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Forum Index : Windmills : A motor for a small HAWT

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Air Bender
Senior Member

Joined: 25/01/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 206
Posted: 10:51am 11 Feb 2011
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My young daughter has become a HAWT fan after getting a small plastic one on a stick which she had me mount on the cubby roof, and she was so proud as it spun faster than Dad and brothers VAHT, unfortunatly one day a strong wind came and blew it away leaving just the short stick remaining. So i am looking at making a replacement it wont be for a while yet as I am still in the middle of the VAHT build but i can start looking around for a motor. i am planing to use three blades with each one between 400 - 500 mil long it needs to produce 12 Volt but the amount it produces is not important, just as long as it contributes.
I have read about car radiator fan motors being used, and i have heard some VCR motors are miniture F/P motors
If anyone has any experience with these or could sugest any other type of motor, that would be great.

All the best

Dean.
 
VK4AYQ
Guru

Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539
Posted: 01:29pm 11 Feb 2011
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Hi dean

I have used old car heater fans, with a 24 inch blade set they can make 1 amp + at 15 volts.
My friend made one out of one of those flat fan motors it also worked not sure on output though, it ran a small stereo radio he had at his cabin.

All the best

Bob
Foolin Around
 
Air Bender
Senior Member

Joined: 25/01/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 206
Posted: 08:45am 12 Feb 2011
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Thanks Bob

A car fan motor output sounds just like what i need, and they should be a bit more durable than most other small motors as they are set up to drive fans, and i imagine they would have a high cut in speed which will suit my needs.

All the best

Dean.
 
Doug

Regular Member

Joined: 11/05/2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 41
Posted: 02:05am 13 Feb 2011
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Hi Dean.

I used a car fan motor on my very first mill. It was a nissan one if I remember correctly. The mill was a HAWT with about a 400mm dia turbine. With direct drive and screaming its head off just managed to light a 5 watt 12 v bulb so on a VWAT may need some gearing up to make any useful power. I did also use the same motor on a bigger HAWT geared up about 10:1 and that would easily drive a 21 watt 12 v bulb.

Doug
May The Power Be With You
 
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