Nice job. Do you have any performance figures (and details of location)? I'd be interested in how it performs in that location. How does the 5-blade version compare in output to the 3-blade version? Did you notice improvements in low-wind?
Thanks Ivan , When 3 bladed I was not monitoring any thing as I started this off as an experiment after reading a few home brew articles but I simply rigged up a staged relay set up (ie: @ 24 v connect 25watt 25 v lamp then @ 35v another 3 x 50v lamps(The 1st stage relay discs the 25v or else goodbye 25v lamp !!) and > 40v another 4 x 50 v lamps.One night all the lamps popped so I had to stage in a dump load (1 x 9kw 240 volt element from a scrapped shower)which acts like a 50volt dump load @1000watt appx .This stopped the lamps blowing or at least helped.Anyway this was the experiment with 3 blades.
I was concerned about the safety aspect of the soil pipe DIY blades so I purchased the 5 blade manufactured set .
The location is Balmullo by St Andrews NE fife .
The turbine is not nearly high enough @ 5 mtrs agl but again I had safety concerns.
Planning consent not requested but in 3 years no visit from NE Fife councils planning officer, possibly cos it's considered below the roofline !!
Neighbors curious more than anything else,I have good neighbors !!
I have set it to furl fairly early after (playing safe @ about 35 mph)
The comparisons I would say are,
Definite improvements in low winds with 5 blade.
Output(I use a wireless monitor "efergy" to monitor its output)
I have to be brutally honest here now !!
Do not laugh.... April 2008 to April 2009 produced 40.2 KWh
April 2009 to April 2010 produced 45.6KWh
However thro the forum I was guided correctly on how to
alter the WM 500 power curve.(About a year ago I discovered an article but the
instructions had a minor error and due to this I never achieved success).
Since correcting the curve I have seen about 0.5 Kwh per day which is better.
If the height was more like 10 mtrs then I am sure output would be far better !
I will never be able to do that as the tower would have to be much much stronger.
