Wind generator noise abatement

[Bill O]

Were the unbalances blades common w/KISS wind gens? Were they hand made blades?
Don't think I'd be too happy w/lead tape on my wind gen blades to get them balanced.

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Were the unbalances blades common w/KISS wind gens? Were they hand made blades?
Don't think I'd be too happy w/lead tape on my wind gen blades to get them balanced.

Yes, the blades and the housings were hand made.

The blades still are made, as one of the parts supplies still available from Hotwire, but are a different design than the originals, which have better aerodynamics and some design tweaks for better un-attended life (more resistant to wear and damage from dust or bigger stuff).

If you happen to have one of the older set of blades, you can replace them but the hub will need to be machined to accommodate the angle at which the blade hub end meets the hub. It's trivial if you have access to a metal lathe; my alteration cost me $20 at a full-on machine shop.

The lead tape works, as seen in my comments and the video. No issues; the first set lasted many years before the dunking in a storm (my fault; stupid reason) and the new ones are now 7 years old and like new.

But as noted, the guts (what makes the electricity) is original, despite all the abuse...

[skipgundlach]

PS to the very complete picture story of disassembly and blade balancing above:

While you can leave the body-sans-blades up in a hurricane, I put a funnel which will cover the shaft and nose to avoid any really strong wind-driven rain from getting into the works.

Tape with gorilla tape or similar over the funnel opening and along the sides of the top-to-nose of the KISS body to assure it stays in place and no water makes it inside the funnel. The tail will keep it turned into the wind.

Very effective and prevents having to dismount the unit.

http://skip.justpickone.org/gallery/...c=100_7278.JPG



However, if you had the slip-ring style thrust washer (mine is not), entire removal is dead simple, too, by merely unscrewing the bottom of the housing (it's held on the pole by a male-threaded coupling which mates with the housing).

Be careful, should you ever have occasion to R&R it that you don't overtighten the base. It's the reason the housing broke and the unit took a swim in a storm.

I use a micrometer to measure (with the stick-out end) the distance of the threads inside the housing, and mark that depth on the collar which screws into it. If not, it's easy to, with the goop you choose for water exclusion, overtighten, driving the male end past the threads and stress the housing...

[Jentine]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Were the unbalances blades common w/KISS wind gens? Were they hand made blades?
Don't think I'd be too happy w/lead tape on my wind gen blades to get them balanced.

Are you happy with the lead chunks on your tires?

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by Jentine

Are you happy with the lead chunks on your tires?

Enough so that when one flies off, I go back and get it rebalanced

[Jolly Roger]

skipgundlatch's idea of a funnel over the exposed end of the stator is a good idea, if you want to remover the blades for any reason. I would only add that the three electrical wires have to be disconnected or cut as well before the unit can be removed from the support post.
While talking about wind generators, I have a mast mount in the general classified section from a KISS. It enables the larger blades to rotate 360 degrees when fitted with 360 degree rotating electrical contacts. I've now mounted mine on a pole on the stern.

[Jolly Roger]

In my last message, stator should read rotor. I always get them muddled up.

[MIRELOS]

I often have to look to see that my Superwind is working...it is that quiet

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by MIRELOS

I often have to look to see that my Superwind is working...it is that quiet

It's the one others try to imitate. We don't install many SuperWinds, I just happen to know the North American president and I help him anyway I can, he's such a great guy and a good friend. These are not inexpensive generators, but I don't care what anybody says, they are the best by leaps and bounds as far as quality. Ex., We installed a brand new Superwind on a customers boat using his original mast from a cheaper WG. The supporting posts for the mast lead forward, the mast was on a hinge at the bottom which let the mast fall forward or aft. He tried to undo the posts about five miles from the marina outside of Boot Key to clean the fittings they were attached to. Well the mast went aft and the SuperWind went with it. He was alone so he could not pull the mast with the WG on it back up so he motored back to the marina five miles dragging the SuperWind on the bottom. He called in a panic. We came down with a new set of blades and fin (The patent blades the other WG companies copied) We did nothing more than hose off the nancil and install the new set of blades and fin. That was over five years ago and it's still working to spec. Try that with any other wind generator.