Originally Posted by grinderdust  Thanks for all your replies. Where to get the power is not likely to be a problem considering what is available these days. My plan is to use Honda's cogenerating furnace and a large battery bank. I will also be using as much wind and solar power as mother nature will give me. I will use the hydro method that Geof suggested if I find running water on the property. I will use a propane or biodeisel generator for times when there is no need for heat or hot water and the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing. Or I could just cut back my usage on those days and enjoy the time to relax a bit. Machining is my hobby, I'm not doing it for a living anymore.
Dynosor, I will pretend for a second that your pessimistic point of view desrves a response. I am proud to say that most of my work involves saving energy not using it. I am working on a new type of CVT and a windmill design that should improve efficiency a great deal.
Back to the how, My laptop runs on batteries so it must be possible to do this. How do I regulate the batteries so that slight fluctuations in voltage don't cause problems with the drivers and such. Also I looked at the spindle motor on my F1 last night and here are the specs. 95VDC .44KW 5.8A
Seems like I could just ditch the transformer and patch in 95vdc where the speed control regulates the power to the motor. I hope this is how it works.
Anyone that knows anything about this, please be a hero and lend me a hand. |
Grinderdust...have you seen the latest copy of Pop Sci or Pop Mech? There is a feature in there on a rolling ball CVT made for a gearless bicycle, that is reported to be stout enough to be designed for use behind automotive projects...
anyways...
with a CVT like that, and variable pitch props on the generator, as well as some creative software that will allow the turbine to turn askew from the wind during gusts & excessively high speeds, you would have an awesome source of auxiliary power...
around here we average 300 days a year of windspeeds over 30 mph...course we are on the north side of a mountain range, in the bottom of a river valley, east of the Great Divide and west of flat land....