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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2020 16:17:00 GMT
I'm in the market for one of those little VAWT units which look a bit like a miniature version of those rotating signs you get outside MoT garages. Only a small thing. It's for a self contained exterior lighting system. Not looking for high power. I know JohnV bought one of the Chinese pineapple ones but that's a bit big. Just wondered if anyone has ever used one of the little ones. Maplin used to sell them and there is something called "forgen" in my head. They seem to be nice and tidy and not "in your face". Quite fancy one for beside the radar on Dulcinea. There is space but it's not appropriate to put a HAWT up there from an aesthetic point of view.
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Post by kris on Dec 12, 2020 16:22:03 GMT
I helped someone fit one recently. Supposedly 400w ,I see it rotating but how much power itβs generating is another thing. Iβll ask him when I get chance. Itβs definately not noisey though and aesthetically not too unpleasant either.
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Post by JohnV on Dec 12, 2020 16:22:46 GMT
After total grief with the one I bought, they have sent me a replacement. I have yet to mount it on the roof (too much going on) hopefully it will be better than the last one ..... ie it might work at least a little bit ...... I will report after this one has been mounted on the pole on the wheelhouse roof and been given a chance to be exposed to some high winds.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2020 16:27:21 GMT
I was thinking of something much smaller but still interested in yours John. The item in my head is this one. Forgen. Outrageous price for a new one.
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Post by JohnV on Dec 12, 2020 16:30:56 GMT
that looks like a better design of blade Andrew
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2020 16:36:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2020 16:44:37 GMT
that looks like a better design of blade Andrew It's a Savonius type. Not sure what yours falls under but I fancy a good quality Darreius rotor. Using air foils seems a good approach.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2020 17:54:42 GMT
I was thinking of something much smaller but still interested in yours John. The item in my head is this one. Forgen. Outrageous price for a new one. Used to have one like that on the East Coast Yot, was lucky to see one amp out of it on a breezy day out in the estuary. Waste of money IMO.
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Post by peterboat on Dec 12, 2020 19:08:40 GMT
I have had a lantern type one for over a year now it makes electric is all I can say, in fair winds I would go to bed with say 13.2 volts and in the morning it would be 13.3 having run the fridge freezer through the night along with other stuff. Would I buy another? no I would make one I think as I enjoy a challenge
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Post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel on Dec 12, 2020 19:31:19 GMT
Darreius rotor can be self speed limiting which is handy for a large one. Its vertical design means it can be more in open air as there is less top weight than the Savonious design.
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Post by JohnV on Jan 27, 2021 12:44:25 GMT
After total grief with the one I bought, they have sent me a replacement. I have yet to mount it on the roof (too much going on) hopefully it will be better than the last one ..... ie it might work at least a little bit ...... I will report after this one has been mounted on the pole on the wheelhouse roof and been given a chance to be exposed to some high winds. performance in this area is Crap !!!
I suspect if you lived on the top of a cliff in Stornaway it would be worth while but in Beverley, over an extended period it consumed more electricity than it actually made.
It's not a fault of the alternator it's just the turbine (under the normal windspeeds here) does not rotate the alternator fast enough to produce a sufficiently high voltage to start the (supplied) PWM controller charging.
The turbine blades are not big enough/efficient enough for any but very windy positions.
If you live in an extremely windy position then this unit could possibly eke out your solar during the winter but otherwise it is an attractive well made colourful .... garden toy
At some time in the future (if there is a spare supply of round tuits) I might try some alternate drives for the alternator/rectifier/charger system
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Post by bodger on Jan 27, 2021 13:21:53 GMT
Bizzard on the other channel would probably recommend snagging passing cyclists with a hook attached to a long line wrapped around a drum generator.
It would have to have an automatic release when the cyclist fell into the cut, and a spring loading to rewind the line for the next culprit victim.
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Post by JohnV on Jan 27, 2021 13:25:12 GMT
Bizzard on the other channel would probably recommend snagging passing cyclists with a hook attached to a long line wrapped around a drum generator.
It would have to have an automatic release when the cyclist fell into the cut, and a spring loading to rewind the line for the next culprit victim. That definitely sounds like a Bizzard idea ....... He was always my favourite poster on that forum ..... pleased to hear he is still around
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Post by kris on Jan 27, 2021 13:36:13 GMT
After total grief with the one I bought, they have sent me a replacement. I have yet to mount it on the roof (too much going on) hopefully it will be better than the last one ..... ie it might work at least a little bit ...... I will report after this one has been mounted on the pole on the wheelhouse roof and been given a chance to be exposed to some high winds. performance in this area is Crap !!!
I suspect if you lived on the top of a cliff in Stornaway it would be worth while but in Beverley, over an extended period it consumed more electricity than it actually made.
It's not a fault of the alternator it's just the turbine (under the normal windspeeds here) does not rotate the alternator fast enough to produce a sufficiently high voltage to start the (supplied) PWM controller charging.
The turbine blades are not big enough/efficient enough for any but very windy positions.
If you live in an extremely windy position then this unit could possibly eke out your solar during the winter but otherwise it is an attractive well made colourful .... garden toy
At some time in the future (if there is a spare supply of round tuits) I might try some alternate drives for the alternator/rectifier/charger system
After helping some people to fit them i would have to agree about the usefulness of these products. The alternator could maybe be used as a power recovery device on an ebike maybe?
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Post by bodger on Jan 27, 2021 13:47:20 GMT
performance in this area is Crap !!!
After helping some people to fit them i would have to agree about the usefulness of these products. The alternator could maybe be used as a power recovery device on an ebike maybe? .......... a bit like a self-charging hybrid. Buy petrol - put it in the tank - run the engine to charge the immensely heavy batteries and then kid yourself that you are saving the planet. A bit like the stoopid Prius.
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