Result and on going testing!

Step 5: Result and on going testing!

After all is good and it is spinning, I realised it can only go to a max of 350RPM before it starts to bulge.

The Ametek requires 500rpm to get 14.1 Volts.

Options are to gear the Ametek or to buy a WindBlue 12 volt alternator, or for me to make a Custom biuld Alternator.

So what Option do you think is the best?..

In total it cost me $125 plus screws and my time. Really cheap.

Regards

faroun

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kretzlord says: Sep 22, 2008. 3:23 PM

to keep the bulging from happening, try tying a string/wire around the middle of each half.

electronic spark in reply to kretzlordApr 8, 2012. 6:30 PM

To keep it from bulging use a threaded rod from top shaft to middle to bottom and leave shafts in wheels. Also the PVC or ABS could be cut in quarters and all spokes could be left and a little slit cut made into the blades to fit in between spokes. It wants to be as lightweight and as sturdy as possible.

Mcanical says: Mar 25, 2009. 6:47 AM

Not sure if someone has suggested this or not but what if you add a couple more rims to help prevent the bulging at higher RPM? Would you also get a better result using ABS instead of PVC pipe? It's been a while since I have looked but I remember the ABS being thicker and harder/ stiffer. Maybe less flex involved. Great job on the explanation, thanks!

Thenwcp in reply to McanicalAug 11, 2009. 7:56 AM

or even just shortening the entire device and increase the surface area of your turbines radially (try using aluminum)

varman001 in reply to McanicalMay 4, 2009. 7:23 PM

The BEST way is to make your own alternator with an increased diameter of the stator/rotor with more number of magnets and use thinner coil (about 24AWG) with more windings so it will produce higher voltage in lower RPM. and connect them in parallel for more amperage.

faroun (author) in reply to McanicalMar 25, 2009. 2:38 PM

while testing with My V10, I did try more rims, there was less bulge but not totally gone. that is why I developed the cigar shape. Not just eliminated the bulge, it also increased the rpm and blade area all at the same time. my V8-3" and v8-4" are a better design. thanks for you advice and great and helpful comment. best regards

macrumpton in reply to farounApr 4, 2010. 4:03 PM

I wonder if having the additional rims (besides the original 3) is necessary. Perhaps just having a circle of wire wrapped around the intermediate areas where it is bulging would get it under control.

chouf in reply to farounApr 19, 2009. 2:14 PM

hi faroun and thanks for the details instructables. Just a quicjk question to be clear, your v10 is not a "version 10" being the evolution iof v8.3 and v8.4?? I'm a bit lost between all your models and as it seems you did a lot of testing, which is the more efficient one? According to this last comment v8-4 is the best. Is that right? Thanks a lot

faroun (author) in reply to choufApr 19, 2009. 2:58 PM

the most efficient or the most tork is V8-4".

the letter "V" stands for the num,ber of pvc Vanes, v10 has 10 vanes at 3"

V8-4" has 8 Vanes at 4".
the intersting design got the GSD at harvard attention.
http://www.greenenergywindturbine.com/harvard/preview.html

regards

sam

quasar88 in reply to farounApr 29, 2009. 2:11 PM

Thanks for sharing !
Looks like the photos on the link you give actually designed the center bulge in.
I'm seriously thinking about building one but I'll build my own alternator. I have a few links on this if you haven't seen them already.
http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/projects.htm
http://www.otherpower.com/wardalt.html
http://www.otherpower.com/wardmil.html

faroun (author) in reply to quasar88Apr 29, 2009. 3:02 PM

the link and i are the same person. i was only pointing out that one of my turbine was put on display at GSD. greenenrgywindturbine.com ,wrapwind.com, collectwind.com, windhijacker.com, smoothwind.com, fawts.com, fhawt.com, windfriction.com, wintornado.com vawt.tk all my web sites. but instructables.com is one of my favoraite sites for others to see us and our creations. i hope you are learing few things. best regards Sam, Faroun, Emagnets, Vawt ....many names same ideas to share.

Blackice504 says: Jul 29, 2009. 8:45 PM

well after seeing so much of these wind generators i am thinking that if your getting 350rpm on the ground try your roof if you have a flat surface and mount there also i seen many different designs and the best ones seem to channel the wind into the wind Turbine you have a very nice lay out but i am sure you would get even better performance by haveing still fins that will channel the wind into your turbine also i am going to start mine and because i want it to run some things in the house such as lights and that best to build your own alternator its not hard and use really strong maganets but i really like your design its a easy contruction and looks really good as well Great job.

CrimsonTheOriginal says: Jun 20, 2009. 2:26 PM

how would I go about connecting something such as this to my home?

faroun (author) in reply to CrimsonTheOriginalOct 28, 2010. 10:51 AM

the V10 produces little power compared to other tirbines. this turbine needs to be connected to a battery bank to store the energy created, after the batteries are nice and full then you can supply you appliances using an inverter. regards

CrimsonTheOriginal in reply to farounJun 20, 2009. 4:41 PM

ok thanks for the info! =)

PresidentAnybody says: Apr 20, 2009. 10:08 PM

I know how to build a permanent magnet generator but not one small and efficient enough for this type of turbine, any suggestions??

faroun (author) in reply to PresidentAnybodyApr 21, 2009. 3:10 AM

i learned great deal of info when i built my pmg, but for the "V" series, i used ametek because it is much less to buy. i would suggest to buy wind blue or presto wind for this kind of projects. regards

jntan_28 says: Jan 29, 2009. 5:35 AM

What will I connect to the alternator to produce electricity

faroun (author) in reply to jntan_28Jan 29, 2009. 12:48 PM

jntan_28, if the alternator is a PMG (permenent magnet generator) Then any rotating motion applied to the alternator will produce electricity. It could be human energy, animal energy, wind energy, water energy....etc i hope that answers the question. regards faroun

persi43040 says: Jan 18, 2009. 1:30 PM

What if you used a car alternator with a serpentine belt. You could use an old belt put it on your rim inside out; turning your rim into an over sized pulley.

faroun (author) in reply to persi43040Jan 18, 2009. 4:50 PM

car alternator will not be your best choice unless it was modified with PM. and using the rim as a pulley that is very possible. i have posted few more video on youtube. dont forget to rate me. thanks

madflower says: Jan 6, 2009. 10:20 AM

You could try a 4th bike wheel in the middle if the wire only sort of works. You can also use a dc-dc boost circuit to bump 4 volts up to 12. I think they are like 25-30 bucks. They are used for things like solar panel trickle car chargers.

gazzlo says: Sep 26, 2008. 11:46 AM

problem with the gearing is that your going to need more wind for it to start ... :( the windblue only needs 150 rpm for it to reach teh 12V benchmark- and they're (relatively) cheap for 250$...

macrumpton in reply to gazzloOct 2, 2008. 5:28 PM

If you could use the sprockets from the bike wheel you could get the higher RPM at the generator using a standard bike chain drive to a small sprocket on the alternator. If you were really clever you could have the RPM control what gear the chain drive was in, so it starts out in low gear and as the windspeed increases the gear changes to a higher one. A 3 speed sturmey-archer type hub would be best because it is low maintenance. Another possibility would be to copy the idea of one of those little oldschool bike generators, but using the larger alternator with a rubber wheel on it going against the bike rim. Once again you could have the windspeed determine when the alternator engages.

gazzlo in reply to macrumptonOct 3, 2008. 8:53 AM

having more moving parts like that is going to make your turbine loose efficiency... and when you're dealing with only a small percentage of what the wind can give you, it may be more trouble than its worth. Adding the sprockets in there would increase the friction and also increase the required maintenance of the unit. better to maybe have a generator suited to the RPM and get the most out of what you have?

macrumpton in reply to gazzloOct 6, 2008. 9:05 AM

The problem there is that low RPM generators are much more expensive, and you could build 5 more turbines (with high rpm generators) for the price of getting one generator that gives you good output at 400 rpm. As far as the bike chain drives are concerned they can be 98% efficient even without lubrication If you can keep dirt off the chain (hard on a bike easy on a windmill) .

It is somewhat indicative that very few manufactured windmills are direct drive because it is not cost effective compared to using gears.

You might even be able to hook 2 or 3 windmills up to one chain drive then you would only need one generator.

DELETED_gabethegeek says: Sep 28, 2008. 7:33 PM

(removed by author or community request)

faroun (author) in reply to DELETED_gabethegeekSep 29, 2008. 1:45 PM

well, all i get in the vally is turbelant wind i would call it 5mph or cust of wind, i am hoping to take it to a cleAR AREA and test it directly. i connected many lights and still spinn as you see in video, but the bulb light at 4.5volts and the max i see it under no load was 8.5 volts. so more testing is required.