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ritchie

Newbie

Joined: 24/04/2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 2

Posted: 11:19am 24 Apr 2008

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Hi a newbie here. I was wondering if i can convert a welder/generator in to a wind mill. and can I use a car altanator for a wind mill. Thank you Rich

dwyer
Guru

Joined: 19/09/2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 574

Posted: 11:51am 24 Apr 2008

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hi
Convert a welder/generator is waste of time most welder/generator run on 3000 rpm @50 hz or 3600 rpm @ 60 hz and car altanator not worth not 1 cent of time as you need more understanding before you start on building windmill

dwyer the bushman

Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5116

Posted: 12:22pm 24 Apr 2008

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Hi Rich

Yes I have to agree with Dwyer on this one. The RPM requirements are far to high for these gen sets. Same with using a car alternator, though with a lot fo work a modified 24 truck alternator can be made to supply 12v at low ( windmill ) rpm.

Its a common question for a newby. My first attempt at a big windmill was a 24v truck generator ( yeah a generator, or dyno, remember those? ). It had a 8 foot turbine, a 1 to 6 chain drive, and didn't work at all!

Glenn

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

ritchie

Newbie

Joined: 24/04/2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 2

Posted: 12:43am 25 Apr 2008

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thanks for the help.What kind of generator are you guys talking about.I ve read that some people have used tread mill motors? how does that work? Ritchie

KiwiJohn
Guru

Joined: 01/12/2005
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 691

Posted: 03:57am 25 Apr 2008

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Hi Ritchie

Many members on this site use the Fisher and Paykel washing machine moter which is really a big diameter stepper motor. These motors originated in New Zealand and are very common in Australia but also in use in North America I believe. We get ours for junk which makes them very cost effective!

Treadmill motors and other permanent magnet motors including motors from very old computer mainframe tape drives are good candidates. Really what you are looking for is a motor with permanent magnets and one that when you short the output leads the shaft becomes hard to turn even at very low RMP, i.e. testing with your fingers.

Geared motors are not attractive candidates and neither are motors that run on high voltages. A permanent magnet motor intended for operation on about 30 to 50 or so DC volts would be a good thing to find. When you do locate one someone on here may hazard a guess as to suitability before you commit to buying it.

John
New Zealand

tattoomike68

Newbie

Joined: 13/04/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 4

Posted: 03:28pm 25 Apr 2008

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Good info John, Now I know what to test for..

I have a few junk appliances around here to cannibalize. Even if all I get is AC motors I can keep them around for other uses.

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