What Preps are you doing this week

[newtonweir]

Hi,

I managed to get these two alternators for a good price, and they're both working too. These will go into some new back-up power projects in the new year. I have also found a biodiesel guru too - add those two things together......



Regards,

S.

[Malthouse]

Very tidy

You can make an amazingly easy wind generator with one of those, literally just bolt veins to the pully-wheel.

[newtonweir]

Hi Malthouse,

Im not sure a car alternator would spin at the sort of speeds a diy wind turbine will achieve, would it? I have been planning a wind turbine, but I have a motor I was going to use for that.

Regards,
S.

[Malthouse]

Get the right number and curve on the blades and they spin plenty fast enough

[TwoDo]

Get the right number and curve on the blades and they spin plenty fast enough

Debatable. Here's some links explaining why alternators are not great for windmills and the last one has a summary of other motor/alternator types and their suitability for wind power.

http://www.homepower.com/articles/wind- ... nd-turbine

http://otherpower.com/otherpower_wind_alternators.html

[newtonweir]

I read somewhere about a series of motors that were fitted in some vintage tape drives for computers of the '70s and '80s... They are supposed to be the best/easiest thing for homebrew wind turbines.

[Malthouse]

Debatable.

Highly debatable, not least of which because there are many many such wind turbines all over the world! I have worked on them, they can be a bit rough and ready but they do work.

Ampair as a company started out with alternators and blades. Yes they added refinements, but in some of their models not many.

Yes I have seen batteries fried, and even blades come off. Home-brew windmills are "exciting" to say the least, but the parts are readily available.

[Malthouse]

Look familiar?....

[Steveo82]

Look familiar?....

Yeah !!! Ive been looking for them flip flops for ages. As for the white thing never seen it before and it sure dont look like anything under my bonnet

[Steveo82]

Car alternators are designed to work @ >850rpm . if my math is right a 5 ft mid spec turbine will hit 850rpm in 25mph winds. A car alternator car be used as standard but not very well in this country. Whereas if you rewind the alternator with lower gauge wire (more turns)it will reduce the optimal charge rate to the more desired 250 rpm.