Thread: Windmill energy into usable power?

350RRC and Winaje are on the money IMO with the F&P drive motor - I've played with these and they produce power at much lower RPM than an alternator which is a huge benefit.

The website linked is well worth a look - I've been thinking of doing something similar for a few years as it's always windy here, but it's still a ways off due to other things I think.

I've actually got a Fisher & Paykl motor sitting in my garage, ready for this sort of project. A remnant of when I had a few acres a few years ago. Probably won't go ahead now if anyone is interested.

Just to throw another option out there, a simple use would be to run an electric storage hot water heater directly from the output of the wind turbine. No need to worry about regulating it, or storage batteries or what not. High volts, low volts, it'll heat the water. (to within limits). It would be helpful to have a thermostat on that limited the water temperature, and disconnected the turbine when the system was at capacity, or sunk the excess current through an external heating element or resistor.

Up north we used to get windier weather in winter, which was perfect. Summer, when the wind didn't blow as much, we'd pretty much be having cold showers anyway. Seemed like a good idea

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Aldi, but they don't like South Australians.



Sorry Digger.

Plenty of Aldi stores in SA now.

Been once, never stepping foot inside again..

Originally Posted by Pinelli

I've actually got a Fisher & Paykl motor sitting in my garage, ready for this sort of project. A remnant of when I had a few acres a few years ago. Probably won't go ahead now if anyone is interested.

Just to throw another option out there, a simple use would be to run an electric storage hot water heater directly from the output of the wind turbine. No need to worry about regulating it, or storage batteries or what not. High volts, low volts, it'll heat the water. (to within limits). It would be helpful to have a thermostat on that limited the water temperature, and disconnected the turbine when the system was at capacity, or sunk the excess current through an external heating element or resistor.

Up north we used to get windier weather in winter, which was perfect. Summer, when the wind didn't blow as much, we'd pretty much be having cold showers anyway. Seemed like a good idea

Exactly............ hot water elements will generate heat regardless of exact input and apparently you need a 'sink' for F&P no load situations.

DL

looks like the thread is running out of wind.....

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

looks like the thread is running out of wind.....

It'll blow again soon... Have a house and workshop to build before I can put the Windmill up...

You don't have to be a genius to predict a big rise in sales of wind generators in coming years, combined with solar and battery banks. I'm certainly adding it to my wish list.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

You don't have to be a genius to predict a big rise in sales of wind generators in coming years, combined with solar and battery banks. I'm certainly adding it to my wish list.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

Until small scale storage is significantly cheaper, small scale generation is not going to solve any real issues for anyone, unless they are way off grid. large scale reliable generation (think solar thermal) or large scale storage (hydro) will be the things that help us move on from fossil fuels.

A further increase in small scale domestic intermittent alternative energy generation will be great for the middle classes, but is just going to hurt the poor even more as their power bills rise to compensate.

Playing with this sort of kit, though, is an awful lot of fun