DIY VAWT Project

BMaverick

BMaverick

YANMAR GURU EXTRAORDINAIRE
Member
A few years back as a kids science project, we made a VAWT (Vertical Axis Wind Turbine aka Lenz Turbine) from long tongue depressors, 6X 2L tops, a few screws and a 1Amp motor. It worked like a dream. The kids got to see real energy created to light up a pack of LEDs. The VAWT took up half a kitchen table and was 3FT high. Example below:

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Recently, I acquired a 4 pack of 12VDC 250W 3000RPM scooter motors. These can move a teen on a two wheel scooter up to 20mph for about a 30mins till the battery needs to be charged again. These are IP69K rated too.

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So, I'm thinking about expanding my solar charging station that does the farm with additional wind energy. Seems like a nifty project for the summer.
I'll have to bench test the motor at various RPMs to get readings on Amp output. My system is limited to a 30Amp max input. This would also provide feedback on what blocking diode to select.

The solar works great by allowing the barns to pull power from the system vs. the power grid. Lights and electric fence zappers do well all year long. A little more juice to store could aid the system to run spot water heaters.

There are many VAWT plans to pick from. I hope to use plastic rain gutters and shape the air movers like below. It will require the use of a heat gun and a few shaping tricks to arrive at this clever looking device. :) If I make it so generic, the building code assessor would think it's just a weather wind monitor. And that's how I'm telling them because I will get feedback from the VAWT. ;)

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There are other plans, but a bit too overkill for my liking.
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A and C examples are simple and good enough to build with satisfactory results.
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I'm not the first to make a Lenz Turbine to make power. It's very popular in the EU. Doing am image search on the Lenz Turbine will give all kinds of hits.

A Lenz Turbine is designed to move FAST. The faster it turns the better the yield on the energy output. See these examples.



Being out in the midwest, the winds get gusty at night when solar isn't going.
 
That is what I was thinking Chris. No place for Chinese bearings. No private electrical generating device can be connected to the power grid with an expensive switch box which has to come from and be installed by REC plus the one million liability policy. Friend checked in to it and found out it would take him many years to come out ahead. Kind of like REC don't want anyone cutting in on their profits.
 
chieffan said:
That is what I was thinking Chris. No place for Chinese bearings. No private electrical generating device can be connected to the power grid with an expensive switch box which has to come from and be installed by REC plus the one million liability policy. Friend checked in to it and found out it would take him many years to come out ahead. Kind of like REC don't want anyone cutting in on their profits.
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Profit protection for sure, but a lot of the reason is to protect the linemen, Roger. It has happened before that someone using alternate electrical generation didn't disconnect from the grid before using it. That sends power back out and the lineman working on repairs can be injured or killed.

DAC
 
MFDAC said:
Profit protection for sure, but a lot of the reason is to protect the linemen, Roger. It has happened before that someone using alternate electrical generation didn't disconnect from the grid before using it. That sends power back out and the lineman working on repairs can be injured or killed.

DAC
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I'm not one to mix the off-grid systems(s)with the grid system. The juice I make is the juice I keep. (hmmm, that didn't sound too Kosher. LOL)

In some parts of Ca land of nuts and fruits, its their local law that you must be hooked into the grid, no off-gridding allowed.
 
MFDAC said:
Profit protection for sure, but a lot of the reason is to protect the linemen, Roger. It has happened before that someone using alternate electrical generation didn't disconnect from the grid before using it. That sends power back out and the lineman working on repairs can be injured or killed.

DAC
Click to expand...
I realize that back feed issue but to mandate their switch box to be installed by them at a highly inflated price is their way of saying we don't want outside power in our area. The same reason the give out free electric water heaters to replace gas units.
 
I found some clutch plates with bearings in them. The plate has circular slots. Something like this. It would help the project. Thus, someone's trash can be a gem of a treasure.

The bearing ID is 7/8 inch or 22mm. The plate is 5 inches or 127mm OD. My mind is thinking more on the application for use.
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Ah before the hot heat and the 95F+ temps into next week, I took a few mounting plates off of an old TV dish system.

This is a generic pix, but the plates I have are from the receiver with a wide mount and at the base of the dish that adjusts the angle.
Ample enough room to mount a motor on each.

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A few holes in the plates and I'll begin with 2 VAWT in the works. My camera is on the charger. Hope to have pixs today. It's been a few months since turning on the drill press.
 
Oh, why the dish mounting plates?
- They are flat
- Tough harden steel. Even my drill bits get super hot with cooling liquid.
- Seldom dose a dish get ripped off a roof.
- I can mount a motor shroud to keep rain off of the motor.
- FREE :)
 
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Yes, some progress made. :) I'm hoping not to have a Dark Winter. :cool:

In general terms, this is the Dish Network tossed out as scrap.
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I took this apart. Found two usable platforms to use. Made some holes in the center and holes to mount the motors.
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Plastic vinegar jugs with their tops cut off will be the motor/generator shroud to keep the rain out. Spiders and wasps may find a new home. I'll have to see what could be done for that.

The motor mounts will pass thru the plastic shrouds and bolt right to the plates.

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A little progress today. Total cost so far is still FREE.
 
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Out this morning and scored another DirectTV antenna. I can now make 3.

Also scored a working YardMachines push mower and a Coleman 3 burner popup camper cooking range off propane.

I like the trash to treasures free events of the holiday weekend. People just place things out to the curb and things disappear quickly. I always think first if I could re-purpose before taking.

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Scrounging at its best Bret. I sit on the porch a lot especially in the morning. It’s funny at the trucks and trailers go by on trash pickup day. If I sit out there long enough I’ll see some on their way back home with a few good scores. Living in the country it’s hard to find usable stuff tossed out. Years ago I use to hit a few subdivisions in the morning now that’s some good pickings.
 
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