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Hi i've been reading these wind generator forums for a while and become interested starting my own project.I'm gonna start with something just to play with.
I have an old fan motor 220V/30W...you can see it in the picture in the end of this message. There's a zippo to give some idea about the size of that thinghy.
What kind of amperage / volts could i expect from this motor when it's working as a generator?
According to messages i've been reading i would have to glue some magnets to the cylinder there to make it work as a generator...but how many and how strong ones?
Other question is about the re-coiling. What difference would it make if i would recoil that motor? The resistance of the coil is 185 ohms now.
How long propellers would be suitable for this kind of generator?
wind-pirate Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2007 Location: CanadaPosts: 101
Posted: 02:15am 21 Feb 2008
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I Think you best pass on this one. You will get volts, But very little amps. You might light a led. But if you want to try. You will need 4 mags placed 90 deg apart. And about a (16")450mm Prop.. This type of Fan motors don't make good generators. The centre shaft will be stationary. The outside Housing will have to turn.
As for size of the mags as big and strong that will fit in the housing.
RonTHE Pirate.
stealing wind & solar energy is fun
Can we use the alternator that is used in vehicles?
I realised that the voltage may not be anywhere closer to 110 or 240 volts.
Perhaps it has to reach a certain constant rev to be of use.
Aisea6
wind-pirate Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2007 Location: CanadaPosts: 101
Posted: 01:22am 06 Mar 2008
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Hi Aisea6
It is possable to get 120 volts from a vehicle alternator
(North american) I have a 100 amp chrysler alternator, powered by a 8hp gas engine. If I put 12 volts into the fields I can get 120 volts DC out. It has to turn about 2500 rpm's. I use it to fast charge my battery bank. And some times it use it to weld with. Thoes are a very heavy
duty.
Ron
THE Pirate.
stealing wind & solar energy is fun
Hi! Ron i was thinking in terms of the wind vane turning the alternator.
Perhaps we might have to work out a gear ratio arrangement such that the alternator can rotate at higher speed.
Whatever the arrangement is i suppose we are struck with 12, 24 , 48 volts cells as the bucket to hold the charge.
Aisea6
Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904
Posted: 11:42am 06 Mar 2008
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Just remember that the average car alternator spins at about 3 times the crank speed. That is perhaps 4000RPM just at idle, when it does not much battery charging.
You will need a VERY large gear ratio if using the alternator as is. Some people have rewound them and replaced the field coil with permanent magnets. In that configuration it has good potential, I have seen what looks just like a rewound car alternator inside a commercial small wind generator.
TinkerKlaus
wind-pirate Senior Member Joined: 01/02/2007 Location: CanadaPosts: 101
Posted: 12:44am 07 Mar 2008
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Hi Aisea6
There are some websites that promote automotive alternators for wind use. I'm going to try one in the future. Try searching "dragonfly alternators". There will be about 4 to chose from. another one is "alternator secrets" What voltage do you want? If you make one. Be sure to use a smaller alternator (30 to 50 amps) they are easer to turn in lower winds.
Ron.THE Pirate.
stealing wind & solar energy is fun
hi i have used a small 40amp truck alternator and have machined the armature down and have fitted 12 rare earth magnets to the armature .6 magnets in the north direction 6 magnets in south direction all magnets were mounted on a slight angle to reduce cogging with a 1mm air gap between the magnets and the stator .i then had the stator rewound with slightly smaller wire and twice as many turns .it charges very well it starts charging at around 200 rpm has a maximum of 40 amps into a 12 volt battery system at around 600rpm it has a great bearing set up on it and is very strong. i am very happy with it and it is a good exercise to do .hope this helps you
martinjsto Senior Member Joined: 09/10/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 149
they provide already converted alternators or parts for a do it yourself.
you can but just a stator that has been modded to go into a delco alternator, seems good and reasonably priced
martinfree power for all
McAlinden WA
Hi .
I have purchased a dc540 from windblue and it does not perform any where near as good as the one that i built and this is a low wind alternator .
thanks kumtarest
martinjsto Senior Member Joined: 09/10/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 149
Posted: 08:22am 07 Mar 2008
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cheers for the info kumtarest, have you purchased just the stator by itself, i was wondering if its the wiring size they use as they look like standard alternator wiring
martinfree power for all
McAlinden WA
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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