We had our first spring storm system blow thru here yesterday evening. I thought about shutting it down but couldn't resist the power possibilities.
It started out great with 15-17 mph winds giving me 15-20 amps at 27 volts (540 watts). the wind picked up to 27mph gusting to 38mph...thats when it got exciting. It was putting out 32-35 amps (at 30v that's 1050 watts) and peaked out at 42 amps (1300 watts). It started furling at about 900 watts and full furl at 1200 watts. Due to the turbulent gusting it seemed to over-speed just before it got to full furl and would briefly hit 1500 watts. The pole tip was flexing about 30 degrees from vertical and guy wire were bouncing all over! the blades were a solid disk of howling wood! YIKES!! about that time I thought I'd better try to shut the thing down
... I waited for a lull, and after a looonnngg 2 minute wait, (it dropped to about 250 watts) I threw the short-out kill switch.... nothing happened, it kept spinning at full tilt and in and out of furling. Having visions of a smoking stator, I switched it back on. No apparent alternator damage or blade-tower strikes, and fortunately the wind died down and the the rain started. I breathed a sigh of relief and was very satisfied with the Dans design.
I did learn a few things... 1) It put out the power expected, 2) It furled when it was supposed to (and power dropped appropriately), 3) It was tough enough to take a 40 mph beating, and 4) the kill swithch does not work in high winds! strong winds seem to be able to break it out of stall even when shorted out. In retrospect I think it would be better to let it fly in the storm so at least it would furl for some protection.
After this experience I am left to wonder if there is anything else I should be doing to protect it in a thunderstorm... should it be lowered, or let her fly? what say you all? Im not sure my nerves can take another storm, but I know they are comming anyway! I'll be praying for now and looking for input from your experience. Roger