Showing posts with label Wind Turbines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wind Turbines. Show all posts

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Lippeklap Net 2 July 2023 at 15h30 on the GRHub Network.


Onderwerp:  Hernubare Energie vir die Amateur Radio Hok of Veld Stasie

More almal.  Kom sluit gerus by ons aan op die GRHub Netwerk vanmiddag (15h30) net na afloop van die Bo Karoo Bulletin.  Ons gaan vanmiddag so bietjie kyk na  die opwekking van hernubare energie in die Amateur Radio Kamer.  Nee ons gaan nie oor Eskom en sy probleme gesels nie.  Ek gaan nie nou die aap uit die mou laat nie.  Kom luister en praat gerus saam vanmiddag.  Met 'n tekort aan elektrisiteit asook gas dink ek dit is nodig dat mens opnuut moet kyk na hernubare energie. 

The talk will be in Afrikaans and English!

Hoe skakel ek in by die Net?

• Echolink - Konnekteer aan ZS1I-L, ZS1SB-L, ZS1FC-L, ZS6WDL-R of ZS5PMB-R Neem kennis as die laaste vier stasies nie gekonnekteer is aan ZS1I-L nie, konnekteer dan via Echolink aan ZS1I-L om by die net aan te sluit.
• AllStar - Konnekteer aan node 49355 ZS1I of 28052 ZS5PMB-R
• VHF - 145.550 Mhz Simplex in die Mosselbaai area. Onthou die 88.5 khz CTCSS toon.
• Enige ander Echolink, AllStar herhaler of link stasie wat aan ZS1I-L gekoppel is.
• Gebruik sommer Echolink wat op jou selfoon geinstalleer is.

Sluit gerus by die Lippeklap Net aan op Sondag, 2 Julie 2023 om 15h30 SAST. 

Fotos:  (Klik om te vergroot.)





Sunday, March 19, 2023

Eskom Loadshedding Solutions: ZS1I DIY Micro Wind Turbine Project


NOTE:  I apologize for the quality of images and video.  In 2012 the quality of cellphone cameras were not all that good and the phone I used was build in 2008.

Loadshedding started in 2007 in South Africa.  In June 2012 I started playing around with DIY wind turbines.  The first DIY model that I build was a Micro Wind Turbine.  Unfortunately at the time I did not deem it necessary to do a full write-up about the project or taking photos as it was seen as not being part of my amateur radio projects.  Little did I know that loadshedding would have a severe affect on amateur radio and that this project could have been used today in amateur radio/emergency communications.  Full information about the project is available HERE (PDF) file download.  

I can however confirm that it provided enough volts and amps to charge a 12v 7Ah lead acid battery with ease. Be as it may here is some info on how I constructed the Micro Wind Turbine.

This turbine was constructed using parts from recycled equipment and scrap metal that I had lying around the workshop: 

  • The PCB's were all homebrewed
  • Stepper Motor salvaged from an large old dot-matrix printer
  • Pipe from scrap metal
  • Bearing salvaged from an old 220v motor
  • Blade - I used an old radiator fan hub from a truck.  (Scrap Metal dealer is your friend.)
  • PVC Covers made from a piece of 210mm PVC pipe  (Salvage from a dumping site.)
  • Aluminium for tail -  (Scrap Metal dealer)
  • All other parts salvaged from my electronic and metal junk boxes.

Now I must admit that this Micro Wind Turbine will not charge your large home solar batteries, but it does a fine job charging the said 12v 7Ah battery mentioned supra.  I am sure it will charge up to a 12 Ah lead acid battery. 

There are no limits to what you can do with wind power.  It's abundant, clean, cheap and easy to harness. In my opinion there is nothing more rewarding and empowering than building a wind-power turbine from scrap materials.

PS - I also constructed a large heavy duty wind turbine.  More on this in a future posting.

Video and Images:







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