This is the second prototype of my wind power project. The first version was based upon an old, scrounged DC motor with the props constructed from balsa wood. It flew very well but produced little power due to the size of the motor. This version uses an improved stepper motor design (not yet wired up) which I purchased from Ebay. Although it still retains the original balsa wood/cain tail fin and the main vertical strut.The main prop is now scrounged from an old room cooler thingy I found lying around the woods, believe-it-or-not. It spins quite nicely in a light breeze when just placed loosely on a dowel but now I'm awaiting a strong breeze to test this rig. There's a little resistance and quite a bit of weight on the prop (which may improve) so this version will require stronger winds than the previous prototype. This is a good thing though since, due to the plastic props, it should be capable of spinning pretty quickly and sustaining high winds. Should. As ever, the proof of the prototype is in the testing!
So, wish me luck - I'll make further posts as no doubt the design improves as bits drop off and others are added!
Cheers.
4 comments:
she flies! next step is to get her up on the hill - work-in-progress
ok am getting around 6 v and 0.01 (approx.) amps out of this baby as she sits on the 'test rig' on my bench - revoltions are a bit sparse as I'm hand turning the shaft so the next thing to do is wire up the circuit I now have (basically two bridge rectifiers in parallel), seal it then try to sail her in a good wind...phew.
we're wired! been up all night on this but she's looking like quite a work of art now - will post a funky picture as soon as possible - she doesn't look too wallace and gromitty though, actually almost semi-professional! anyhow, still need to fly her to see if we can get anywhere near 6v in reality even then this would need stepping up to 12v to please the batteries...no rest for the WICKED! ;-)
3v in a light wind! amps not showing, guessing approx .5 given the test run? won't run the UK but every little helps, right?
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