Category Archives: products/technical

3.2 or 3.5 meter high voltage direct-drive turbine for use with MidNite Classic 150 controller

Posted on 02/03/2014 by hugh

Chris Olsen has made a nice series of web pages and a video describing how to build a high voltage (48-150VDC) turbine with diameter around 3.2-3.5 metres.  This works nicely with the Midnite Classic controller to charge batteries. More from … Continue reading →

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

“How to” get feed in tariffs with a Powerspout hydro turbine

Posted on 25/01/2014 by hugh

Useful links to understanding how to claim feed-in tariffs in the UK.  These tariffs are available on or off grid, but may be phased out next year 2019. BabyHydro DIY installation guide 2016 with details of how to obtain relevant … Continue reading →

Posted in hydro, products/technical | Leave a comment

Ampair announces exclusive negotiations to acquire Westwind.

Posted on 03/12/2013 by hugh

Ampair, the Dorset-based wind turbine manufacturer, is pleased to announce that it is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Westwind, the Belfast-based wind turbine manufacturer. Ampair, with over 40-years’ experience, is the UK’s oldest manufacturer of wind turbines.  Westwind relocated from … Continue reading →

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

Logic Energy Loggers available cheap

Posted on 02/11/2013 by hugh

I have been using a logic energy mobile logger for monitoring Scoraig wind turbines.  We have produced some good power curve data for the homebrew machines on Scoraig and it’s also great for live monitoring of installations during the teething … Continue reading →

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Big alternator for sale in Canada

Posted on 14/10/2013 by hugh

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ALTERNATOR IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SALE.  CHARLES HAS DECIDED TO USE IT, AFTER ALL.  (Hugh, January 2014) Charles Haynes has built a large ferrite alternator for a project that no longer needs it.  The alternator … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, ferrite magnets, products/technical | 11 Comments

More good articles on Paul Gipe’s web site

Posted on 30/06/2013 by hugh

http://www.wind-works.org/ is Paul Gipe’s site and see more links below. Paul Gipe has published more good stuff on his web site recently about the ‘stuff that doesn’t work’ in the small wind industry today.  It’s a breath of fresh air … Continue reading →

Posted in People, products/technical, Rooftop madness, wind systems tutorial | 1 Comment

The truth about Vertical Axis turbines

Posted on 12/02/2013 by hugh

Paul Gipe has put together an interesting compendium of articles about VAWTs “For whatever reason, many VAWT designers are prone to more hyperbole than most other wind turbine designers. Some claim their turbines will produce at less cost and with … Continue reading →

Posted in People, products/technical | 76 Comments

Power curve measurements on Scoraig

Posted on 23/12/2012 by hugh

Together with Jon Sumanik-Leary (E-Futures PhD Student at University of Sheffield) we’ve been measuring the power/windspeed performance of some of the turbines on Scoraig.  The results aren’t always what I expect but they are interesting.  There’s an article about it … Continue reading →

Posted in People, products/technical, Scoraig | 2 Comments

More new ideas from Chris Olsen

Posted on 22/12/2012 by hugh

Chris Olsen has taken a new turn in his wind turbine experiments and built a direct drive neo magnet machine for use with the Midnite Classic controller. Older stuff by Chris includes a gallery showing how to cut out a … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, People, products/technical | 9 Comments

LDR load control circuit update

Posted on 13/10/2012 by hugh

Francis Greaves in Ireland sent me this updated diagram of his system that uses two LDR controllers for a heating system plus the over-voltage trip that I designed for him.  More about how to use the LDR controllers from Solar … Continue reading →

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