WindPowerBigBoyOne

update

Mike had to rebuild the stator but it was a quick job since he already had the mold. We put the windmill back up in mid-November and recently ran the wiring up to the garage where the batteries are wired into some light bulbs. At this point my parents are officially using pure wind power for some of their electrical needs! I've got some more pictures and video to upload so check back soon.

intro

the first windmill generated about 20W. Good to get you excited but not good for much else (one compact fluorescent light for a few hours a night). thus Mike decided to tackle a simplified version of this serious windmill from TheOtherPower. According to Mike this mill should top out at about 400W. He purposely pulled back the output a little as this is beyond most of our 'comfort zones'. Power output is still being assessed using the WindLcdMeter.

Official Note from Mike

• ThanksToAll.pdf: mike's thank you note, great pictures and system description

pics

here you can make out the coils embedded in rosin that make up part of the generator that the 'mill runs. Mike hand wound each coil to create a 3 phase AC output.

side view of the generator of Mike's new windmill. You can make out the magnets (rectangles on front and back rotors) and the coil assembly in the middle. the two large white disks rotate (due to the blades that will be attached to them) to move the magnets past the coils to generate 3 phase AC power.

-- ChristopherPepe - 02 Aug 2006