New Supper Amp ..... I wired it temporary straight to the dump load from rectifier to hold it in high winds because I didn't trust the brake to hold it without burning out . It was very quiet with only a very slight swosh sound from the blades , but after I wired it to the battery bank later it is making a kind of rattling noise sounds like some one rolling a ball bearing in a tin can . it's not suppose to sound like that is it ? ... it works very well, really puts out the amps but it making that noise . should I take it down and check the bearings ? It's only been up a month.
Up date .... O k I lowered the tower and found it was a bad bearing . I thought they were supposed to last 7 to 10 years . it has rust stains coming out from around the shaft down the front of the alternator and dripping splattering down on the tower . .... Is there anybody out there ? coming to this forum is like going to a funeral , I don't remember it being like that here a few years ago .
Ok I got the old bearings out , the rear one seams fine undamaged but I'm going to replace it any way sense I have it apart . How can I keep rain from getting in the new bearing like it did the original there is no oil seal to keep rain out ?
I think most are moving away from wind due to the maintenance required. Also it is far cheaper now to setup a large solar array then a comparable turbine and the maintenance is far less. Even Windy Nation appears to be moving away from turbines I'd try a piece of thick rubber placed on top and held in place with some nylon ties to keep water out. Maybe from a large tire inner tube. You may even be able to make an oil seal with a piece of rubber. Just throwing out Ideas as I don't have a turbine.
Thank's Tuicemen, I got the wind turbine to supplement my solar on those long cloudy spells in the winter and its fun playing with it . I have a tilt up / down rohn 25 tower so maintenance is not a problem as long as the wind is calm . I mounted a winch on a 20' gin pole so I can let it up/down by my self, it's at 55' . It's also way more fun to watch than the solar tracker. I replaced both bearings while I had it apart . the rear one was fine but I changed it any way . I was disappointed to see there was no oil seal or a place for one to keep the water out in the front . I have the alternator back together and ready but I got an oil seal I'm going to try to glue/calk some how to the outside front of the alternator . if that doesn't work then I'll try something else . I hate to see WN stop selling these and loose out to a used car parts guy in Missouri , Thats a true shame . I guess I need to buy an extra set of blades for backup if I can still get them . I am very pleased with this alternator and wind furling system with the exception of no seal but thats fixable . I do hope to be able to buy blades and stuff from them in the future .
I am not sure if it has a weep hole or not. If it does make sure it is on the bottom. If not you might want to put one in. If it is too tight it will suck in water when expanding and contracting. due to temp change. When I had mine I was going to go to a tractor place and look for a flanged plate with a seal in it that would fit. Then screw and silicone it down. I try to check once week here for new posts. Work 6 days a week and do not have much time. Also most guys move on after they fix their problems. There was alot of info posted in the early days so I think we get fewer questions now too.
I epoxy a 1 1/4' washer to the front as a spacer then put the oil seal on that and caulked around it to keep it from spinning . it seams to work . I was going to tilt it back up today but the wind is gusting to 16 mph so I will wait . it's suppose to be 20 to 35 mph tomorrow I may have to wait several days far another calm wind day .
Thanks Its doing good so far and its been raining 2.o9" also has American made bearings and seal now.
Up date .... It's still working with no water getting in but the oil seal has slowed it down , it's only making half the power it did before . Guess ill remove the oil seal take the cover back off and pack it with thick grease in front of the bearing and see how it does . It may be that the original bearing was a factory defect and now the new American bearing will stay dry .... we will see .
March and April tend to be the windiest months here. I'm wondering if maybe your turbine is furling more thus the decrease in power. I don't think you've given it enough time running to do a power production comparison. But that's just my thoughts.
It's been very windy here the last two weeks or so 15 to 38 mph and 10 to 30 mph day and night . I have an anemometer with my weather station and before even with the bad bearing at 15 mph output was 12 to 16 amps at 20 mph it was 20 to 22 amps at 30mph it was 45 to 48 amps . Now with the oil seal at 31 mph amp output is below 20 amps . it still furls at 31 mph though . I have watched it furl 7 or 8 times and not get past 15 amps . So my thoughts are the oil seal is to tight on the shaft .
Since you have been monitoring the wind speed and amp out put you may be right in your assumption. If the wind speed required to start generating power has also changed (increased) I would tend to agree to test without the oil seal.
