Car Alternator as Wind Generator?

[courageous cat]

Originally Posted by Factor

Great someone has finally over come the effective prevention to Perpetual Motion and the issues with Newtons third law. Excellent

I'v often wondered why some one hasn't just installed fluxcapacitor. those thing been around for all most 30 years quiet and tons of power

[RabidRabbit]

Are you trying to save money? If this can be built and it works, your still not going to have the computerized rpm control and braking. I only turn mine off maybe 5 times a year and never tie the blades off. Sure you might make power, but what happens when your ashore and a squall comes through. Spins out of control and explodes? I dont see any possible reason to build one when you could buy a trouble free unit for $700. I'll confess before I bought one I thought they just spun and made power. Unless you can babysit it 24/7 or build rpm regulated braking and stall. Seems like its not gonna be hassel free.

[Sir Rondo Normal]

Okay so now we have to design and install a centrifugal braking system... lol

[GordMay]

It might be hard to beat the $299 price on Rayallyn’s “Gudcraft” genny.
➥ Buy | Log Splitters | Hedge Trimmers | Gate Openers

[xsboats]

I have been very happy with the performance of my Electrovent wind generator for nearly a decade. They utilize an AC Delco 25 amp alternator. It is always the first wind generator to fire up in light air in the harbor and by far the quietest that I've ever owner over the last 30 years.

[hellosailor]

del-
"You loose around 10%> of the power through mechanics. Direct drive is most economical. "
Granted. And while that and other costs still mean any non-kiss solution will be
more costly than the standard wingen, the question is still whether there's a way to make a wind powered alternator--bringing the proven advantages of alternator into the picture, instead of generator.
Of course if you put the blades in a hub and toothed the outside of it, you could gear-drive an alternator directly at the correct speed, but that's bulky. And suffers the noises and losses of gear drive, even if they're rubber notches.
"Hey Orville, watcha want wings on a bicycle for?!"

You know, another approach to the problem.

[RabidRabbit]

If saving money is the goal, building a watermaker is the way to go. High volume watermakers cost big bucks. For $1500 to $3000 you can build lowtech to high tech depending on needs and skill. And save chunks of money while doing it. Its on my summer list. Its pretty basic, if you can build your own log spitter, your qualified.

[hellosailor]

Gord-
The "Gudcraft" folks would impress me more if they weren't playing smoke and mirror games. They cleverly say "

�Low wind speed start up of just 5mph or 2 m/s.
-So even in the lightest winds a trickle charge can be seen at the battery"

But then they don't actually say what the output wiull be until:

"

-Produces 108 Watts @ 11 m/s and 24 Watts @ 5 m/s"

So we know it will produce less than two amps at 5m/s, but still don't know what the initial output at 2m/s is. A quarter amp, a half? We're just distracted by the higher amp ratings.

Sounds like a nice trickle charger, though. I wonder what happens in a 40A blow, and how it likes salt spray. Most Delco's wouldn't like that directly, another good reason to move the alternator remotely off the pole.

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Gord-
The "Gudcraft" folks would impress me more if they weren't playing smoke and mirror games. They cleverly say "

�Low wind speed start up of just 5mph or 2 m/s.
-So even in the lightest winds a trickle charge can be seen at the battery"

But then they don't actually say what the output wiull be until:

"

-Produces 108 Watts @ 11 m/s and 24 Watts @ 5 m/s"

So we know it will produce less than two amps at 5m/s, but still don't know what the initial output at 2m/s is. A quarter amp, a half? We're just distracted by the higher amp ratings.

Sounds like a nice trickle charger, though. I wonder what happens in a 40A blow, and how it likes salt spray. Most Delco's wouldn't like that directly, another good reason to move the alternator remotely off the pole.

But it works, I cant see how you could make make one for less using car parts that would it be any less salt proof or work better.

[hellosailor]

Simon, it certainly appears to work although of course we've no idea how well they hold up and how long they work. Or what the low-wind output it.

OTOH $500 buys a lot of solar panel these days, which isn't perfect but is very quiet.

If they could tell me 10A in 10-mph winds...considering how much ghosting and under 15mph wind I've seen....

[SunDevil]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Gord-
The "Gudcraft" folks would impress me more if they weren't playing smoke and mirror games. They cleverly say "

�Low wind speed start up of just 5mph or 2 m/s.
-So even in the lightest winds a trickle charge can be seen at the battery"

But then they don't actually say what the output wiull be until:

"

-Produces 108 Watts @ 11 m/s and 24 Watts @ 5 m/s"

So we know it will produce less than two amps at 5m/s, but still don't know what the initial output at 2m/s is. A quarter amp, a half? We're just distracted by the higher amp ratings.

Sounds like a nice trickle charger, though. I wonder what happens in a 40A blow, and how it likes salt spray. Most Delco's wouldn't like that directly, another good reason to move the alternator remotely off the pole.

That is where I would like to see wind turbine design go. Play with gearing/blade size/weight/magnets/whatever to come up with a wind turbine that generates some power in 3-7mph winds. I would give up high end max power generation if it had to brake to protect itself.

[Cheechako]

Those washing machine motors are pretty tough, take a look: How to destroy a washing machine. [VIDEO]

[senormechanico]

Some people have too much time on their hands!

[RabidRabbit]

Could someone maybe post and briefly explain why you need to do any of this? I really am trying to understand. This wheel has been invented and almost perfected. Boats contain hundreds of repairs/fixes and if this is how time is spent I'd be scared to see what other money saving ideas are on a boat with the delco wind genny. Please enlighten us.

[Cheechako]

Inquiring minds need to know.....