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sodes

Newbie

Joined: 26/07/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 21

Posted: 10:19am 14 Aug 2006

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Hi fellow windmill enthusiasts, Im in the process of building a wind gen and am thinking of installing a small disc brake and calliper between the gen and my blades so I can stop them in extreme winds instead of a furling arrangement, is this a silly idea?

"Do, or do not... There is no try."
-Yoda

Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5111

Posted: 10:40am 14 Aug 2006

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A good furling system is easy to make, but I cant see anything wrong with using a disk brake. Bruce has done it on his windmill.

Bruce, do you have that photo of your disk brake setup?

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
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sodes

Newbie

Joined: 26/07/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 21

Posted: 10:44am 14 Aug 2006

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Okay, i'll wait to see bruce's setup and then decide how i'll rig it up, thanks.

"Do, or do not... There is no try."
-Yoda

brucedownunder2
Guru

Joined: 14/09/2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 1548

Posted: 03:24pm 14 Aug 2006

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Yeah, Disc rotor from bicycle , a bit on the small side but works ok ,just don't try to stop the mill at full speed , but once you get a break in the wind, it stops the mill and then it's perfect .
I just had a strong fishing line dangling down with a sinker on it -pull it on when I wanted .

Last pic is the current 11 foot mill , haven't set the caliper to the disc yet , but reckon it will work- bye the way, I also use an electrical brake ,just a big breaker across the 3 phases, seems to tame the mill down to a few rpm -just don't expect it to work in a gale , and once again wait til the mill sloooows right down to a nearly stop -may have to wait 20 minutes or so .Edited by brucedownunder2 2006-08-16

Bushboy

sodes

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Joined: 26/07/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 21

Posted: 10:40am 15 Aug 2006

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Thanks for the info bruce! I got an Ametek 30vdc for my gen, its only a small setup but i plan to power a few Kms of electric stock fence with my homemade aluminium blades on the front. I find that shorting the leads doesnt offer too much braking in high winds. Heres a pic of my windmill!

"Do, or do not... There is no try."
-Yoda

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