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Dubyagee
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Joined: 15/06/2007
Location: United States
Posts: 21

Posted: 10:11pm 14 Jun 2007

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Hi all, I live in Georgia/USA and have a growing interest in wind power.

I currently have a Zexel gear increased stepper motor from a Toyota forklift throttle control.

I tested it with a drill turning at 700 rpms and it produced 101 volts AC with no load from each leg. It also powered a 20 watt flourecent light quite well off of one leg.

Any advice?

Edited by Dubyagee 2007-06-16

Regards,
Dubyagee

Gizmo

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

Posted: 10:44pm 14 Jun 2007

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Sounds like it will make a neat little windmill alternator. What you need to do now is connect up a rectifier, 12v battery and amp meter, then spin it up to see what sort of current it can provide. It would probally start charging at just over 100 rpm, try it at 200, 300 etc.

Some more details on the stepper motor would be handy, like its physical size, etc.

Glenn

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

Dubyagee
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Joined: 15/06/2007
Location: United States
Posts: 21

Posted: 12:19am 15 Jun 2007

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I tried looking online for some info. No luck.

It's the size of school milk carton, has the typical five wire setup and has an encased gearbox. I can turn it freely by hand. It has an indexed 10mm threaded shaft and is sealed.

I will post pics in a few.

Regards,
Dubyagee

Dubyagee
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Joined: 15/06/2007
Location: United States
Posts: 21

Posted: 12:45am 15 Jun 2007

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Regards,
Dubyagee

Dubyagee
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Joined: 15/06/2007
Location: United States
Posts: 21

Posted: 12:48am 15 Jun 2007

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Well, I "hacked" in some diodes to see what this will do as a DC generator. I powered a few 12 volt items like a 20 watt 12 volt RV light, a Small 12 volt TV etc.
So I decided to see how it would charge a lawn tractor battery. I ran some wires from the white wire to an ammeter then to the positive of the battery (that's how I set the diodes up) and then the other four to the Neg terminal.

I spun it over with a drill to about 100 rpms and the gauge showed .35 amps. Increased the speed to the drills max speed of 700 rpms and the gauge read 1.13 amps.

I just guessed the RPMs based on the drills specs, I wish I had a better way to measure/set rpms.

Anyway heres a few more pics.

Some others moved in.

Edited by Dubyagee 2007-06-17

Regards,
Dubyagee

Gizmo

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

Posted: 12:17am 16 Jun 2007

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I think those motors are a great find. They look well made and should last so long as you can keep the water out.

If you can source more of them I would be interrested in having one or more to play with on a small windmill, I could use them with any CNC projects as well.

Glenn

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

Dubyagee
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Joined: 15/06/2007
Location: United States
Posts: 21

Posted: 12:24am 16 Jun 2007

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Sure, I have a bunch of these motors. They weigh about a half pound. What would it cost to send to Australia from the US?

Regards,
Dubyagee

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