Does any one have any experience with raptor blades generation 4? I am looking to going to a 5 blade set up and am looking for an inexpensive option. I ran across raptor blades and hub for $100 and just wonder if its worth it.
It depends. They seem to work decently on 100-250 Watt car alternators in areas that get extremely high winds. Those blades lack torque and from all the video footage I have seen, their low to moderate wind power production performance is unimpressive. I believe Larry had a set and he put them in the garbage. Maybe he still has them and you can get them for free? What kind of alternator do you have. It is much easier to recommend blades if we know what you are trying turn.
Thanks. That's what I thought but was wanting to go to 5 blades for better low wind production. I have a ARI wind turbine very similar to the windmax. I may just have to try to custom make a hub and add two more of the factory blades. Most winds here at my location are under 15 mph but i do get some high winds ( 40mph ) so looking to find a nice happy medium.
You can buy a set of 5 Wind max blades and hub from Wind max (magnetsforless.com) ask for Max. I have a set of WN 5 blade on my 600 HY Windmax to replace the 3 stock blades, they work fantastic. I may have sacraficed top end production going from 3 to 5 but all i care about is constant watts. Not bragging rights. I use the heavier hub from WN too with my set up. Josh set me up with a 16mm hub and i have not look back since. Those black sword blads are for very high RPM. Your turbine will suffer tourque if you use them as well as un foreseen frustration. I recommend the 5 Windmax blades or the 5 WN blades (smaller set). Yes, I threw out or sold everything and anything to do with car pma's and 12v systems.
Thanks guys. I really appreciate all of your wisdom and help. So the hub weight increases the ? I am guessing that it help maintain speed in inconsistent winds. So could you just add weight to the stock hub (as long as it stays balanced)
My advice is to keep it simple. Don't over complicate things by adding weight, subracting weight etc. Its not worth your time and energy. The only reason you should do stuff like that is if you get enjoyment out of conducting experiments, which many people do (And for all of us who enjoy conducting experiments, we know nearly all experiments fail but we always learn something from those failures.) If you are after more power in low wind, just keep it simple and switch to a 5-blade system. The increase in low wind performance is primarily due to the increased start up torque provided by the two extra blades.
.... Or raise your tower height by 10-20 feet. You could accomplish the same result by getting your turbine to a height where there is more wind available if this is an option for you.
I agree but I always assumed that the reason that these types of blades bend was to intentionally change the aeodynamics of the blades in very high winds so to slow them down and prevent damage such as the "Air X" which has no furling mechinism. Any comments?
I think the AirX blades are made from glass impregnated UV resistant nylon resin which is very strong and also one of the more expensive polymers to purchase (I believe Dupont makes this polymer). Also, the glass in the nylon is very hard and abrasive. This leads to wearing of the mold used to make the blades and the mold must be re-conditioned every so many blades. This is also expensive. The end result is a stronger and more expensive blade. Probably about double to triple the cost of a Raptor Blade. I am not sure what the Raptor Blades are made of but if I had to guess, I would say a cheap polycarbonate with a weak modulus of elasticity. That's my best guess because I have never seen/touched/tested a Raptor Blade.
