Wind Generator Design - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 02:35 AM

Well my dad and I were talking about creating a wind power generator for the house. I know to use a car Alternator, and a Power Inverter for everything, but I wanted to know some more details, and seeing how I dont even know the name of it, I think I might want to ask the forum before I spend hours on google sifting through windmills

I would like it to be able to go into the power inverter (12V I guess?) and step it up to 120AC. We have a little one for a car so I know IT can be done. maybe I will get some car batteries and have it hook up there and charge those then use that as a power source for our very energy craving house for about 2 minutes

Actually I would use it for myself. I know how to wire up the house and stuff, but really just wanting to know the design and etc of one.

Thanks

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 03:02 AM

I know that if you spin a motor it generates voltage right? So if I put huge blades on a very large motor (3Amp No load) I could use that right?

**Nigel Goodwin** · 4th November 2007, 09:52 AM

There are lots of links to wind powered generator sites in this forum, go and study some!.

You do need batteries, without a storage medium it's pretty useless.

Hero999 · 4th November 2007, 03:48 PM

Your best bet is to try to cur your power consumption first, before you mess around with wind turbines.

Car batteries aren't really much use as they aren't designed to be discharged much.

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 04:30 PM

Hmmmmmm

What about a massive capacitor bank

Lead Acid Batteries?

**Nigel Goodwin** · 4th November 2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krumlink

Hmmmmmm

What about a massive capacitor bank

You couldn't afford them, and don't have enough room!.

Quote:

Lead Acid Batteries?

Yes, but you should use ones specifically designed for deep discharging, not just cheap car ones.

However, if you can get hold of cheap car ones it will give you a chance to test the practicability of the idea.

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 04:43 PM

I think I like the Lead Acid batteries, and I could use the ones that my HS robotics team uses (they pull up to 100A). They are only 20$.

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 07:30 PM

Now for the Power generation part: How to produce around 12 Volts?

I could use several things for power generation, but do you know of any good ones?

Also, for the inverter, I could use a part, product, schematic, etc.

Hero999 · 4th November 2007, 09:48 PM

Ideally you want a higher voltage than 12V, if you want to drive an inverter from it,. Generally the higher the voltage the better, 48V would be ideal as it's just about safe to touch with dry hands but failing that you could easilly settle for 24V.

For safety's sake, earthing both the DC and AC side is also a good idea as it won't float at a stupid voltage if the mains acidentally comes in to contact with it, it'll just blow a fuse/RCD/GFI and it'll make lightning protection circuitry easier to implement too.

audioguru · 4th November 2007, 10:39 PM

When the wind blows hard then the current will be 30A or more and the generator will burn out or the blades will fly apart. The battery might become severely overcharged or might boil.

You need a charge controller with something to limit the current from the generator. Then it stops charging when it detects that the battery is fully charged.
You also need something to limit the RPM of the blades.

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioguru

When the wind blows hard then the current will be 30A or more and the generator will burn out or the blades will fly apart. The battery might become severely overcharged or might boil.

You need a charge controller with something to limit the current from the generator. Then it stops charging when it detects that the battery is fully charged.
You also need something to limit the RPM of the blades.

The motor I am thinking of is REALLY torquey, so that wont be a problem. Michigan is very wierd...

mynameisdan · 4th November 2007, 11:07 PM

For limiting the speed of the blades you can use a magnet brake.

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mynameisdan

For limiting the speed of the blades you can use a magnet brake.

So would I just put magnets behind the blades that are mounted on the motor, far enough away not to affect the motor?

mynameisdan · 4th November 2007, 11:41 PM

Try running a magnet over a peice of metal. The faster you go, the more you feel it's resisting. The further away your magnet it, the faster it will allow you to go.

The old trick is a dropping a magnet down a copper pipe.

**Krumlink** · 4th November 2007, 11:52 PM

Ok thanks, I will take that into consideration. Thanks

4th November 2007, 02:35 AM	(permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Blog Entries: 1	Wind Generator Design Well my dad and I were talking about creating a wind power generator for the house. I know to use a car Alternator, and a Power Inverter for everything, but I wanted to know some more details, and seeing how I dont even know the name of it, I think I might want to ask the forum before I spend hours on google sifting through windmills I would like it to be able to go into the power inverter (12V I guess?) and step it up to 120AC. We have a little one for a car so I know IT can be done. maybe I will get some car batteries and have it hook up there and charge those then use that as a power source for our very energy craving house for about 2 minutes Actually I would use it for myself. I know how to wire up the house and stuff, but really just wanting to know the design and etc of one. Thanks __________________ MechTronics

4th November 2007, 03:02 AM	(permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Blog Entries: 1	I know that if you spin a motor it generates voltage right? So if I put huge blades on a very large motor (3Amp No load) I could use that right? __________________ MechTronics

4th November 2007, 09:52 AM	(permalink)
Nigel Goodwin Super Moderator	There are lots of links to wind powered generator sites in this forum, go and study some!. You do need batteries, without a storage medium it's pretty useless. __________________ PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at: http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

4th November 2007, 03:48 PM	(permalink)
Hero999 Experienced Member	Your best bet is to try to cur your power consumption first, before you mess around with wind turbines. Car batteries aren't really much use as they aren't designed to be discharged much. __________________ What's so bad about Microsoft? Get Opera it's simply a superb browser.

4th November 2007, 04:30 PM	(permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Blog Entries: 1	Hmmmmmm What about a massive capacitor bank Lead Acid Batteries? __________________ MechTronics

4th November 2007, 04:43 PM	(permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Blog Entries: 1	I think I like the Lead Acid batteries, and I could use the ones that my HS robotics team uses (they pull up to 100A). They are only 20$. __________________ MechTronics

4th November 2007, 07:30 PM	(permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Blog Entries: 1	Now for the Power generation part: How to produce around 12 Volts? I could use several things for power generation, but do you know of any good ones? Also, for the inverter, I could use a part, product, schematic, etc. __________________ MechTronics

4th November 2007, 09:48 PM	(permalink)
Hero999 Experienced Member	Ideally you want a higher voltage than 12V, if you want to drive an inverter from it,. Generally the higher the voltage the better, 48V would be ideal as it's just about safe to touch with dry hands but failing that you could easilly settle for 24V. For safety's sake, earthing both the DC and AC side is also a good idea as it won't float at a stupid voltage if the mains acidentally comes in to contact with it, it'll just blow a fuse/RCD/GFI and it'll make lightning protection circuitry easier to implement too. __________________ What's so bad about Microsoft? Get Opera it's simply a superb browser. Last edited by Hero999; 4th November 2007 at 09:51 PM.

4th November 2007, 10:39 PM	(permalink)
audioguru Experienced Member	When the wind blows hard then the current will be 30A or more and the generator will burn out or the blades will fly apart. The battery might become severely overcharged or might boil. You need a charge controller with something to limit the current from the generator. Then it stops charging when it detects that the battery is fully charged. You also need something to limit the RPM of the blades. __________________ Uncle $crooge

4th November 2007, 11:07 PM	(permalink)
mynameisdan New Member	For limiting the speed of the blades you can use a magnet brake.

4th November 2007, 11:41 PM	(permalink)
mynameisdan New Member	Try running a magnet over a peice of metal. The faster you go, the more you feel it's resisting. The further away your magnet it, the faster it will allow you to go. The old trick is a dropping a magnet down a copper pipe.

4th November 2007, 11:52 PM	(permalink)
Krumlink Moderator Blog Entries: 1	Ok thanks, I will take that into consideration. Thanks __________________ MechTronics

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