Wind generator home made

[fatcat]

Hi guys, off to Moreton for a week in a couple of months and thinking of getting a solar panel off ebay.

Has anyone used a old car alternator bunged a few blades on it, and put up in a windy place, i can get a set of blades for $80. would this work. It just seems to easy.

Thanks guys

[langy]

A car alternator needs power to to start generating electricity, and the RPM required to overcome that power drain is a bit much for wind. However, some small/medium size hobby permanent magnet motors will generate 12v in a breeze. I even remember Jaycar having a kit. Another version was to use a motor from a Fisher & Paykel washing machine. Have a look at the things that sit on the end of yachts and generate power.

[superquag]

Thought about it too... But cheaper-easier-more reliable to reach for the wallet.:eek:

[dullbird]

I have two dishwasher motors here from fisher & Paykel if you want them to try it...you can pay postage

[bee utey]

Belt drive the alternator off a bicycle wheel and cover the wheel in vanes and you might get a little power...

Another suggestion is a 24V radiator fan motor, it might raise enough voltage to charge a 12v battery.

[Blknight.aus]

if you strip the alternator down you can make it setup to self excite by magnatising one side of the pole blocks you just have to work out which side to do and if you magnatise it north or south wise.

most alternators will eventaully get this way by themselves but you have to get a very high RPM onto them to get them to excite and they usually wont excite if you have any kind of load on them (so you have to disconnect the alternator, run it up till its outputting and then reconnect it).

[slug_burner]

Hi guys, off to Moreton for a week in a couple of months and thinking of getting a solar panel off ebay.

Has anyone used a old car alternator bunged a few blades on it, and put up in a windy place, i can get a set of blades for $80. would this work. It just seems to easy.

Thanks guys

apart from exciting it, you need too high an RMP.

see here for why car alternators are a poor choice
Alternator and Generator Comparison | Otherpower (http://otherpower.com/otherpower_wind_alternators.html)

[Rick1970]

A mate has done this using the Fisher & Paykel motor. Yes it can generate 12v and charge a battery but would be very combersome arangement to cart around.

Many many years ago, ex wifes grandfather made a setup using a car generator rigged up to a clothes line to charge a battery .....apparently. This was in the day when a 12v battery charger of any sort was a luxury item.

[akelly]

There's lots of info about making wind generators on the net. Most seem to conclude they are too inefficient to be practical.

Depending on what you want to power solar is likely to be your best bet, but cheap solar panels are not much chop.

[350RRC]

Hi,

There's a stack of F&P info and how to on this site:

TheBackShed.com - Fisher & Paykel Windmill. (http://www.thebackshed.com/windmill/fp2a.asp)

Makes it all simple and achievable. I have a couple of F&P motors for a rainy day project and would say they're a bit bulky to be mobile.

Have a look at Jaycar maybe.

DL

[dullbird]

my dishwasher ones are tiny so perhaps they wouldnt be suitable as I had a two draw dishwasher

[p38arover]

If I recall correctly fraser130 had a wind generator on his 130 camper at Cooma in 2008.

[PhilipA]

Wouldn't an optomistic view call for a solar panel rather than a wind generator?
Knowing my luck it would be dull and still.
Regards Philip A

[Judo]

I think taking physical size and weight properties compared to power output, solar would be much better. The cost benefit I can see with wind is that you could DIY the project, but can't really DIY a solar panel. TBH tho, solar panels have come down in prices so much now I think they're a clear winner.

I bought mine from this place on ebay (based in Melbourne) because their prices were great. You can email or call them with questions too.

lowenergydevelopments items - Get great deals on Solar, Panels items on eBay Stores! (http://stores.ebay.com.au/Low-Energy-Developments?_rdc=1)

[fatcat]

Hi guys,
thanks for all the great feedback, solar will be the go by the looks of things.

cheers

[Mick-Kelly]

I picked up a 130w solar panel (new) on fleabay for $170 delivered. It has gone great guns on my camping trips and kept the deep cycles ticking along nicely for over a week running lights, fridge etc.