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Forum Index : Windmills : hugh piggot turbine

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AMUN-RA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 10:43pm 18 Apr 2007
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I just got some magnet discs laser cut yesterday and have started to build a piggot turbine Has any one tried one of these??? any hints or observations would be helpful. I already have a trailer hub and the magnets.This my first atempt at building a turbine so I will post progress and results as time allows.Thanks for any input Mick.
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
Gill

Senior Member

Joined: 11/11/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 669
Posted: 02:14am 19 Apr 2007
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Good luck with the project Michael.
What is the blade Diameter and targeted output ???

Look forward to your updates. Edited by Gill 2007-04-20
was working fine... til the smoke got out.
Cheers Gill _Cairns, FNQ
 
Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5117
Posted: 08:36am 19 Apr 2007
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Hi Mick.

I have a set of the blades made to Hugh's specifications. These were a set made by Dennis ( F&PwithPVC ) and they did perform very well, quiet and lots of power.

Hugh's work is highly regarded, so if you follow his plans you should have a good windmill.

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

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 11:51am 20 Apr 2007
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blade diameter will be 2.4m target output????? not sure yet of voltage or output target just doing it because I think I can.would be happy to light up a small light bulb, anything else will be a bonus will keep you posted
MICK.
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
AMUN-RA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 10:24am 28 Apr 2007
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Have started the work, magnets are glued to the discs ready for casting in glass, have cut out the stator mould and made the gig for winding the coils next job is to buy the wire and wind the coils then I might do all the glass work at the same time
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
windlight
Guru

Joined: 03/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 331
Posted: 02:38pm 09 May 2007
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Mick, I have a Hugh duel rotor flying, 3M dia blades good for 1 Kw before furling. Follow his plans and you will have a functioning turbine, where many fall down is in the tower design, both for a specific site and in structual strength.

allan down under
"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV).
 
AMUN-RA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 11:24pm 19 May 2007
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Just broke the stator out of the mould am very happy with the result after a bit of worry last night,did you make it from scratch as per the book any problems you had let me know,next step is to find the steel and start cutting and welding Mick
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
AMUN-RA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 08:54am 02 Sep 2007
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Happy fathers day to all I am happy as today I put my bits together and started testing for power output and bugger me it seems to work. was worried about my soldering efforts but some of my wire pairs can spin 50 + volts buy hand gues about200-300 rpm????????? lots to do yet but very happy with todays hand spin. Looks like a trip to the shop for some rectifiers this week then to source some timber for the blades what does dennis use for his ??????? timber type' I'm looking for some yellow beech can ayone help.Happy happy happy Mick
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5117
Posted: 12:06am 03 Sep 2007
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Well done Mick.

Sounds like your on the right track with your windmill. I've never built one to Hugh's plans but I've heard they work well.

I have a set of Dennis's blades but cant tell you what timber they were made from, red tint, maybe cedar? Look for a lenght without any knots.

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

Joined: 09/09/2006
Location:
Posts: 64
Posted: 10:30am 03 Sep 2007
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Hi All The timber I used was Joiners Oregon. This is secondhand, not cheap and needs to be the best you can find.Having carved many blades I find them good to look at but very time consuming to make . A timber three blade set and then there tuning is not the way to go for me anymore.
Currently I am making four blade curved plywood blades. Bryan has been testing a set with better than Piggott results .
Once proven they will be available for $80 a set.
Regards Dennis L
 
Ben
Newbie

Joined: 10/08/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 18
Posted: 11:41am 04 Sep 2007
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Hi I made a set of Hughs blades I made them from Hoop pine. They make airoplane props from this timber.I bought it from Mathews timber in Melbourne $14.00 meter for 50x200 clear with no knots.
 
AMUN-RA

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Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 08:47pm 04 Sep 2007
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Thanks ben had thought about hoop pine if I can get it in townsvillle. put in the rectifiers the other night and have been popping trailer light bulbs for fun they dont last long but glow like a star for a few seconds.
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
Trev

Guru

Joined: 15/07/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 676
Posted: 10:35am 06 Sep 2007
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Hi Mick,
Platypus Timbers could supply you with something suitable. They are on Mt Dukes Rd, Kuttabul. ph 49540144
Trev @ drivebynature.com
 
AMUN-RA

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Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 11:56am 06 Sep 2007
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Kuttabul is down your end of town but I will give them a call next week Thanks for the info.Mick
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
AMUN-RA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 08:48am 15 Jul 2008
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OK so far the turbine is made except for the tail but thats no big deal the timber for the blades was bought from the australian timber traders in mossman Photo shows before and after all this timber is normally left to rot so I got 6 pieces for $20 I am more than happy with the end result after some processing buy me after work today. Wish I had more time to spend on this but like everyone work comes first.Next step is to carve the blades.should spend more time working on the progect instead of in the back shed but you know how it is ,more to come soon Mick
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
Gill

Senior Member

Joined: 11/11/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 669
Posted: 10:35am 15 Jul 2008
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Great work Mick. Have fun with those blades. The timbers looks good. From the pic I'm guessing you've dressed two down from the rough, like those on the right. Stick with it, Rome wasn't built in a day either.
was working fine... til the smoke got out.
Cheers Gill _Cairns, FNQ
 
windlight
Guru

Joined: 03/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 331
Posted: 11:13am 15 Jul 2008
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Put locktight or locking nuts on all points, particually the stator, when you do your final assembly. We came unstuck once when the stator nuts vibrated loose and the stator rubbed on one magnetic rotor.

We use two steel discs to sandwitch and mount the blades, then nuts either side, allows easy tracking.

allan
"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" - (Act II, Scene IV).
 
FandPwithPVC
Regular Member

Joined: 09/09/2006
Location:
Posts: 64
Posted: 12:24pm 15 Jul 2008
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Hi Michael
Lots of us are using Fisher and Paykel washing machine motors as generators here in Australia. They have a few problems starting and producing much useful energy. This means they are not suited to a standard 3 blade Piggott unless you are exposed to strong winds. We though about it here in South Australia and made a 5 blade Piggott. It starts at about the same windspeed/time as the 3 but with lots more torque. Of course it all about how much wind you have and it lacks a little speed in milder winds. However in strong winds we have difficulty controlling it. Also we have a 4 blade set being painted and this should be a happy medium for performance. All the blades are too the original specs. As to output with the 5 blades we have had 22amps at 26 volts with capaciters. Then our brush assembly fell apart and we carefully bought it back under our control. When we got it down on the ground both the front locknuts were missing and it could have been very dangerous. We now use split pins as well
This is what it is all about
Regards Dennis L
 
AMUN-RA

Senior Member

Joined: 10/03/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 144
Posted: 09:07pm 15 Jul 2008
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thanks for your input I will make sure that I use locknuts and split pins in the final assembly as for the blades I will see what I can get from the timber I have they may end up to be 3m diameter I have 6 pieces of timber so i can change the number of blades or make two sets of different sizes just for fun I am a carpenter & joiner so working the timber does'nt worry me at all in fact I enjoy it, that it makes power in the end is a byproduct of an interesting project.
Every day the sun shines
& gravity sucks= free energy.
 
philb

Regular Member

Joined: 05/07/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 96
Posted: 09:23pm 15 Jul 2008
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Hi AMUN-RA
I don't use split pins, but I do use Loktite removable thread lock compound. Or lately, I have found cheap lady's fingernail polish works just as well. You can buff off the remnants of it with a wire brush. Be sure to get the nuts snug against the fiberglass stator. Too tight might cause cracks, then filthy words.
Seven of my units have been based on Hugh's design. They are very sturdy and will perform well if made by the plans. However, if the blades become unbalanced, as with any generator, you will be glad you took the extra time to use thread locker or split pins.
Have fun
philb
 
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