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Portable 12 Volt 17 Watt Wind Generator with Automatic Furling

Portable 12 Volt 17 Watt Wind Generator with Automatic Furling
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  • wind generator masthead.JPG
  • Parabolic Nose - Side Profile - closeup view.JPG
  • Grainger Shaft Arbor.jpg
  • Parabolic Nose - Side Profile.JPG
I've just designed and built a practical, portable 12 Volt 17 Watt wind generator that is ideal (and appropriate) for setting up in campgrounds, parks, Earth Day exhibitions, research stations, and third world homesteads.

On "light breeze" days (5mph = 2.2m/s) when most wind generators are becalmed, this light-and-nimble unit reliably generates power, at charging levels, fully taking advantage of the erratic, gusting winds that are so common in near-ground conditions.

A 48VDC, 1,600 rpm brushed permanent magnet motor (#370-350-00 / PE24113G -from a medical centrifuge), with a standard keyed 5/16 inch diameter steel shaft, was used to serve as the generator. A shaft arbor, 3/8-24 right hand (Grainger Item# 3ZN05 / Dayton Item# 3ZN05) was fitted on the shaft, to use as a 12 Volt generator, @ 550 rpm, when turned clockwise. The motor, weighing in at just under 3 pounds, has permanently lubricated bearings, but is not weatherproof.

Note: If you plan to use a counter-clockwise set of blades, the timing of the "generator" brushes (2 carbon brushes) and internal commutator is such that the same amount of power (Amps and Volts) is also generated when turned counter-clockwise, but be aware that the shaft arbor manufacturer's suggestion as to "right-hand" and left-hand" thread pertains to motors only, and not wind generators, where the just the opposite thread is required.

Note that the Grainger Shaft Arbor requires a thin, soft metal shim inserted against the flat face of the standard keyed generator shaft, for the allen set screw (which has a knurled cup point) to bite into and firmly hold the arbor in place. I used 2 layers, fashioned from an aluminum beer can. Or, use a replacement allen set screw with a soft brass core. Also, two, 1-1/4" thin neoprene washers are needed to pad (and grip) the 1-1/4" steel washers that come with the shaft arbor. The original shaft arbor nut was also replaced, with a nut with a thicker profile, with a nylon locking core.

This portable wind generator is ideally suited for one 12 Volt, 21 Amp Hour sealed lead acid battery.

Granted, that's not much power, when compared to typical permanent, stationary wind generators. But this lean-and-mean device was designed to fill in the void, to reliably provide 12VDC power to remote, inaccessible locations.
 
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Step 1Stock High-Speed Blades for the Wind Generator:

Stock High-Speed Blades for the Wind Generator:
After running the "generator" through a series of bench tests, it became obvious that my simple homemade PVC blades (300 max. rpm) would require a gear-up to properly turn the generator, an inefficient scheme that I was not wild about. And I was also reluctant to commit myself to a number of weekends designing, developing and refineing a set of small, lightweight blades that would achieve the necessary direct-drive speeds (550+ rpm), so I purchased a matched set of three Air-X Airfoil blades.

22-3/16 inches long, and designed for a clockwise rotation, when viewed from the front (shaft end), each with two .25" holes spaced at 23mm (25/32") on center. Having only about 1/4 the torque of the much larger Air-X generator, the 17 watt generator spins very easily, in the slightest of breezes.

The blades were mounted on a 5-3/4" diameter, 3/16" thick, ABS faceplate (blade hub), and carefully drilled out to handle either a 3-blade arrangement (as well as a 2-blade arrangement option). The blades were mounted to the backside of the faceplate (hub), to position the mass of the blades as close as possible to the shaft bearings.  After bolting the three blades to the ABS faceplate, the tip-to-tip distances of the blades were measured and the blades adjusted with light hand pressure until all three of the tip-to-tip distances were equal, then the blade bolts snugged down.

2 blades are more portable, being easier to stow, protect from damage, and transport, but tend to teeter on the generator shaft, in actual practice. But, after a series of tests, I decided on the 3-blade arrangement, as it provided better performance in low wind conditions (actually typical for many locations).

I fashioned a discarded (actually I'm a hopeless pack rat) thick-walled plastic easter egg ornament into an aerodynamic parabolic plastic nose for the hub, and outline-cut the hub to 4-7/8" diameter, flush with the parabolic nose. The arrangement allows for a smooth flow of air through the blades and greatly enhances the performance of the generator, in low wind speeds.

The Air-X blades, in a portable environment, are much more exposed to rough handling and damage, than they would experience in a permanent installation. A triangle shaped box will soon be built, to carry the blades, hub, shaft arbor and nose, together as one unit, in order to protect the sharp, thin blades from dings and damage, and ease installation onto the generator shaft, in the field.
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81 comments
1-40 of 81next »
Apr 16, 2012. 4:05 AMsony flores says:
please send me instructions and steps through my email: flores_sony@rocketmail.com

Thanks a lot,looking forward for your favorable responds..
Apr 16, 2012. 3:59 AMsony flores says:
I just want to ask the electrical connection from generator to battery charger then to the battery to supplied appliances.

do i need battery charger or i can directly connect to the appliances.

i want to build portable windmill,can suggest me in order realize my plan without any expenses.?

i want 12V or any suitable for light bulbs only that can able to supply my house lightings.
Mar 9, 2012. 9:10 AMjetboy says:
where did you purchase the motor at
Sep 13, 2011. 6:48 AMHarry3Lime says:
How far from the pole are the anchors placed?

At what heights are the guy wires attached?
Sep 10, 2011. 6:01 AMddavis662 says:
Cool idea!
May 7, 2009. 7:17 AMstephenniall says:
Looks great aestethic wise and it is a Great product im thinking of making a miniture version !
Aug 15, 2010. 2:25 PMSundialing says:
So How do I buy One *** ??? Miles Of Smiles Sundialing eagle_services@verizon.net
May 14, 2009. 3:18 PMDieCastoms says:
Would it be practical at all to construct most of the fins and possibly some of the blades of this style generator out of Lexan or some other acrylic sheet? Nascar uses Lexan for their windshields so it should hold up in this use well enough. UV may be an issue, but there is also UV protected Lexan. Using the Lexan would fairly-well make the blades and fins disappear or at least blend into the background better and possibly be less obtrusive. Just my $.02 DC
May 20, 2009. 5:06 PMgrunthos says:
Lexan/polycarbonate, yes. Acrylic, no. While acrylic looks like polycarbonate (Lexan), they are very different. Acrylic will break and shatter very easily; it doesn't have the strength. Polycarbonate does. I would be wary of invisible blades being dangerous.
Jul 14, 2010. 1:14 AMAbovethesky says:
I have 12volt stepper motor it generates 103volt ac how I recharge my 12volt batteries.
May 23, 2010. 7:04 PMMobbleFilms says:
 awesome try going smaller for like a altoides pack 
Feb 19, 2010. 11:02 AMmikey51 says:
I don't understand how the furling device works.  When the wind picks up, what makes it pivot out of alignment with the wind?
                                                                                                Thanks
Jan 24, 2010. 5:42 PMtimbaker172 says:
Wow! Thanks for showing those detailed pics of the furling system. I have been trying to find a simple way to make a furling system for a week now. For some reason a spring loaded hinge did not occur to me. I have already built a small turbine that charges NiCd AAs and I'm working on a bigger one. My next step is to try this hinge idea on the little turbine first.  Thanks again.
Oct 15, 2009. 8:56 AMbatonas says:
you would get more power if you use a gear box or a sheaves
May 7, 2009. 6:17 PMANDY! says:
SWEET. Is there any way of building the blades for real cheap cause I don't want to buy one. 5 out of 5!
Oct 17, 2009. 1:50 AMsnotty says:
Yes! I just figured out how to make bamboo wind turbine blades. They are very easy to make, they perform well and unlike PVC they won't kill you with liver cancer; so I think they are pretty nice.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Wind-Turbine-Blades-from-Bamboo/
May 18, 2009. 12:43 AMdrbill says:
some of the other wind generator instructables have plans for PVC blades
May 18, 2009. 6:04 PMANDY! says:
How should I cut PVC?
Sep 29, 2009. 8:37 PMbalexander87 says:
Do you have any suggestions for places or devices from where a suitable charge controller may be salvaged? Love the project. Very well done.
Oct 1, 2009. 5:00 AMbalexander87 says:
Thank you for the pointers.
Sep 4, 2009. 8:12 AMelectronic boy says:
where can i get the generator? please give a web adress
Jul 20, 2009. 5:48 PMyachtmaker says:
can the generator be used with a straight to inverter to provide AC for perhaps a small radio?
Jun 21, 2009. 2:28 AMtezzz says:
Iv'e often thought of building a vertical blade system using venetian blind blades. I don't know if they are rigid enough but can be built to any practical length and don't need to worry about wind direction. It could be clipped to a campervan as a backup. I have these ideas but never do anything. anyway what do you reckon?
Jul 18, 2009. 7:55 PMmduhe1 says:
what is an automatic furling device?
May 30, 2009. 10:22 PMicelander27 says:
Another idea is to use blades that would fit inside a fan's protective casing and figure out how to mount that to the generator.
May 14, 2009. 6:02 PMpurplemonkeydishwasher says:
would model airplane blades work?
May 24, 2009. 11:30 PMakinich says:
does yours spin clock wise or anti clock wise
1-40 of 81next »

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Author:shastalore(Light Electric Vehicle)
Bachelor of Science Degree Industrial Arts Appalachian State University Recession has dried up my field (commercial printing & packaging), but have found new work in staging, lighting, sound systems, ...
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