Author Archives: hugh

About hugh

I live off-grid in NW Scotland and have spent my life playing with wind turbines. I also love small hydros. Hands on renewable energy is my thing and I like to learn and to share my experiences.

Scoraig wind turbines performance measurement summary

Posted on 18/12/2015 by hugh

Between 2012 and 2014 Jon Sumanik-Leary and I did some performance measurements on wind turbines here at Scoraig, using Logic Energy mobile logging systems.  Jon has finally completed the processing of the results and sent me some exciting curves. There is a … Continue reading →

Posted in performance, power curve data, Scoraig | Leave a comment

Short Term Contract Opportunity: Market Assessment Research Assistant/Instructor

Posted on 08/12/2015 by hugh

Wind Empowerment have been contracted by the Scottish Government to carry out a market assessment for small wind turbines in Malawi in partnership with Community Energy Malawi. This will be carried out between December 2015 and March 2016 and will … Continue reading →

Posted in developing world | Leave a comment

Adopt a turbine!

Posted on 25/11/2015 by hugh

If you’d like a homebuilt wind turbine but can’t find time to build one then you might consider adopting one built in a workshop course?  V3Power are offering several wind turbines and parts on this basis here.  

Posted in construction, People, products/technical, UK small wind scene | Leave a comment

Build your own windmill workshop course on Scoraig April 23rd 2016

Posted on 25/11/2015 by hugh

I am planning to hold a course here on Scoraig in April.  We’ll build and test a wind turbine as usual.  Accommodation is provided from Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th April 2016.  These will be the arrival and departure days.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in courses, my own projects, Scoraig | 6 Comments

My electricity supply here

Posted on 24/11/2015 by hugh

I don’t write enough about what goes on here at home on Scoraig so here is a run down on where my electricity comes from. I have two windmills and a collection of solar PV panels.  800 Ah Rolls 4000-series … Continue reading →

Posted in my own projects, Scoraig, wind systems tutorial | 8 Comments

free KD-reports

Posted on 18/11/2015 by hugh

Adriaan Kragten writes: As I am retired for some years now, I no longer need income from selling my KD-reports about small wind turbines. So I have decided that from now on all my public KD-reports can be copied for … Continue reading →

Posted in Adriaan Kragten, Books, construction, People | Leave a comment

Nice CAD model of 4200 blade

Posted on 31/10/2015 by hugh

“Hello Hugh. My name is Josue (Joshua if it is easier for you). I live in Colombia, South America. I would like to share this file we made for the 4200 blades. This is the Adobe 3D version. (You’ll need … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, People | 14 Comments

Lifting handle for the magnet rotor

Posted on 12/10/2015 by hugh

I never like lifting magnet rotors into the mould.  The rotor for the 4F is very heavy, having 20 big ferrite magnets on a 50 cm disk. So I made a handle to lift it.  I had to make two … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, ferrite magnets, my own projects | 3 Comments

Homebrew stuff for sale

Posted on 18/09/2015 by hugh

John Gambill has some useful stuff for homebrew wind for sale.  He lives at Hotwire Enterprises 102 W. Fulton St. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, USA (727) 943-0424 He has diversion loads and blocking diodes and some low power Chinese alternators … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, People, products/technical | 1 Comment

webcam view from tail

Posted on 15/09/2015 by hugh

This turbine is based on my design although it owes a lot to the Otherpower book too.  You could say via the otherpower book.   Nice video.

Posted in construction, Video links | 1 Comment