now)

One thing I have found however, is several factory made hubs, that were not completely square with the bearings !! One of these, I just returned, the other, I used a mandrel to true in the lathe..

Another problem a friend had -- we found the bearing race, wasen,t completely seated -- That made a real big "wobble"!!!

I mentioned these things, thinking one of them might exist on your mill !!

Wish I could open those vidios, but some reason, I can,t !!(probably my lack of computer skills)

Anyway, wish you much luck, and good wind !! Bill H......

Propwash · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2005, 01:58:01 PM »

Thanks for the tips. I am quite sure the problem is with the discs because one of them is worse than the other. If it were a bearing or hub problem they both would wobble the same amount. I don't have a major problem but I had to add the thickness of a half inch washer to get required clearance when I normally wouldn't need it. I don't know how much output this is costing me. Maybe none at all. I think I could shim the discs to get some of it out but it would require me to tear the mill all apart out in the snow bank and do a lot off fiddleing around with it. I am sorry to hear that you can't open the video. The last one I posted worked for jmk so I thought I had it figured out. The video is not very long, more of a test than anything. If you can tell me the format of videos that you can open maybe I can post them in that mode. I'll get a good one when we get some more wind. It's been uncommonly calm here for a couple of days. We're in between snow storms. Thanks.

Kevin

Experimental · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2005, 05:01:40 PM »

Hi Again Kevin,

Sounds like you are actually in pretty good shape, and I looked at the pics you posted -- that reminded me who you are !! (chainsaw artist !!)

If you need to add a shim here or there, you might try U shaped shims -- then you only need to losen a nut or two, slip the shim in and do it right, Next summer !!

I found on my last little mill, I had to double the clearance I had set, as it would start charging to soon and stall out !!

When you do get some good wind up there, It should really perform -- maybe better than you think !!

Don,t worry about my inability to open your vidio, I,m sure it,s just an "old guy", to dumb to figure out this computer !!

My best to you, and enjoyed your pics, Bill H...........

Propwash · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2005, 06:19:30 PM »

Hey Bill,

You think like my dad used to. I am always to focused on the problem to see the easy solution. I'll have to stock up on those horse shoe shims. Great idea!! I watched my mill all night about a week ago in 40plus mph winds and havn't noticed any signs of blade stalling or even slowing up. My fear was that if it ever came off the tower I'd never see it again. LOL. Thats why I think I need less air gap. Maybe she's just tuned to perfection. Damned if I know. It isn't as if I can go down the road and see what the other guys is doing. I think she's working pretty good but I always wonder if I just closed that gap a little more would I get MORE POWER or a ruined stator from dragging magnets. The thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.

Kevin

jmk · « **Reply #20 on:** December 12, 2005, 07:03:45 PM »

You maybe useing an Apple computer that doesn't use the same format as alot of PC,s. I wen't to a friends house who has an Apple and was able to see all the vidieos. Looks great! I can,t wait to se one when the tail furls. Pluss to hear how many amps it makes. I'm tempted to light a fire in the hole I dug for the base footing so I can poor concreat. Have fun, John.

Propwash · « **Reply #21 on:** December 12, 2005, 07:16:07 PM »

jmk I'm using a pc. A Hewlett Packard.

Kevin

jmk · « **Reply #22 on:** December 12, 2005, 07:16:25 PM »

Kevin, did you happen to look at the amp metter when you shot the film? I was curious as to what it was produceing at that time? I know she was running slow, but I am curious if that is all the faster it has to run to let in? It didn't seem to be makeing any noise.

Propwash · « **Reply #23 on:** December 12, 2005, 07:33:48 PM »

It was turning about 50-75 rpms. It starts charging at just about 50rpms. In my next production I'll be sure to include guage readings for you. Can't you get a well driller to come and set that mast for ya? LOL Your welcome to come up for Christmas vacation and watch my mill spin. Just bring that sweet Xantrex inverter with you so we can try it out.LOL

Kevin

jmk · « **Reply #24 on:** December 12, 2005, 08:07:05 PM »

I am actualy putting it in my back yard on top of a hill. I have a 600 series national crain at work, but it isn't possible to get it back there. I have a sky track too, but it would cost $400 to have it trucked back and fourth. I think hoisting it wont be that hard once I have all the correct hook ups on the tower. Just getting the tower back there will be hard. I was going to put one end on my rideing lawn mower trailer, and the other end tied to the tractor hitch. I cant do that in a foot of snow up and down hills with 30% grade though. I should have waited to buy my inverter. It has a two year limited warnty, and I wont be able to use it for a year. I am a little bit woried too, because it has a small dent where the ground hooks up to it. As if it was droped on the ground. I think it will be fine though. It would be fun to have a bigger mill hooked to it. Never enough! LOL

Propwash · « **Reply #25 on:** December 13, 2005, 04:32:25 PM »

Please don't scold me for the volatage reading that you see in this video.

http://www.otherpower.com/images/scimages/4796/rpmsand_amps.wmv

Kevin

jmk · « **Reply #26 on:** December 13, 2005, 09:38:19 PM »

Looks really good! Don't blow up your battery. I had a battery blow up in my ford ranger. I was surprised she even made a loud noise. The acid will go everywhere. Hook up a heater or something. What are you powering with it? Don't lose your eyes by watching your meters. I know you know, just a little scary. Its ok to run some wires to my place so we can hook up the inverter.

ghurd · « **Reply #27 on:** December 14, 2005, 08:40:22 AM »

Looks like the bottom 2 ameters still don't work?

Propwash · « **Reply #28 on:** December 14, 2005, 05:06:38 PM »

I unhooked the two bottom meters and ran all the charge through the top meter for more accuracy. I received 3 new meters from the ebay seller that sold me those sticky ones but I haven't installed them yet. Speaking of meters that multi meter that shows 16volts is nuttier than a $#|+ house rat. I have an old analog meter in my house on the window sill that is connected to the battery bank also. The past few days there has been a four volt difference between the analog and the digital. I purchased a hydrometer(hope I got that right) at the auto parts store today and found out that my guages are telling me that my half flat batteries are full. I am also very suspicious of one of the new batteries that I just purchased. The hydrometer readings for this one battery are much lower than the others. I am going to check it a couple more times tomorrow and return it if it continues to read lower than the others. I always thought a battery was something used to start a car and that was about it. I am learning that they are quite an elusive and complex creature.

You know you're a windmill nut when you go into Home Depot during Christmas season and run past all the nice tools on display just so that you can drool over rolls of number 4 wire.

Thanks for the warning jmk. My in house analog meter was on 13volts when I took those pictures so I figured they were ok but I knew you guys would give me a roasting for that 16volt reading. We have had strong NW winds here all day today as well as last night. Been getting steady 30amp readings and a few gusts that peg the needle on 50amps. My electric heater in the den sucks up the amps quite fast. Free heat seems warmer than bought heat.LOL

Kevin

ghurd · « **Reply #29 on:** December 14, 2005, 07:05:39 PM »

That nutty meter, Change the battery! If it the one I think it is, it ships with a crap battery.

Also out in the cold, the battery voltage drops and they get really goofy.

And they can't run from the battery they are measuring either. 'Pooof'

G-

jmk · « **Reply #30 on:** December 14, 2005, 08:20:40 PM »

You may be getting that reading from line lost voltages? They both may be reading corectly. Are you running a long ways to the house?

Experimental · « **Reply #31 on:** January 13, 2006, 08:31:29 PM »

Hey Kevin,

haven,t been checking my "comment section" often enough -- and just saw your video --- Very nice, really enjoyed it !!!

Looks like you,re doing great and I compliment your work -- you,re off to a good new year !!

My best to you, Bill H......

Propwash · « **Reply #32 on:** January 19, 2006, 08:23:09 PM »

Hi Bill, I have not been on here for quite a while myself. I get wrapped up in ice boating and everything else gets put on the back burner. I have done a lot of wiring upgrades to my mill and got her working much better. I saw my highest reading yesterday at 150amps in 70mph wind. We got hammered hard all day yesterday with violent winds. I was very relieved to see it still up on the tower this morning. I just put a comment under (dead inverters). Reading that will bring you up to speed on my inverter issues.

Kevin

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Author Topic: streaming video (Read 3996 times)