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sspence

Date Joined:Jun 2, 2006
Instructables:7
Total Views:1,229,750
Featured %:42%
Subscribers:185
Answers:2
Comments:552

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About
Professionally, I'm an IT Engineer (Executive Level) and Electronics Tech. I'm a Amateur Radio Operator (KK4HFJ). I lived off grid, with Solar (PV), Wind, and veggie oil fueled diesel generator power for 6 years, and design my own off grid power systems.

Interests
Renewable Energy, Electronics, php/ mysql, Ham Radio, Microcontrollers, Model Railroading

Location
Andrews, SC

Web Site
Arduinotronics

Age: 47

Gender: MALE

2 Contest Entries

DIY Amp Hour Meter - Arduino by sspence
Make It Real Challenge

Interfacing a Digital Micrometer to a Microcontroller by sspence
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30 comments	Add Comment

Jul 4, 2011. 11:48 PMlittledrummerboy says:

Thank you so much for posting the 1000w wind turbine:-)

I was actually looking for an alternator / generator plan for a project, and found that any commercially made ones were unbelievably expensive. I knew how to make a generator / alternator, but specifics on design are hard to find online without paying over $50 for plans promising "high efficiency" or even "over unity" ( over 100 % efficiency, which isn't possible in the real world).

My alternator will be greatly scaled down to fit a small / high rpm Tesla turbine.

I'll let you know the results when it's up and running.

ldb

Jul 5, 2011. 4:33 AM

sspence (author) says:

Kewl. Looking forward to it.

Sep 24, 2008. 9:03 PMTripleL says:

Will you be making an instructable showing how to control the rpm and how the ac to dc rectifier goes to your battery bank and then to your controller?

Sep 25, 2008. 4:13 AM

sspence (author) says:

There is no need to "control" the rpm. The tail moves the blades out of the wind over 30 mph. The 3 down wires connect to the three ac positions on the rectifier, and the two dc connections on the rectifier connect to the battery bank. The following talks about wiring diversion controllers:

http://www.energyenv.co.uk/UpwindTurbine.asp

Oct 16, 2008. 9:29 PMTripleL says:

What size diodes do you use to rectify the ac voltage? or did you just purchase a rectifier?

Oct 17, 2008. 4:53 AM

sspence (author) says:

We use a 100 amp 3 phase rectifier. We have these available at http://www.green-trust.org/products/

Apr 17, 2010. 12:21 PMdanlong says:

the green trust domain expired so the info is unavailable, will you have another website?

Apr 17, 2010. 1:09 PM

sspence (author) says:

Just renewed it. check back soon.

Apr 4, 2010. 4:45 PMamoroso82 says:

Spence:
You said near the bottom of page 2 that at 30 mph. the blades turn out of the wind,( I read through 3 more pages and it dosent look like you answered that one) How does that work, I was under the impression that the blades were mounted solidly to the hub or does the 10 degree cut have something to do with it. Other than this issue I think I have a firm grasp on this thing, I have written down your e-mail address and will write if I have any further questions.
The reason I asked is that here the wind blows all winter long and 30mph. is almost the minimum we get 25 to 30 mph almost constantly and many times more. Hey I might be able to light up all of my neighbors too with this if it turns fast enough, lol
Michael

Apr 4, 2010. 5:13 PM

sspence (author) says:

since we took the pictures, we moved the hub off center from the pole. This enables the tail to push the hub sideways at 30mph.

Aug 27, 2007. 5:23 AM

sspence (author) says:

each third coil is connected in series, so there are 3 sets of 3 coils. one leg of each set is connected together, the other leg of each set is brought out to the diode bank converting the 3 phase wild ac to dc. That gets fed to a charge controller.

Dec 27, 2009. 6:23 PMemlandry says:

sspence, have you ever tried a vertical axis wind turbine using the same design that you have now, and would it be possible to stack several sets of coils and magnets in parallel with a vertical axis design to increase the KW output?

Feb 28, 2009. 3:24 PMconntaxman says:

Im making the alternator with the 12 magnets, i know that it normally uses 9 coils,I would like to know if I can use 12 coils with the 12 magnet set up and it will be 3 phase but with each phase having 4 coils. I know the wire set up for the star with the 9 coils ,what would it be with the 12 coils. Thanks John

Feb 28, 2009. 4:23 PM

sspence (author) says:

Sounds like you will have two coils out of phase triggered at the same time. why would you want the additional coils? it will increase volts, but you could easily do that by increasing the number of turns.

Mar 1, 2009. 7:18 AMconntaxman says:

sspence, I think I figured something out that could work, could you look or picture this.I drew a circle and numbered it 1 to 9 as for the coils. the wireing would be 1-4-7 / 2-5-8 / 3-6-9 .If I was to put an additional coil right next to coil 7 coil 8 coil 9 and connect those in the seires would that work?

Mar 1, 2009. 9:50 AM

sspence (author) says:

The ratio of magnets to coils would no longer be 12:9, and canceled phases would be the result. Just add more windings to each coil if you need a higher voltage.

Mar 1, 2009. 10:25 AMconntaxman says:

sspence,the problem is that with 200 windings no 16 gage single it comes out 1 5/8 thick, and the coils will fit over the magnets just right. Oh well ,I'll have to put it up to learning. Next time ,if there is a next one ,Ill have to with more magnets to match that ratio.I dont think that I could Unglue or get them off the steel disc.Damm. How dose that "over lapping" the coils work?But then and again I might still have to much of a gap.Im useing neo 1 x 2 x 1/2 i think the number is 42. Guess I can always build another set up and install it just above on the same shaft and then run the coils in seires, from one stator to the other ha ha ha . If you can think of any other way,let me know.It for a vawt. 3 air foils . tks Johnny.

Feb 28, 2009. 6:14 PMconntaxman says:

I am tring to get a few more volts at a lower rpm. I have the 12 magnets and want and want to try to get an output high enough to start charging a 12 vdc battary at about 100 rpm. I have made a test coil with 200 windings and I could get about 3.2 to 3.5 volts and about 5 amps at 180 rpm. So this is why I would like to make the other coils to increase the voltage so the cut in speed will be very low. Another reason is that I have apoxied down the 24 magnets to the 2 rotors. I don't think that I could UNglue them to make larger disk to use more magnets. I only have so much room between the magnets.. You are saying two coils will be triggered at the same time. So would I have to use 2 more coils instead of the 1. Where as it would be 3 sets of 5 coils in series to have it even for 3 phase.If it would be 5 coils,then I could lower the windings some what.

Feb 17, 2009. 10:49 AMarthurliu82 says:

Hello, Is it possible to produce 3 of these for a non-profit in NY state? please message me! Thanks, best, OH, Great Post too!

Jul 11, 2008. 12:37 PMnemesvs says:

Ok, I am a novice at this but I need to be shown basic theory on building a generator. I am missing something in the calculations. Want to build a generator that will produce at 60 to 70 RPM about 500 watts to 1k watts, I am trying to get off the grid both in my home and on the road and I have an Idea I just need help getting started. Please help my compass on this... Nemesvs...

Jul 11, 2008. 1:12 PM

sspence (author) says:

That would have to be much larger diameter that our 12" units. Ours work best at 650 rpm. You would need more coils and magnets than we use as well.

Jul 6, 2008. 1:57 PMHI-TECH says:

have anyone done similar project using a car alternator/generator?... I can get 200 amp generators, that is more than 2000 watts

Jul 6, 2008. 2:11 PM

sspence (author) says:

for a whole lot of reasons, no. wrong rpm, parasitic field coil, maintenance issues, etc.

Jun 13, 2008. 2:13 PMgokhangdk says:

sspence,how is made the blades.have you pictures about this.

Jun 13, 2008. 2:25 PM

sspence (author) says:

I don't have a picture of the blades being made yet. When I do the set of blades, I'll upload that section. You can see the finished blades in the main picture, Thare are 2" x 6"'s cut at a 10 degree angle on a table saw, and sanded.

Aug 26, 2007. 1:20 PMcristalquartz says:

(removed by author or community request)

Sep 21, 2007. 4:29 AM

sspence (author) says:

there are 9 coils. coils 1, 4, and 7 are connected in series. Coils 2, 5, and 8 are connected in series. Coils 3, 6, and 9 are connected in series. one end of each series is connected to each other as a center point, the other end of each series is brought out individually to a diode bank.

Apr 17, 2008. 5:50 PMbjschoofs says:

Hi I'm a newbie to electricity, is the diode bank the batteries your charging with the windmill?

Apr 18, 2008. 5:33 AM

sspence (author) says:

no, the set of diodes convert the ac from the wind gen to dc to charge the batteries. same idea as found in a car alternator.

Dec 6, 2007. 8:24 PMalxram says:

Hi Spence,

I added your instructable to our group. I hope you don't mind, you're welcome to join!
http://www.instructables.com/group/alternativeenergy/

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