Wind Turbine / Generator...Anyone building / built one??

[ptrott]

Hi all.
I am wondering if there are any members who have, or who are contemplating, building a wind turbine generator, particularly Australian members and particularly if they are using the Fisher & Paykel motor as a generation unit.

Also, has anyone found an "active" Australian forum dealing with the subject?

Cheers,
Phill.

[Burnsy]

There has been a guy in Perth selling complete units for just under $5000 on ebay, might be worth tracking him down, it has been a few weeks since I read his speil but it did indicate that he knew what he was talking about. Myself, I don't know anything about them.

[Uncle Bob]

There's a couple of guys over here on this forum http://www.austech.info/electronics/ that could help you. One of them (Bluedog I think) runs his entire place on solely on renewable energy (solar & wind).

[echnidna]

Hi all.
I am wondering if there are any members who have, or who are contemplating, building a wind turbine generator, particularly Australian members and particularly if they are using the Fisher & Paykel motor as a generation unit.

Also, has anyone found an "active" Australian forum dealing with the subject?

Cheers,
Phill.

Can you give any info on the motor you refer to?

[ptrott]

Thanks Burnsey & Bob, I'll follow up those leads.


echnidna, the motor is a washing machine motor from a Smart-Drive machine...
see here...http://www.thebackshed.com/Windmill/AssemblyA.asp#3


Cheers,
Phill.

[Master Splinter]

You can buy wind turbines from Jaycar Electronics. $499 gets you a 24 volt, 200 watt unit.

They also have all the control equipment, deep cycle batteries and all that sort of stuff, as well.

There's a manual on that page that may give you further ideas.

[Uncle Bob]

Sorry to say Master Splinter, but what I've heard is that those jaycar turbine and solar panels ain't much chop. Ok for a hobbyist, but not much good for a serious installation.

[echnidna]

Uncle Bob, I had a look around and it seems that the main problems may be with the controller system and not the generator.

Any further info you could give will be appreciated.

[Uncle Bob]

Bob, hi. I don't have any hard info, just what I read on the Austech forum. There was a good thread on alternative energy, sadly though it's been lost since their site crashed. There was even a thread regarding converting these very same F&P motors.

[ScottH]

I'm in the middle... kinda... of building one. As I live in the middle of suburbia, i don't think my neighbours would appreciate having an 8 metre turbine towering above the roof line, so I'm looking at building a small (less than 1 metre high) vertical turbine (savonius) as a practice run.
The magnets arrived last week, just need to find a cheap source of enamelled wire... And grab some scrap bits of wood/flue from onsite.
I did look at the F&P, but couldn't find any going cheap - same goes for the ametek a couple of sites recommend.

[Clinton1]

I asked a queston here about windmills for pumping water, and got a heap of links... some of them include info with respect to elec generation.

Hope it may be of use.

[dan76]

bit of a hijack, but ia m doing some looking around on grid connected wind power my house and had found these

http://www.renewablestore.com.au/cat...roducts_id=658

seem to be a good idea not needing inverters or battery banks,has anyone heard anything about them?

thanks, dan

[echnidna]

they're sold out

[dan76]

lol

[dan76]

they have either been not available or sold out for ages , so i thought someone would know of them if they are so popular.
you can buy them in the usa for AUD$4600 or so but i dont know postage would cost


edit : just got a quote of $1100 per unit for shipping, im assuming this us dolars too.