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Dupa Newbie Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 27
Posted: 06:03pm 08 Dec 2009
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Hello all.
Been looking for a site that is dedicated to home wind power. I just recently finished my second tower 12-4-09 using GE Fanuc servo motors and they work great. Hope to learn a few thinks from the grey hairs and the ambitious people of this site.
I is a injenear
readyakira Senior Member Joined: 17/07/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 114
Posted: 06:17pm 08 Dec 2009
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nice looking mills! Is that a straight shaft? It looks as if you set the motor back to even the weight on the upright?Don't you think Free/Renewable energy should be mandatory in new buildings?
Dupa Newbie Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 27
Posted: 06:20pm 08 Dec 2009
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I was concerned that the axial torque of the blades might be too hard on the servo bearings so I made a bearing block and shaft and coupled the servo. I am close to the shore line of lake michigan and wind gust can be quite harsh.I is a injenear
JimBo911 Senior Member Joined: 26/03/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 262
Posted: 07:18pm 08 Dec 2009
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Welcome Dupa
Well what do you know you and I are from the same area!!
By the looks of the wooded area your in I would guess to say that your located on the east side of the lake?
I am located about 30 miles south east of Chicago.
You've definitely come to the right place to get some info about wind mills. I don't think there's anything that you could ask and not get any answers or at least some good idea's. There are members here that are very well informed, do some them have Grey hairs, I know I do.
Good job getting your mills above the tree tops and welcome a board.
Jim
Dupa Newbie Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 27
Posted: 07:54pm 08 Dec 2009
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Here’s another pic of my towers. I designed them to break down for ease of service. I used boat/crank type wenches. Works great.
I is a injenear
Barry T Coles Senior Member Joined: 30/07/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 109
Posted: 12:20am 09 Dec 2009
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Welcome aboard & if you got any more of these can I have one Cheers
BarryI need to learn from the mistakes of others.
I dont have the time to make them all myself.
birdhouse Regular Member Joined: 27/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 63
Posted: 01:50am 09 Dec 2009
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dupa-
job well done!
i have a fanuc mill that is close to being done. wich motor of theirs are you using? do you have any max power figures yet? 12 volt, 24 volt? blade size? sorry so many questions.
the one i found is a 2000 rpm 20 amp 140 volt 3 phase. about 50 lbs.
have yet to see a fanuc mill in the air so this is really exciting for me! (aka i need to get my butt in gear!)
grew up in grand rapids michigan and will be home over christmas. are you near there?
birdhousei pee more than once before flushing, and don't have to flush at all up at the ranch!
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 11:48am 09 Dec 2009
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Bearings in those things should be tough as nails,
are those the windgrabber blades??
Welcome, I too envy the towers more detail please
KarlLuck favours the well prepared
Dupa Newbie Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 27
Posted: 12:59pm 09 Dec 2009
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I made the blades myself out of aluminum tubing.I is a injenear
Dupa Newbie Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 27
Posted: 01:09pm 09 Dec 2009
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Hello Birdhouse
My Fanucs are 15 amp 1500 rpm 3ph. I tested them by connecting to a radial arm drill in our tool room. I could generate 120v accross 2 legs at 200 rpm. I currently get 20amps dc per unit(connected to a bridge rect) at 115rpm using an 9ft diameter blade cut from 12inch diameter aluminum tubing. They seem to flat line at 35amp load meaning no matter how much faster they spin the amps do not go higher thann 35. Im sure there is some tech explination for it (over my head). I have 4 more larger units I will be working on this spring.I is a injenear
birdhouse Regular Member Joined: 27/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 63
Posted: 02:51am 10 Dec 2009
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dupa/karl-
i think the bearings in these motors are pretty beefy. i went with the blades atached directly to the shaft via a custom hub. hopefully they stand the test of time.
35 amps @ 12 volt?? 420 watts?
what is the voltage on the motor label? i'm guessing it is one of the 198 or 184 volt models.
thats geat to hear you are seeing more amps than the label rating! gives me higher hopes for my mill!
truely nice work dropa!
birdhousei pee more than once before flushing, and don't have to flush at all up at the ranch!
Dupa Newbie Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 27
Posted: 12:48pm 10 Dec 2009
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I will crank one of the towers back down and get you a pic of the motor label. I can’t remember exactly what the specs were. You mention how beefy the bearings are in the motors. My next tower I may just connect my hub direct as I have found that when my first tower went up it took about a week for the new bearings I installed in my bearing block to loosen up enough to get rotation start at low breeze. It was confirmed that the slightest bearing friction can be significant when my second tower when up and I noticed the first tower was spinning at the slightest puff of wind and the second would not get going until more substantial wind picked up. The second tower has been getting better now that the bearings are wearing in.
All said; just adding a bearing is enough friction to make a big difference in rotation start. Connecting directly to the motor shaft could be a more efficient design.
I is a injenear
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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