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SparWeb Senior Member Joined: 17/04/2008 Location: CanadaPosts: 196
Posted: 06:27pm 09 Mar 2009
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What's up with the Star Wars tail fins? The company is probably more accessible to me, than to you, Carl. They're based near Toronto.
Despite the funny selling feature, it is a complete system that they offer, and they seem to have a few installs under their belt. Anyone who wants to know more about the workmanship just has to phone up the users of the installed systems. There is a nice looking stack of AGM batt's in one of their gallery photos. Must have cost a couple of dollars. The solar is mounted on a tracking system, which is more than I can say for a comparable "turn-key system" that is available from a comparable installer that works around Calgary.
Steven T. Fahey
carl1 Regular Member Joined: 16/04/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 79
Posted: 10:31pm 09 Mar 2009
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good morning!
The picture of their controller looks interesting with 10 caps on it.
www.truenorthpower.com/components/com_heximage/HeXimage/AFCM k1.jpg
Looking at the output graph I had a thought to slow a turbine down by loading only one or two phases at higher winds??
And as well for low wind speed to have an earlier cut in speed disconnecting one or two phases??
As well I did a test run using a waterlevel sensor of a washing mashine to see if it can be used as a sensor for a controller.It's a kind a diaghram low pressure switch. At low setting holding a hose conntected to it out of the window of a driving car this one switched at 40miles. I will look around for a more sensitive one.
Harald
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 06:06am 10 Mar 2009
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You might want to try a funnel on the end of the hose that faces the wind.
Gordon.become more energy aware
carl1 Regular Member Joined: 16/04/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 79
Posted: 09:51am 10 Mar 2009
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Hi Gordon
I tried with a funnel facing the wind, didn't make any difference.
BTW I am after a set of Lakota blades, I have heard you are quite happy with yours!
cheers
Harald
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 01:15pm 10 Mar 2009
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I think the funnel would work if there was flow, but this seems to be a static pressure type sensor.
My Lakota blades were imported from China I think, by a supplier with some deal of resistance. I am very happy with performance, but they are a little small. The last set of new wooden blades I have made are 300mm longer than original Lakota set, with a similar profile. I am still looking at another extension at the root hub. The jury is still out re effectiveness if I go this way as well. My first set of wooden blades, only 100mm longer than original Lakota, increased maximum power from 450W to over 700W on my AxFx mill. These are curently being tested on another mill. I still am balancing my new set, the full 300mm longer. I don't have the copy machine at the moment, so any more mods will have to wait.
Gordon.
become more energy aware
carl1 Regular Member Joined: 16/04/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 79
Posted: 11:03pm 10 Mar 2009
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You are right it is a static pressure switch. If I find one which switches at lower pressure than it would be a simple way of a controller.The one I tested has even 2 switches inside and each has as well there own adjustment for pressure and switching difference ( hysterese).
F&P has one low pressure sensor on their electronic board, but this is over my head to convert it to a switching devise. It would be nice if someone comes up with a curcuit for it.
re: Lakota blades. The wind genny goes on my boat and 2 meter diameter is realy the max I can fit on. It will be fitted fixed to the mast facing only forward just under the radar. I think about to use a 2-blader with a quick connector to the shaft, so when I am sailing I can take the blade assambly easy off and store it inside. If I can get a 2 blader balanced? I tried this before with no luck.
Harald
Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904
Posted: 01:37pm 11 Mar 2009
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Harald, as your level switches are designed for water pressurising the air in a tube, why not use them this way? I mean water in a hose/ tube of sorts where the wind pressure moves its level.
During my apprentice days we were testing repaired vacuum cleaners and their suction power was measured by how high they could lift a column of water from an open container to a clear hose/ vertical glass tube arrangement - some were lifting it 1000mm or more.
I am sure you could device a venturie(sp?) that would lift water in a hose enough for a workable level change to trigger your switches.Klaus
carl1 Regular Member Joined: 16/04/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 79
Posted: 01:45am 16 Mar 2009
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Hi Klaus
the main idea is finding something out there, preferable from the dump, more or less for free which does not need to be complicated altered, ready to use and like for me I am not an electronic wizard.
I did some testing with a funnel and very small pipe 3mm in the middle of the small exit, dia 15mm. I thought if I can increase / double the windspeed it would be enough pressure to get the washing machine switch working. I still needed over 80km/h to trigger it.
I did some research regarding windspeed to pressure:
Let's say you want to switch a brake or dump load on at 30knots / 55km/h windspeed the pressure would be around 200N/m2 or 2.0 mbar or 0.8 inch.WC .
The washing machine water level sensors switches at 10x this required pressure.
I will keep looking.
MFG
Harald
KiwiJohn Guru Joined: 01/12/2005 Location: New ZealandPosts: 691
Posted: 03:05am 16 Mar 2009
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I can think of a couple of ways of making a wind pressure switch..
1. Put a rubber bulb or some such on the end of the pipe from the F&P sensor and have a hinged plate which is exposed to the wind swing against the bulb, a bigger plate makes a more sensitive intrument. The tube would have to be filled with water.
2. Forget about the F&P switch and instead mount a regular micro switch with a hinged plate bearing on the micro switch. Again, a bigger plate makes a more sensitive instrument.
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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