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Originally posted by hotrodturbo7
Best place on the interweb for homebrew power is OTHERPOWER
Originally posted by hotrodturbo7
Best place on the interweb for homebrew power is OTHERPOWER
Originally posted by dodadoom
In my estimation, on average, from 30 to 70 thousand total cost depending
on different factors to power an entire house. The hard part is providing the 220 power for water heater, stove, etc.
Originally posted by citizen smith
reply to post by severdsoul
May I direct you to this Otherpower page, as it seems to answer that question fully.
Basically, what you gain in mechanical advantage by gearing up the car alternator to operate at an RPM to generate power, you equaly lose those gains in friction and other inefficiencies. If you have access to a hydro source with a decent head of water, then it may work, as water power will generate far more torque than wind power, so the mechanical gearing losses at the generator-head are are far less critical
This is where Hugh Piggott's 'Axial Flux' design excels...it can be designed to suit a low RPM wind current, voltage of power supply to the inverter or any other factor that will be the main influence of the design.
If you have a limited budget of $500 then I'd suggest abandoning the vehicle alternator route, and go either axial-flux or treadmill motor.
You can pick up brandnew DC treadmill motors for $30-40 apeice, the batteries, perhaps $200 max for a decent supply capacity (as you will need spare power-draw ability on no-wind days but without slimming down electrical demand), $100 max for an inverter, and the remaining $150 for cabling, charge controller, and otehr materials, such as wooden planks for blade blanks that can be carved by hand.
An entire set up for just as much as you are prepared to spend on the powerplant alone!
[edit on 9-4-2009 by citizen smith]