Wind Power Generator: Small & Cheap Alternator Suggestions

[goober2906]

Hi,

I'm trying to build a vertical wind powered turbine system and I'm have trouble finding a small, cheap generator/alternator to use. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[mgb_phys]

If you want to build something that works - rather than a science fair project check out these http://www.otherpower.com/
They discuss why you should make your own generator from Volvo wheel hubs and wind your own coils!

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'm not sure if this is too small, but any 12 volt DC motor from a car should work in reverse as a DC generator. These might be the motors that run the windshield wipers or those that operate the windows. The good thing about them is that they're already perfect for charging a 12 volt battery.

I have one I picked up at a swap meet. It has a large speed reduction through a worm gear. To use it as a generator that worm gear would have to be removed and some other means of gearing it up arrived at.

Most vertical axis wind mills are high torque/low speed and you need to arrange your gears or pulleys such that the generator is running at much higher RPMs than the windmill rotor. The slower the rotor, the more torque the wind applies to it.

 

[pantaz]

Define "small" and "cheap".

 

[Astronuc]

Hi,

I'm trying to build a vertical wind powered turbine system and I'm have trouble finding a small, cheap generator/alternator to use. Does anyone have any suggestions?

What power level 1 kW, 10 kW, . . .?

 

[goober2906]

Small, as in under a foot diameter, cheap as in less than $50 dollars.

1kW or less. nothing extravagant. Its for a small wind turbine to be used for airspeeds of less than 15mph.

Thanks!