Our New Wind Turbine Mast

[spencyg]

Here is a snap shot of that quick change hub I designed for the Air-X. The back part of the hub stays with the Air-X, while the front plate releases with a hand knob which then allows the 3 blades to be easily and quickly removed for storage.

Would certainly alleviate the need for a gigantic roof box...

Spence

 

[chris_the_wrench]

Does it require air pressure to stay up? If there is a small air leak does it slowly lower or is there a mechanical lock when it's extended?

-Chris

 

[Geronimo]

I have an old Army surplus antenna mast that is similar to this. It will not hold pressure as the leather seals are ruined. it goes up about 30' and folds down to about 6'. I tried to get some seals made but the quotes were nearly $300, so I passed. A 20' or taller antenna mast would be a popular thing with us Off-road racers. The ability to stand a mast in a few minutes would be awesome. Just putting out another use for a system like this. Oh and the military version requires a steady low psi to hold it up and the Ringo's we use in Mexico only weigh a few pounds.

 

[Oni]

Pat

Question on the turbine. Very interesting and clean system you have. Out of curiosity I looked up Air X Turbine and reading through the site says it cannot be used with a charge controller as it would read as an open circuit to the turbine due to the diodes.

How do you prevent overcharging the batteries with the turbine? It mentioned an internal controller, does that handle the the task of a charge controller...and can both solar and turbine be connected to the same battery or battery bank?

Very cool design you have!

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

Does it require air pressure to stay up? If there is a small air leak does it slowly lower or is there a mechanical lock when it's extended?

-Chris

Hey Chris, the air pressure brings it up to the top position, then I slide a hitch pin through a hole that is drilled at the top of the cylinder. This keeps it from sliding back down if it were to ever lose pressure.

When we first got it, I put it up with the turbine on top of the mast without the blades on incase it was to come down I didnt want the blades hitting the roof of the camper.

I left it up for a few days and it never moved an inch, so I'm thinking the seals are pretty good.

Pat

Question on the turbine. Very interesting and clean system you have. Out of curiosity I looked up Air X Turbine and reading through the site says it cannot be used with a charge controller as it would read as an open circuit to the turbine due to the diodes.

How do you prevent overcharging the batteries with the turbine? It mentioned an internal controller, does that handle the the task of a charge controller...and can both solar and turbine be connected to the same battery or battery bank?

Oni, I'm not electrical expert so dont quote me on this, but this is what I was told by the folks who installed it and the multiple turbine companies I spoke with while doing research on this.

You are correct that the Air X cannot be used with a Charge Controller as the Air X has its own built in to the head of the Turbine.

I have mine hooked directly to the batteries by-passing the charge controller that the solar panels are wired into.

I've noticed on a very sunny day that also has wind, something we have alot of here on the Gulf Coast in the winter, the solar panels will just shut themselves off and let the turbine do it's work. If the wind stops and the batteries drop off of full charge, the charge controller hooked to the panels will turn them back on and start charging our bank of batteries.

When it's sunny and windy, I switch on the 2000watt inverter and run the refrigerator off the electric from the inverter. This saves in propane since the fridge is a dual power unit.

Hope that answers your question

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

Here is a snap shot of that quick change hub I designed for the Air-X. The back part of the hub stays with the Air-X, while the front plate releases with a hand knob which then allows the 3 blades to be easily and quickly removed for storage.

Would certainly alleviate the need for a gigantic roof box...

Spence

Hey Spence, how much are these? I'd be interested in trying one out to see how they work and if they speed up the process.

Being as we're parked along a main road, I have a few people that stop each week just to ask questions about the mast and turbine. I'm thinking if I could quick release the blades and show them how easy it was to take the whole thing down and put it back up, it would be one smooth operation

 

[chris_the_wrench]

If anyone is interested here is a link to a file for building your own wind generator out of an old motor, and using pvc tubing for the blades. I've built a couple of these that have worked quite well from old treadmill motors I have gotten from work. I've been contemplating ways, similar to this thread, to attach it to my camper and elevate it.



-Chris

 

[nbleak21]

If anyone is interested here is a link to a file for building your own wind generator out of an old motor, and using pvc tubing for the blades. I've built a couple of these that have worked quite well from old treadmill motors I have gotten from work. I've been contemplating ways, similar to this thread, to attach it to my camper and elevate it.



-Chris

That is outstanding! will definitely be looking at doing something similar to this in the future!

 

[Oni]

Oni, I'm not electrical expert so dont quote me on this, but this is what I was told by the folks who installed it and the multiple turbine companies I spoke with while doing research on this.

You are correct that the Air X cannot be used with a Charge Controller as the Air X has its own built in to the head of the Turbine.

I have mine hooked directly to the batteries by-passing the charge controller that the solar panels are wired into.

I've noticed on a very sunny day that also has wind, something we have alot of here on the Gulf Coast in the winter, the solar panels will just shut themselves off and let the turbine do it's work. If the wind stops and the batteries drop off of full charge, the charge controller hooked to the panels will turn them back on and start charging our bank of batteries.

When it's sunny and windy, I switch on the 2000watt inverter and run the refrigerator off the electric from the inverter. This saves in propane since the fridge is a dual power unit.

Hope that answers your question

Thanks Pat.

Very cool set up! Now I have another thing to investigate further! Thanks for sharing your build!

Mark