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Low RPM Generators
Most generators and alternators (like off of a car) need to revolve at around 1800 rpm (that is they have to make 1800 revolutions per minute in order to generate power) and it is often difficult to get a third of that speed with most homemade wind, water or other sources.
Overview: Comparison of Alternators and Generators
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Since the difficulty with most generators is that you have to turn them too fast before they start generating power these low RPM ones are neat because they put out power at low rpm and so will work with a bicycle, a low head water source, or lower wind power.
The low RPM generators will start generating power at around 100 rpm and remain efficient up to about 600 rpm. Their "sweet spot" is often around 400 rpm but it will vary from generator to generator.
This is a SEALED mirrored site that won't be opened until after The Great Catastrophe. This and the link following give more information about building wooden generators. Much of the information is available through the open links.
This is a SEALED mirrored site that won't be opened until after The Great Catastrophe. The reason that they are mirrored here is that hopefully this way the information will be available later - even if the open links no longer are. Special plans are being made to protect to protect these pages and to distribute them afterwards.
Brakedrum: Use the brakedrum off an old pickup truck to make a low RPM generator!
Although the literature says these brakedrum generators are easy to make, we made ten of them and found it a considerable challenge. Nevertheless, they all worked reliably and are very durable.
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There seems to be a trend away from brakedrums to disks. Talking with Hugh Piggot, he tells me that he is writing a new book on this subject.
Disk 1: Forcefield Low RPM Disk Alternator
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Disk 2: Making a Volvo Front Brake Disk into a Generator
More details from the same source - on the same idea.
This is the SEALED mirrored version of this site that won't be opened until after The Great Catastrophe.
Some wind generator designs can be put together very quickly. You can carve less elegant blade designs in an hour or two. Some motors can be used as generators. People have gone out and stuck their wind generators up on top of a hydro pole that is not being used. Hopefully the need is only temporary anyhow, until a more permanent source of electricty is re-established.
These may not produce so much electricity as a metal based generator and may be not as durable but they may be more accessible for one of the main components.
SEALED: Wood Axe
(SEALED) This one is particularly fast to build. Even if you don't build it you should study this one because the pictures and explanation by Force Field are so excellent.
This is this SEALED mirrored site that won't be opened until after The Great Catastrophe. This and the two sealed links following give more information about building wooden generators. Much of the information is available through other open links.
SEALED: Homebrew Windgenerator
(SEALED)
This is a SEALED mirrored site that won't be opened until after The Great Catastrophe. Much of the information is available through other open links.
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These are 49 mirrored pages of plans in .pdf format are ones that you can download and print off NOW. While you may not build this unit - you should definitely study these plans from Hugh Piggot because they give you details on many subjects such as how to build a coiler, the winding of a coil and how to wire the coils together. | |
This is a SEALED mirrored site that won't be opened until after The Great Catastrophe. Much of the information is available through other open links.
On-line Info: Lots of info on build it yourself windmills
This is a link to Hugh Piggot's website. Hugh lives in Scotland. This is probably the world's most authoritative source for build it yourself windmills. For those who look into it ahead of time they can get Hugh's book. We also have a .pdf file from Hugh (available on our low rpm generators page) - that gives LOTS of details.
This is a link to Bob Budd's website. Bob has built lots of Hugh Piggot's brakedrum windmills, and he has put out a superb video on how to do it. I have watched the video many, many times with many people and have talked with Bob tens of times, and have gone to visit him and see his windmills in the process of our building ten generators ourselves.
Microwave Oven: Making a Microwave Oven into a Generator
This is a particularly neat idea and there are lots of neat ideas at the Windstuff Now site.
This is the SEALED mirrored version of this site that won't be opened until after The Great Catastrophe.
Experiment: Testing your theories
Here are some experiments done by another individual developing a low rpm generator. It is an example of the kind of approach that you may wish to take.
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