VAWT09 - New Ceiling Fan Generator

See the entire project at http://calebeng.weebly.com
A new set of magnets is installed in the ceiling fan motor. This video shows the characteristics of the generator; output waveform, AC output voltage vs rotational speed, and cogging torque.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Vertical
• axis
• wind
• turbine
• generator
• ceiling
• fan
• permanent
• magnet
• VAWT

[wtam69]

Have you given up on this project? I'm tempted to buy the ceiling fan to experiment since it's so cheap. Will the NN, SS magnet position work?

[Caleb6543]

@wtam69 There were two things wrong with the generator (at least as far as using it for a vertical axis wind turbine); the wire was so fine that it would not produce a lot of current and there was some significant cogging. I decided to drop the project. Although, I'm still kicking around the idea of replacing the insides of a ceiling fan motor with an air-core generator - just using the fan housing. Right now, I've got some other projects going on. :-)

[rcarter57]

Could you have doubled your anp out put buy using 32 magnets instead of 16? I think I have the same motor and was planning on using 32 magnets. This will make it tight getting the case screw through but I think it will work with a .375 inch dia magnet.

[Caleb6543]

@rcarter57 My guess is no. With just 16 coils, putting 32 may have one magnet cancelling the field of the next. Of course, the proof is in the pudding; feel free to try it. Another thought is to put the magnets in a N-N-S-S-N-N ... pattern.

[toedust2]

i have purchased a ceiling fan motor from the local dump trash and treasure to do the same thing. however this motor is quite different to the one u have. it has provision for 32 coils but that means there would have to be 4 phases and 42 magnets as i will go one therd more magnets as choice. do u thing 4 phases through 4 bridge rectifiers to charge 12 volt batteries would be an issue apposed to 3 phases?

[Caleb6543]

Wow, you have me there. I'm not sure what would work best in that situation.

[wtam69]

@Caleb6543 Thanks. Looking forward to seeing your other projects.

[bakupcpu]

Nice little project there. If you need more amp you can always rewind the stator with bigger wire and either add more pole to reduce the rpm or make it go faster.

[muddymuddymuddmann]

Hey Caleb, nice work. this is a truly scientific way of testing the cogging break over torque. nice job. added to favorites.

MUDDy

[muddymuddymuddmann]

in these ceiling fan motors , they use 2 sets of coils , an inner and an outer set. these coil sets are single phase each. that means that you will use the magnet positions. they will fire one set of coils and them the second set of coils, and repeat this in the opposite phase.

MUDDy