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Forum Index : Windmills : My portable f & p unit
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| Chris220220 Newbie  Joined: 17/02/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
Evening a to all. I took a pile of bits away at Easter and whilst sitting around camp managed to finish my mill. It is a f&p unit rewired as a star 6 and 2x4 coils. This goes to 2 3phase rectifiers and from there to charge the 2x80Amp/hr batteries that run the fridge. I tried to see if it would work in the creek when I had the 2x4 wired up. It turned but very slowly. The concept is ok and I guess with bigger paddles it would spin fast enough to put an amp back in the battery. The idea was to use a Lenz2 VAWT set up on a portable stand. The trouble is the pvc for the wing front if too heavy and light winds refuse to budge it. I am going to get some polycarbonate sheet to replace the pvc 3 inch half pipe. It is a 3x4ft unit with 3inch radius wing front. Why a VAWT? I have two children who are bound to run into a blade. The Vawt is more visable. I did try some pvc strip blades but by then the wind had totally vanished :-( So all I mangaed to do was hand spin the unit once I found and fixed a dry joint in the wiring. I cound spin the stator at I guess 60rpm and it put out enough to by putting 1-2 amps back to ther battery. I spun it for 15min or so and notice the battery go up 0.2 volts. I'm happy so far and the whole thing packs up to fit in the trailer part of the camper trailer. Th wings un bolt as does the feet. The stator unit has the wing arms on it and bolts to the pipe stand. Together with some small solar panels I think I can go a while with the twin batteries. Here is a link to the pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/cboylen/sets/72157623807082982/ the lenz2 setup http://www.flickr.com/photos/cboylen/4503990990/in/set-72157 623807082982/ Any comments feedback or suggestions are more than welcome. BTW I must say a big thanks to all the great info and member knowledge here on this site and forum. Would not have known where to start without it. Regards Chris |
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KarlJ Guru  Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
Thinking those VAWT blades need to be taller, 2/3 of stuff all capture area there and as a result low rpm = no rewire at all may be appropriate as with current re-wire will only barely reach cutin speed (educated guessing) for an operational 100 odd rpm I dont think any rewire is required and by rewiring for more amps the cutin speed is increased to an unacceptable level. The HAWT blades could do with some tapering, that will reduce the rotating mass too, prehaps help startup. A little elevation wouldnt go astray either 4 ropes and some stakes and say 3-4m off the ground would help out of sight. as its a temporary / portable unit screw in pipe or simple couplings should suffice, not like to are asking it to survive unattended in a howling gale 200K from anywhere. Lastly - great work, i like it, simple fairly rugged and also original as far as how it looks. Luck favours the well prepared |
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| Chris220220 Newbie Joined: 17/02/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
Well I set the mill up in the back yard as Melbourne was very windy today. The back yard is quite sheltered so it was hard to get steady wind. I scored a large gust that nearly seperated one wing from the mounting. I put a couple of braces across the base and it held it together nicely. I run it withe the meter and just the one phase of 6 coils to get 24 volts at one stage. A slow steady spin is about 8-9 volts so I'll join the 2x4 togather and see how an 8 and 6 goes. Still think it is a bit heavey to start. But very happy with the fact it self started and ran well in the gusty conditions. Now to work out a portable high mount. I took video of it running and will try up load it soon. Regards Chris |
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| Chris220220 Newbie Joined: 17/02/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
Just check BOM site near me was having 50-60km/hr gusts whilst it was running. All be it in a sheltered yard Regards Chris |
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| KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
Yep had the same thing at the farm Bairnsdale, my F&P cracked in 4.5KW today.... Dad reckons for the few hours it was blowing, it was one of those days where it wasnt much fun being outside. Perth on the other hand was a pearler of a day with 30deg and clear skies and a gentle breeze. Luck favours the well prepared |
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| Chris220220 Newbie Joined: 17/02/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
here is a video if it going full bore(?) in a gust on Sunday VAWT video Regards Chris |
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| Ghetto Newbie Joined: 01/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 14 |
Hey Chris, I like it!, wish i had thought of something so simple yet effective (seen your vid of it with extra bottom bracing). Just for interest how did you mount the wood to the rotor, did you place a plank on either side of the plastic knob that holds the rotor on or drill a big hole and place a single plank over it? (I can see you've bolted it also to the rotor) I'm in the middle of building a savonius that probably won't use the F&P (a stepper motor instead), partly a compromise because I live in town with a small backyard and thought my mill may be too big to run the F&P motor but your lenz2 to roughly the same size...anyway once I finish this one I would like to create something like you have. To be honest it would of been cheaper to build your Lenz2 then what I've embarked on.....sighs...doh Cheers, Rob |
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| Chris220220 Newbie Joined: 17/02/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
Hi Ghetto, the arm is screwed to the rotor from the inside. It is two pieces of pine that I notched to fit around the rotor plastic knob. Regards Chris |
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| Ghetto Newbie Joined: 01/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 14 |
cool . thanks Chris  |
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