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.

International wind turbine builders’ forum

Posted on 22/02/2012 by hugh

The Windempowerment web page has settled into a good stride, with interesting posts and lots of reference tools such as the World Map, Calendar and Member Organizations pages. The forum is also worth watching for the latest questions and discussions … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, developing world | 2 Comments

Some new web pages for homebrew windpower

Posted on 11/02/2012 by hugh

Here are some pages that are new, or at least some are new to me.  There are a lot more links on my old scoraigwind.com page. Otherpower have a new page and a new web shop here.  Also buckville.com is … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, People, products/technical | Leave a comment

Engineers Without Borders conference small wind session video

Posted on 31/01/2012 by hugh

I went to Birmingham on 28th to meet EWB and to share experiences about using small wind turbines for international development work (and for having fun).  Lots of good chat.  This was the launch of their national small wind community … Continue reading →

Posted in developing world, People, UK small wind scene, Video links | 1 Comment

Workshop Course on Scoraig in May

Posted on 28/01/2012 by hugh

WHAT A hands-on wind turbine building workshop with Hugh Piggott.  These courses have been held since 2001, with small groups around 5-8 people building a wind turbine over a period of six days and testing it.  Activities include carving blades … Continue reading →

Posted in courses, Notices, Scoraig | 5 Comments

Inventor Doug Selsam

Posted on 27/01/2012 by hugh

This one is for inventors.  I mostly do not have time for them because they think they have got something new and I know they have just reinvented something old that never could work.  Doug’s inventions will probably never work … Continue reading →

Posted in People, products/technical, Video links | 1 Comment

Simple tower

Posted on 18/01/2012 by hugh

Thanks to Jan Wolstenholme (on an Irish coastal site) for this ultra simple tower design for those with very open, high wind sites and plenty of scaffold pipe. “The main tetrahedron is made of  six poles which are two scaffold … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, People, wind systems tutorial | 9 Comments

Completísimo manual para el autoconstructor de equipos de energía eólica

Posted on 08/01/2012 by hugh

Thanks to John Furze in Denmark I found this lovely manual for building small wind turbines  “Energia Eolica” – Juan Ignacio and Sebastian Urquia Lus, published in 1982. You can download it here Unfortunately I don’t know Spanish so I … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, construction | 2 Comments

All readings are based on open current voltage and shorted load

Posted on 03/01/2012 by hugh

This is just a word of warning for those who are thinking of buying modified car alternators from http://www.hurricanewindpower.com/ or http://www.prestowind.com/ —-             I did have rather a nice photo of some alternators and parts here but Tim at Presto asked me … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, products/technical, Rooftop madness | 17 Comments

Grid connected homebrew wind turbines

Posted on 01/01/2012 by hugh

In response to a comment from Michael Jones I am posting a brief note about grid connection of homebrew wind turbines of my Recipe designs. The turbine output voltage depends on both the rpm and number of turns in the … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, products/technical, wind systems tutorial | 13 Comments

Chain driven turbine with Classic controller

Posted on 29/12/2011 by hugh

Chris Olsen’s latest project involves a Classic 150 controller connected to an alternator that is gear driven from 3.2m diameter blades.  The gear ratio is 1:2.5 up ratio. It’s a single-stator with 3-phase star connected windings this time.  The ferrite … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, ferrite magnets | 5 Comments