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windyways
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Joined: 23/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3

Posted: 06:27am 08 Nov 2011

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Hello to all Back Shed members,

My Dad and myself are looking for an old Dunlite Wind Generator to restore so that we can use it to make electricity on the family farm in South Australia.

I have an add in the Back Shed wanted section for an old Dunlite.

The variable pitch blades make the Dunlites far more robust in high winds than any other high wind protection that I know of.
This fact alone make us want one.
But which model should we be looking for?
We are not too worried about the voltage output..... that can be dealt with.
We want a model that is very robust in high winds.

I saw a dimensional diagram on Graig Pearens site that displayed the workings of the hub.
This diagram was titled F.M.L VP Propeller Hub 3446.
http://www.pearen.ca/dunlite/Dunlite.htm
If you scroll down, on the left margin you will see the number 3446 to click on to see the mechanism.
Can anyone tell me please when this magnetic device was first introduced and if it appeared on later models.
You will deduce from my questions that I am trying to decide if we need to search for a Dunlite model with the magnets.
Maybe they all had magnets?
It seems the magnets held the spider and spring in place to prevent it moving too soon and feathering the blades prematurely.
As the revs increased the bob weights get enough energy to snap the magnet apart and the blades can then feather.
I hope I have got that right?
I look forward to any advice please.

Best Wishes to you all.

Madness

Guru

Joined: 08/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2498

Posted: 08:56am 08 Nov 2011

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I used to have a 1500 watt Dunlite with the variable pitch governor. It never had magnets in it just big spring inside the nose cone and the weights at the root of the blades. The spring tension could be adjusted to control governing.

I had a lot of trouble with the rollers on the ends of the arms that pushed the pulley like part that pushed on the spring. This was due to turbulence and over a period of 2 years had to pull it apart and replace the worn rollers quite a few times.(not much fun up an 80 foot tower when you are scared of heights)

As far as I know the 2 KW version of the Dunlites was the best having no brushes.Edited by Madness 2011-11-09

There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.

windyways
Newbie

Joined: 23/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3

Posted: 07:09pm 08 Nov 2011

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Thank you Madness for that information.

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