UPDATE:
I DID achieve the 10-30 watts that I wanted!!! Yippi!
Only problem is it is a little windier than I had wanted to achieve it. It was the so-called 20-30mph windy day today. In the video below, you will see I just short stop my 5' hawt in the background because the wind gusts were a little too strong sometimes.
I painted the Vawt rotor brown like I said and so it don't reflect the sun anymore which is good. I did numerous changes and tests today.
In the following test, you will see the Vawt rotor turning faster than usual. Since it was very windy and gusty today, I hooked a 6v golf cart battery in SERIES with a 12v battery (Just for the Test!) which allows the rotor to spin up faster to a higher speed 18v batt cut-in rpm.
I like the fact that it was turning faster which actully made the rotor MORE stable in big winds than the lower speed 12v set-up which sways the pole a bit. (which May cost some power--not certain yet)
I liked this higher rpm/voltage set-up Test -- it was quite consistent charging with the turbulent wind gusts--- but the only draw-back is in lower winds (10-20mph days), it would miss a lot of consistent little watts since the cut-in would be too high most of the time. I also did another 'Free-spin' video, and it goes way faster than this.
Heres the first video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyH-cfpG0W0
Another change I had attempted yesterday before this was to make the rotor more like the 'Benesh' Vawt which is wider. I'm not saying it was exactly correct or anything like that though.
What I did was move the two blades outward 2 more inches. This made the over-lap of each blade only 1/3rd over each other (instead of 1/2 lap-over) and so the over-all rotor diameter was quite a bit bigger at 25" diam. with a wider blade swing.
It did noticably worse. It cancelled much worse on the opposing/returning side. It reminded me of some of the big diameter Vawts I had frustratingly tested last year.
I did not like it at all. You think you will get more torque, but it did not happen that way. It was only HALF (or less//no consistency of charging) the power and only did any power during short wind gusts.
I couldn't make a video of the testing this way though because it was raining, but the winds were very strong. I watched the ammeter inside. I did take still pictures of the rotor this way though, if anybody wants to see those ineffective changes.
Rather, I now like the Tight circle (small diameter) configuration rotor.
So I changed the rotor back the way it mostly was exept for a couple changes. I put supports up each blade (both sides) and put a metal cross support to hold them 'inward' better. Before this, the blades were boeing outward on the sides. Now I straightened them up.
I also brought the two blade 'halves' closer together toward the center. It made the two halves 'tighter' with each other.
What I had said about 'Machanical Stall', I doubt is the case now.
Because I did the following test --- I used a variable power resistor and did some testing with it. The resistor DID allow the vawt rotor to spin faster (sort of reduced the Torque required), but the power (watts) was reduced quite a lot (half or even more) into the 12v battery. I don't like that. Forget the power resisters!
But the 100' long run wire is acceptable since I will need the distance and it lets the rotor run slightly faster with little or no loss. (evidently)
So it seems at this point the problem (to acheive even More power) is that this little rotor simply can NOT convert anymore mechanical power into watts the way it is until I can improve it by reducing it's drag cycle or design.
Here is the second video of it in some fairly big turbulant gusts (at the corner of my house) doing over ONE AMP many times today. This is into a 12v battery.
It did the brief 30 watts max when I had it set-up with the 18v batt(only testing).
It did 26 watts max when hooked to a 12v battery but was spinning slower and sways the pole a bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppbV5R1-THo
Anyway, I hope I am on the right track.
I'm sure it did over 100 Watt hours today (Including the windy night tonight).
My goal is to double the amount of power I am getting now.
Whether I do or don't -- It is fun to try!!!