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Forum Index : Windmills : Help, please!!! Windmill part
| Author | Message | ||||
| WindtonSandino Newbie  Joined: 16/11/2009 Location: ArgentinaPosts: 6 |
Hello everyone! My name is Norberto and I am from Argentina. Well, I have built my first windmill with a lot effort and help from very kind people. But I have been thinking for a long time about the way in which I can prevent the wires to get entangled when the windmill turns due to changes in wind direction. I know that this part has technical name but I don't know it. If you do please tell me so I can either built or buy one. Furthermore, If you know where I can find a layout to built one, better. The windmill is not that big (about 50W), but is the first one. Anyway, the design of this part is driving me crazy! Help! Strange, but not a stranger. |
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montyLalor Newbie Joined: 17/12/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 21 |
Ahh, you're referring to "slip rings". This link will help: The Back Shed - Glenn's recipe for home made sliprings Gizmo is The Man! Good luck! Luke "So are you doin' this project to make us money or cost us money?" she asks again... |
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| WindtonSandino Newbie Joined: 16/11/2009 Location: ArgentinaPosts: 6 |
It does help!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks a lot!!! Strange, but not a stranger. |
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KarlJ Guru  Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
losses and maintenance are an issue for sliprings. consider using a drop wire with a plug so you can periodically un twist the wires. 0 cost and more reliable. Luck favours the well prepared |
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MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
My latest build is not flying yet, but I'm working on "stops" set 180-degrees apart, so the windmill will not "yaw" (rotate horizontally about the tower's axis) past either side. My wind is fairly consistent, coming from the west mostly. I'm not going to worry about small intermittent direction changes. Doing it this way, I'll have the down-wire strapped to the tower and won't have to worry about tangles. As soon as I have it up and flying, I'll post pictures. . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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Perry Senior Member  Joined: 19/11/2009 Location: Posts: 190 |
Mac, Why not have one stop so the turbine could rotate about 350 degrees. I am starting to wonder if full unlimited yawing is necessary given the predominant wind siting for most turbines. Perry |
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| KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
indeed thats the go. Luck favours the well prepared |
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| WindtonSandino Newbie Joined: 16/11/2009 Location: ArgentinaPosts: 6 |
Ok. Nice! Now I am having different points of view on the same topic, which really widen my perspective on this matter. Thanks to everyone! and keep discussing! It is really nice to read your discussions. Thanks once more! 
Strange, but not a stranger. |
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GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
When there is a stop, there will always be a time when the wind is coming strongly from a direction where the mill is up against the stop, and at this point furling is no longer possible, and the possibility of the windmill becoming uncontrollable will arise. I would never place any restriction on the yaw ability of the windmill head. Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| Perry Senior Member Joined: 19/11/2009 Location: Posts: 190 |
Yes, Gordon, I hear what you are saying and I recognize the importance of preserving furling but do you really see strong winds occurring from all different direction? My statement is based on my observations at my 'limited' wind site but there is a predominant wind direction for me and usually only small amounts of wind from other directions. Albeit the pendant tangle issue may not really be an issue but could this not be an area to simplify? Perry |
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| WindtonSandino Newbie Joined: 16/11/2009 Location: ArgentinaPosts: 6 |
I woundn't put any restricition as well. I believe that the windmill should always be free to move to face the wind, specially if you are in an area with small amounts of wind. Windton Strange, but not a stranger. |
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| kalamidas Newbie Joined: 19/02/2010 Location: GreecePosts: 21 |
Hello Windton i made a windmill of an ametek motor it is about 120w and i use a thik microphone jack at the cable inside the pole male at the generetor side and female at the controller side. and it turns for six months .if you go with this remember a lot of grees in the jack and a lot of duct tape with some tireups in the back where the cable meets the jack,so it does not tear it apart. it easy fix. Best |
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| MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
[Quote=Perry]Why not have one stop so the turbine could rotate about 350 degrees. I gave this idea some thought, but my thinking is if I give it too much room, it may get up enough speed to do some serious damage to the blades when it yaws for 250 degrees or so and slams to a stop. I think stops at the ends of a semicircle gives me more of a chance and if the wind does a 180 on me, the mill will run backwards (not likely) which would still work. I'm still working on the alternator, so it'll be a while. When it happens, I'll post a video on you tube. I've almost got the alternator built. It's been a project with a capital "P" -- lots of work! [Quote=Gordon]I would never place any restriction on the yaw ability of the windmill head. Point well taken, however, all my stuff is really small. I'm only after a 12-volt battery charger. If my windmill gets away from me, it's swept area is not large enough to get out of control and do any damage. You folks with 17-foot wooden blades are a different matter. So far, the only scary thing any of my (recent) mills do is siren a little as wind spilling off the rotor is cut by the tower (keeps the neighbors guessing!). . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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| DTMC Newbie Joined: 12/02/2010 Location: Posts: 11 |
Hi everyone, My first thought regarding stops is don't do it after seeing a big old Southern Cross brought down by a restriction on its ability to yaw. These should be suitable for small to medium sized turbines. It should be noted that I have not used this particular product. http://www.mercotac.com/html/335.html Without slip rings it might be better to leave the mill unrestrained by stops and use a plug that will pull out if the cables wind up excessively. This is the method I use on my test tower (which is at a turbulent site) and I am yet to have a problem with it. I use individual cables for each phase which will wind around each other easily. Multi cored three phase cable can get a bit ugly because it doesn't like to twist. FWIW, I make my own slip rings from brass, fibreglass, epoxy and large electrical motor brush holders for permanent installations. Cheers |
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| Perry Senior Member Joined: 19/11/2009 Location: Posts: 190 |
But if they pull out you will lose the ability to shut down the turbine when you need it most. Perry |
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| DTMC Newbie Joined: 12/02/2010 Location: Posts: 11 |
That is true, but with the setup described, it will need to become a proper mess before it pulls out so there is plenty of warning. There is a good chance that the cable will go a year or more before it needs any attention. Don't know about you guys, but I like to do a walk around every day or two (when I am home) to check for problems and damage - it is usually the cockies getting into cables. Anyhoo... The point of my post was the link to a readily available slip ring. http://www.mercotac.com/html/335.html It seems that there is a board member (and a very bright chap by all accounts) already using one of these. http://www.mindchallenger.com/wind/wgpage10.html Cheers |
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| WindtonSandino Newbie Joined: 16/11/2009 Location: ArgentinaPosts: 6 |
Thanks Kalamidas! that is a very nice idea that does help. In fact, I should say it's wise and simple, and it meets my needs. Thanx once again. Strange, but not a stranger. |
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