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.

Jon Leary’s performance study of Scoraig wind turbines published

Posted on 08/07/2020 by hugh

The long awaited final version of Jon’s study based on data he collected here in 2012-2014 has finally been published and is free to read or download here courtesy of Wind Engineering. An important conclusion is the the table in … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, my own projects, performance, power curve data, Scoraig | Leave a comment

PowerSpout price increase

Posted on 25/03/2020 by hugh

PowerSpout plan to increase prices of their hydro turbines and associated gear by approximately 15% on 1st April. This will be the first rise in several years. At present exchange rates, a turbine costs approximately £1190 with an additional £150 … Continue reading →

Posted in hydro, PowerSpout hydro turbines, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

more from Adriaan

Posted on 14/10/2019 by hugh

Dear Hugh Recently I have written two new reports about small PM-generators which make use of the housing of an asynchronous motor frame size 80 and four neodymium magnets size 80 * 20 * 10 mm. Report KD 681 describes … Continue reading →

Posted in Adriaan Kragten, construction | 1 Comment

Greg Gibbes hydro turbines using axial flux alternators

Posted on 19/09/2019 by hugh

Greg sent me some photos of the hydros he is building using axial flux alternators to provide direct single-phase AC for sites in Papua, Indonesia. Here is some information. Greg’s email is [email protected] These are single phase units, 240VAC, 50Hz. … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, developing world, People, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Bench testing of Kragten axial alternator

Posted on 15/08/2019 by hugh

Adriaan Kragten has tested one of his small alternator designs and published results showing it is compatible with a 1.02m diameter rotor for a low power wind turbine. A new chapter 6, “Generator measurements”, has been added to public report … Continue reading →

Posted in Adriaan Kragten | 1 Comment

Arduino-based controller project for the recipe 1800 turbine

Posted on 21/07/2019 by hugh

Philippe wrote to me with this link: Hi, I have my own Piggott wind turbine for 2 years, a 180cm 350W. I had some trouble about the way a regulator adapts energy to a battery charger or a injector. So … Continue reading →

Posted in construction | Leave a comment

Workshop in Enniskeen Co Cork

Posted on 11/07/2019 by hugh
Posted in construction, courses | 1 Comment

Alternative winding for K645 stator

Posted on 16/06/2019 by hugh

Adriaan writes: “I have added a new chapter 6 to report KD 645 in which a 10-pole PM-generator is described using the housing and shaft of an asynchronous motor frame size 80. This generator has a stator with no iron … Continue reading →

Posted in Adriaan Kragten | Leave a comment

Wind turbine building in the UK in October

Posted on 08/06/2019 by hugh

Jonathan Schreiber is coming to the UK in October to teach a workshop based on my 2F design.

Posted in construction, courses | Leave a comment

Bill’s perspective on domestic grid-connected hydro payback

Posted on 25/05/2019 by hugh

Being off the grid I don’t need to worry so much about “payback” since I do not pay for mains electricity in the first place and the payback to me is immensely more than cutting my running costs. But I … Continue reading →

Posted in hydro | Leave a comment