The power of the whirly bird

[dobbo]

Due to the recent demise of our hard working Fisher & Paykel washing machine (broken board again) I am thinking of stripping it down and converting the Smart Drive into a wind turbine. Not a big job, however my house is not in exactly a wind prone area so I have been thinken..... what to do with it.


I drive a big shed, not exactly aero dynamic in design, it catches a lot of wind whilst driving. This smart drive can easily be converted to run 24V or 12V.

How about an old style whirly bird vent on the roof under the roof rack, or on the side of the vehicle rear side window on the County. Inside the vehicle in a mounted case sits the converted smart drive.

In theory I could charge a deep cycle battery to run a fridge, at the same time not drawing any charge from the cars battery or charge any 12v appliances/ devices on the run.

Can anyone think of any problems or issues associated with this hare brained scheme?

I realise I could run all this stuff from the alternator but whats the fun in that.
Plus I could also use this setup on the roof of my wifes horse float (again a big bloody wind trap)



Anyone know where I can purchase the old style whirly birds? Only time I have seen them nowadays is on the back of Police Paddy wagon's.

[hiline]

Windmaster Turbine Ventilator 300mm, Roof Ventilators, Roof Ventilation, Whirlybirds - CSR Edmonds (http://www.edmonds.com.au/html/products/windmaster_turbine_ventilator_300mm.htm)
plenty of whirly birds here :D

[dobbo]

8483

Found them


GP Vent, General Purpose Vehicle Ventilator - CSR Edmonds (http://www.edmonds.com.au/html/products/gp_vent_general_purpose_vehicle_ventilator.htm)


Cheers

[moose]

*picturing a washing machine tub off the top of the turdis*:D

Ok, apart from the obvious, "it's not gonna take that much extra to run it from the alternator" comment, I'm not sure how you'd make it portable enough to transfer from car to horse float or whatever else.
I think unless you're really bored and looking for something to kill some time, you'd be better off looking at solar remedies.

[dobbo]

*picturing a washing machine tub off the top of the turdis*:D
.


Not quite that drastic,

Have a look at the link below The drive is not that big at all

Randy's Workshop Smart Drive Page (http://www.watchtv.net/~rburmeister/smart.html)

[moose]

Bastard! how dare you make me read that much info at this time of day! That sounds really interesting, especially since I live in a windy area. Lets know how you go.

[dobbo]

Reasons I want to go wind instead of Solar


For


I have the smartdrive and it costs me very little to adapt/build.
Solar panels do degrade over time
A Solar panel would not like the driving I do when in low range as it would get damaged or if on the float will freak out the stupid horses (again potential damage)
weight, size and productive output of most photovoltaic panels do not justify the install of one compared to a small wind turbine
Added advantage of drawing heat out of the cabin of the County or horse float



Against


Wind turbine will generate noise (compared to the Isuzu up front will not be noticable)
will need a decent wind or the vehicle in motion to generate electricity although it could be adapted with a crank so if both batteries were flat a lot of manual cranking could charge the battery, mind you with the Isuzu you don't need power to start it, it just makes it a lot easier

[moose]

Cool, I live in a windy area that our all-knowing state gumment has already put wind turbines in, so lets know how you go for a cost vs. energy thing.

[Treads]

Against


Wind turbine will generate noise (compared to the Isuzu up front will not be noticable)
will need a decent wind or the vehicle in motion to generate electricity although it could be adapted with a crank so if both batteries were flat a lot of manual cranking could charge the battery, mind you with the Isuzu you don't need power to start it, it just makes it a lot easier

3. You have to cut a massive ****-off hole in the roof of your Landy? :angel:

[dobbo]

3. You have to cut a massive ****-off hole in the roof of your Landy? :angel:


rear passenger side window slides open It could sit there.

[waynep]

Interesting project.
I'm getting into hydroponics at home and looking to power the nutrient pump from solar and wind ( ie make the system self sufficient ). I'll be looking how to make a home made wind generator.
Do you know who might have another F&P Smart Drive motor ?

[disco2hse]

You got a stream nearby? What about a hydroelectric dam?

[dobbo]

Heaps of them on Evilbay

Some go for $20 for the whole machine.

[cookiesa]

Great project.. GO for it!

The hole wouldn't be too bad as I assume your mounting the vent in the roof and that is what will spin the motor, being flat shouldn't loose too much space inside either.

[Blknight.aus]

If you get smart about it you should be able to mount it VAT (vertical axis turbine aka your whirly bird) on a telescopic pole on the back of the vehicle. While your driving it aint going to do sqiudly when compared to your alternator so you leave it in the down postion. when you pull up for the night or stay you just tele it up over the roof and your done.

in theory you can do it off of a clark mast or an old 292 antenna providing you dont extent out past the top stays.

[dobbo]

If you get smart about it you should be able to mount it VAT (vertical axis turbine aka your whirly bird) on a telescopic pole on the back of the vehicle. While your driving it aint going to do sqiudly when compared to your alternator so you leave it in the down postion. when you pull up for the night or stay you just tele it up over the roof and your done.

in theory you can do it off of a clark mast or an old 292 antenna providing you dont extent out past the top stays.


That would require an extendable shaft. I was thinking of a basic chain drive utilising bike sprockets, 52 tooth down to a 13 tooth giving a 1 - 4 speed difference. Mounted horizontally on the horse float door.

In theory, it should power a 12V windscreen wiper motor all weekend. Dave, hows that other project going anyway?