Thanks to Dave for pointing me here; if I have chosen the wrong forum I trust that a moderator will move the thread to where it should be.
A introduction to me in the form of a fluid set of pages is at http://www.chrisgreaves.com/12vDC/
My first of twenty-nine projects is to build a minimalist ("small cost") application of wind-power.
(1) This Vertical Wind Turbine is available from Amazon. Rated Power: 0.55 W Output Voltage: 0.01V~5.5 V Output Current: 0.01mA~100mA. At under $20 the price is right; there are many different models. The voltage will not charge a 12vDC car battery – that comes later – but I thought that I could recharge some AA/AAA rechargeable cells. I have a dozen or so rechargeables tucked away somewhere.
(2) A typical AA rechargeable cell is labeled 1400mAh, Nickel Hydride, 1.2v.
(3) I have purchased an entry-level multi-meter from Canadian Tire
(4) I have purchased a Reactor 28 + 4 LED Double Sided Work Light (model 3646-428). In theory at $4 I can cannibalize this for LED lights. (There are five more flashlights in stock just two hundred yards from my home!)
At this point if I blow up everything except myself then my dollar losses can be borne! Air-borne even!
I have not yet ordered the turbine but am ready to do so. The link above leads to several turbines under $20. I can/will buy the one best suited to my task.
The product of this first application should be:-
(1) A vertical-axis wind turbine mounted on the wooden rail of my porch.
(2) Wire connecting the turbine to a hand-built recharger cradle.
(3) The recharger cradle holds as many cells as I am allowed.
(4) Wire leading from the rechargeable batteries to one or more LED bulbs.
The effect of this application should be that people walking by 244/7 will exclaim "How brilliant is Chris!", and ask me about 12vDC power from wind power.
Questions:-
(1) Is this project doable once I work out voltages, amperages etc. Timing is not an issue. If I can recharge only one cell per day I can live with that. My aim is to have a little light burning 24/7 from the wind source. (Bonavista is Windy!)
(2) Is this project doable with a vertical axis wind turbine under $20 – that is, the educational style of toy.
(3) My vague understanding is that the voltage output by a wind turbine is a function of the wind speed. Is this so?
(4) My understanding is that rechargeable batteries can be damaged by overcharging. I can cope with that by playing with my multi-meter on an hourly basis during the day.
(5) 1,400mAh means in theory I can burn 1.4 amps current but only for an hour. It means too that in theory I can burn 100 milli-amps for fourteen hours – but there is probably a sine curve somewhere that tells me "after ten hours there will be too little light for your 74-year old eyes to detect"
(6) If I have to separate charged batteries powering an LED light from batteries being recharged, I can live with that for now.
This LED/1.2vDC project can be thought of as "Stage 0". My next step will be to move to a 12vDC car battery as a reservoir, a more powerful turbine, and a 12vDC light/lamp. Call that "Stage 1". I reasoned that I am better off burning up $20 while I grasp the concepts of voltage, amperage, wattage etc and play with my multi-meter on the toy turbine.
Thank you in advance for just being here and, I hope, for a few pointers.
Chris
A introduction to me in the form of a fluid set of pages is at http://www.chrisgreaves.com/12vDC/
My first of twenty-nine projects is to build a minimalist ("small cost") application of wind-power.
(1) This Vertical Wind Turbine is available from Amazon. Rated Power: 0.55 W Output Voltage: 0.01V~5.5 V Output Current: 0.01mA~100mA. At under $20 the price is right; there are many different models. The voltage will not charge a 12vDC car battery – that comes later – but I thought that I could recharge some AA/AAA rechargeable cells. I have a dozen or so rechargeables tucked away somewhere.
(2) A typical AA rechargeable cell is labeled 1400mAh, Nickel Hydride, 1.2v.
(3) I have purchased an entry-level multi-meter from Canadian Tire
(4) I have purchased a Reactor 28 + 4 LED Double Sided Work Light (model 3646-428). In theory at $4 I can cannibalize this for LED lights. (There are five more flashlights in stock just two hundred yards from my home!)
At this point if I blow up everything except myself then my dollar losses can be borne! Air-borne even!
I have not yet ordered the turbine but am ready to do so. The link above leads to several turbines under $20. I can/will buy the one best suited to my task.
The product of this first application should be:-
(1) A vertical-axis wind turbine mounted on the wooden rail of my porch.
(2) Wire connecting the turbine to a hand-built recharger cradle.
(3) The recharger cradle holds as many cells as I am allowed.
(4) Wire leading from the rechargeable batteries to one or more LED bulbs.
The effect of this application should be that people walking by 244/7 will exclaim "How brilliant is Chris!", and ask me about 12vDC power from wind power.
Questions:-
(1) Is this project doable once I work out voltages, amperages etc. Timing is not an issue. If I can recharge only one cell per day I can live with that. My aim is to have a little light burning 24/7 from the wind source. (Bonavista is Windy!)
(2) Is this project doable with a vertical axis wind turbine under $20 – that is, the educational style of toy.
(3) My vague understanding is that the voltage output by a wind turbine is a function of the wind speed. Is this so?
(4) My understanding is that rechargeable batteries can be damaged by overcharging. I can cope with that by playing with my multi-meter on an hourly basis during the day.
(5) 1,400mAh means in theory I can burn 1.4 amps current but only for an hour. It means too that in theory I can burn 100 milli-amps for fourteen hours – but there is probably a sine curve somewhere that tells me "after ten hours there will be too little light for your 74-year old eyes to detect"
(6) If I have to separate charged batteries powering an LED light from batteries being recharged, I can live with that for now.
This LED/1.2vDC project can be thought of as "Stage 0". My next step will be to move to a 12vDC car battery as a reservoir, a more powerful turbine, and a 12vDC light/lamp. Call that "Stage 1". I reasoned that I am better off burning up $20 while I grasp the concepts of voltage, amperage, wattage etc and play with my multi-meter on the toy turbine.
Thank you in advance for just being here and, I hope, for a few pointers.
Chris