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Forum Index : Windmills : Just for fun, a mini vawt.
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5149 |
I built a little Sandia Savonius about 3 years ago out of scrap timber and PVC, its only about 1 meter high by about 300mm diameter. Its been going ever since, with no load, just as a garden ornament. I'm actually very fond of it, its almost always running, even when you could swear the air was perfectly still. Today I decided to add a alternator. Searched through my box of stepper motors to find one with didn't have too much startup cogging resistance and produced the most voltage for a given rpm. Tied it to the "mast" with a hose clamp. The I made up a drive shaft with universal joints from some fencing wire and a electrical screw connector to adjust its length. Conneced up a few LED's to the stepper leads. 
It works fine, the vawt has enough torque to start the stepper spinning, and the LED's start to light at about 30rpm. Cant wait till tonight. I'll have to make up a little cover to keep the water out of the stepper motor or it wont last long. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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oztules Guru  Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686 |
I do like the universal drive adapter.... something I would have been proud to invent 
..........oztules Edit..... I've been out uglied.... makes my EV almost production line quality  Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth |
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