Recent content by owen_a

It's done mechanically, I'm presuming by the design of the Wind Vane since it has a gap in the centre of it. Probably aerodynamically built that way.

My turbine actually does this. If the wind gets to high, it steers it out of the wind, and if the blades rotate to quickly, the electromagnetic brakes kick in.

Using MOSFETS? hmmm, I've never used anything other than diodes for rectification. Something like this maybe? (second picture)

@OmCheeto thanks! I was actually going to build a VAWT using one of these alternators (I think they're delco, I'll check later). I used a bicycle wheel and a 200cm fan belt to get my ratio. I think it was 1:10. The only thing that stopped me, is the fact that it wasn't easy turning that wheel...

I couldn't think of the correct name, so I thought of something which sort of resembles it, haha. I see what you did there also *sigh* haha. There are some sites which sell magnets which could potentially fit. There's videos on YouTube of people doing it, and text based websites of people...

You're absolutely right, I'd still be stuck with a high speed requirement, in this case, a lot higher. The easiest would be to just get a PMA or build one. I actually have an alternator disassembled and just needs the claws being opened to fit a donut magnet in there.

If you get an alternator and begin to rotate its shaft by using a drill for example - making sure that there is a bulb in series with the input where the dashlight connection would go, then when it gets up to speed, you'll feel a big torque in which the bulb will begin to go out, since its...

I actually have two vehicle alternators, but can't get past the issue of it causing a high amount of torque when it's trying to excite is magnetic field. I thought they'd only be useful for hydro, since after it's got past that 'high torque', it carries on rotating easily while generating...

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I was wondering sending it back and try to find another turbine that generates around the same but at a lower RPM, although I don't think I will without the price getting higher and higher. As for the turbines current position, its not in a good place like I said...

Ah I see. When you mean damage the alternator, is that because its spinning too fast? It has electro magnetic breaking built in (unless that's down to you for breaking it manually).

Hi, Thanks for your replies. I have seen the turbine reach 8A, not sure at what voltage, but most likely 17v, which gives us about 130watts (from the top of my head). That was only for about a second before the massive gust of wind died down and dropped it to 6A and back down to 0. That was by...

Hi, I have this wind turbine (http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/251320008073?nav=WATCHING_ACTIVE&skus=Output:12V&varId=550270984212) in the UK, wall mounted about 18ft, its not in the best position, but it still turns pretty fast, enough to hear the blades spinning from inside, and for it to generate...

Hi mike, Thanks for the reply! I didn't know I was losing that much, ouch indeed! I'm going to get myself a charge controller for about £42 - just so I can charge this leisure battery up. That's until I can buy a bank of deep cycle marines.

It was just to test to see if it works, which it obviously does. I haven't had time to drill the holes into the wall yet to mount my controller (when I get one) etc, so that's this Saturday job. As for now, its just on an open circuit connected to nothing... Which is a shame, all that power...

Sure. Today in the UK, its REALLY windy, so this thing is flying around. This is the wind turbine - http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/251320008073?nav=WATCHING_ACTIVE&skus=Output:12V&varId=550270984212 And this is the rectifier - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008R50M9Y/?tag=pfamazon01-20