Took about a month to build. Using a servo 180v 3000rpm motor. rated at 1.2 kw. Got a set of those 505 by 5 blades on it. they run real quite and start making some power and about 8mph. it is sitting in a 3ft tripod and using a 1 1/4 pipe. one of the hardest things was standing it up it is only ten foot pole but the turbine is about 40lbs and on the peak on a steal roof.
Re: Urbun Turbine Looks great! Do you have problems with vibration? Everything I read says it's a bad idea to mount them on a roof but I'm still tossing the idea around. Surely there's a way to dampen the vibration. Not like I'm mounting a 10kw monster up there. Also, it's a bit different but what about those 6 ceiling fans hanging in my house?! As long as it's well balanced I would think it's feasible. For me a roof mount is not a "free standing structure" and opens a loop hole for installation in my area .
Re: Urbun Turbine I would think that a turbine that size would not cause too much vibration when mounted to a house. Of course, it has to be securely fastened and properly mounted. I have read that some companies have had success with mounting up to 2.5 kW turbines on the top of cement and steel structured buildings (Wood is not so good for larger turbines as it will vibrate more easily.) But, CoolZilla will be able to answer this question better than me.
I see there are of questions on vibration being that the turbine is mounted to the roof, Well this is the best that i can explain . I have already experience some high winds about 45 mph now i did see some vibration on the tail and some flexing in the mast. Nothing was heard inside my home now during normal winds like 10 to 20 mph there is no vibration at all. I have been up there many times in a good wind hanging onto the mast and have felt nothing. Now grant you this is a good size servo with a 3/4 shaft and the motor is about a foot long i think is accounting for the stability. Also the blades are perfectly balanced these blades were worth the investment the only work that needed to be done was adapting to the 3/4 motor shaft. Oh yes let me tell you before i built this turbine i had bought one of those PVC turbines wish i would have took pic's of its self-destruction I had found blades nearly 200ft from the crash sight!
Re: Urbun Turbine (PVC blades) PVC blades are actually decent for low wind areas. I have some mounted in an area that never sees wind above 15 mph. The site is located in a valley with lot of trees higher than the turbine. It is still up and running. I did have some PVC blades on a different turbine which was mounted on a hill next to the valley. It handled about 15 days worth (over a 3 month period) of 20-30 mph winds and then the blades self destructed!!! Once the blades cracked apart, the mill became off balance and was torn apart. I learned my lesson.
Yep know what you are talking about. I live in a close neighborhood and the last thing i wanted to happen was blades flying off the roof! I am just glade that it happen when everyone was at work and got the pieces before they got home. anyway the next thing i am going to do is upgrade the this turbine i have had good luck with it going to push the limits. I have a 5kw generator that will replace the 1.2kw generator. This one is about 10lbs heaver than the on up their now going to put it on next weekend will see what happens???
Ok so i installed the 5kw motor at about 400rpm had a output of 7.8 amps real world this was at 15 mph and the batteries where at 65%. The blades did slow but were cranking out the amps! i do recommend using servo motors although they are cheaper to get a hold of just do your math. Easy way to build a power house i have about $200.00 in the whole thing most of the stuff i just had laying around the house. Invest in good blades and DC motor and plan on your creation standing up to a 70mph wind and your should be ok.
A 5 kW motor! That is pretty damn nice. That is the real deal. I would be interested to know what kind of power you get in 25-30 mph. There is 9 times more power (energy) in 30 mph wind compared to 15 mph wind. You might just see 60 amps if your motor can put out that kind of power. Congratulations - PD PS--Please update power results once you have a windy day!
Well you were right we got some good wind i was waiting for it too. good thing i oversize the wire on this one if i remember right it was a 60ft run and i put #4 wire in. I kept i mind that DC amps are different that AC amps so i knew i be ok. Good thing i did it that way or there would have been a fire. Alright to the beefy part between 25mph and 28mph i was looking with amazement at 47 to 53amps!! it was unreal. It lasted for a good bit and then.... Well i had 6 diodes that were rated at 6amps in parallel and they just couldn't take it. it started as a little smoke and then a flash. And it was over they all burned into. I was scared at this point because i knew i had no load on the turbine and was thinking of over spin! well the blades stayed on and all was good. installed some more diodes don't know what going to handle that kind power.
That is a serious amount of amps. Try bigger (higher amperage rating) diodes. Something around 40 to 80 amps. I find that the little ones wired in series always blow. Have the diodes be able to handle twice the amps of the highest amps you will generate. This is the safe way to do it. Mount the diode on a heatsink. A thin piece of metal (5 x 5 inches) will do fine and you should not have anymore diodes blow in the future. Next time the wind comes up, touch the heatsink to see if it is hot. If it is too hot to touch then you need a bigger heatsink.
Holy Crap CoolZilla! 50 amps! Amazing! If you had wind like that all the time, you could run your whole house with that turbine. But , of course, the wind does not blow 30 mph 24 hrs a day, everyday. Nonetheless, very impressive. PD
Hey everyone Well just a update the Urban Turbine has been doing great, looking winter to see how she holds up. The fall winds are coming in and the leaves are falling off the trees. Looks like more power for me!! Looking like i am going to start a new project on a VAWT i will keep you up to date. if anyone has ideas i am open....
I am interested in seeing your new VAWT. But, everything I have read says that VAWT's do not perform nearly as well as HAWT's.
Yep i know the biggest trouble i am having is a solid design for blades. So many types out there i am all in to the cool factor but also know that is not what makes power. The low wind start-up is also a problem that i am finding to be a big issue. I see a lot of draw-backs to the my plan but there has got to be a build that can be done at home that is workable and can last for years of service. The search is on........
Please tell me more about your nose cone. What is it made from, dimensions, and how does it attach to the shaft? Thanks, Rinconwind
Oh the nose cone Well i look everywhere for one seen a few on e-bay but they were to much, cost that is. so this is what my wife came up with. We went to the pet store and we seen a pet light :lol: . look like a nose cone to us. so we got it for a few bucks! instead of $50.00. took it home and removed the light from it. Then got some plumbers strap and pop riveted two pieces across the wide part of the opening, aligning the holes in the plumbers strap in the center. Then attached it to the center bolt on the shaft of the motor. Wala a nose cone
