Fun thing for a bonsai shelf

HorseloverFat

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That looks an ambitious but rewarding project. :)

It would be keen to utilize it to power a rainwater pump.

Thank you for sharing.
 

Shibui

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You guys do understand the energy required to pump water or to cool a fridge?
It can be done but will need a much larger turbine that this one unless your requirements are really tiny.
 

HorseloverFat

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I meant use the direct mechanical energy.. not generating electricity... (my uses would be SUPER “micro”)but I still may be way off base. :)

...but I am interested.

You guys do understand the energy required to pump water or to cool a fridge?

...I do not.

How much?

Just curious.
 

sorce

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You guys do understand the energy required to pump water or to cool a fridge?
It can be done but will need a much larger turbine that this one unless your requirements are really tiny.

We're going to have to settle with charging a led flashlight for Mike to find his way to the old fridge, without tripping on the cords for his outdoor lighting system!

Lol! But seriously!

Neighbor had a pinwheel spinny thing, got me thinking about using that to keep my chicken water from freezing, led down this road to seeing them generate electricity.....

I think everyone who can, should be off grid.

Maybe a little coozie cooler? I found a single can USB joint.

Sorce
 

Tieball

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When you see the size of the screws AND NUTS :eek: you'll think it's a WATCH kit.
Could be but not a surprise. I’ve worked smaller. More complex. Awhile ago I completed a Pocher 1935 Cabriolet model car. There were over 5,000 parts. Very tiny parts like assembling a spoked wheel from scratch....every spoke and connector. Lots a patience. Most of the bolts and screws were less then a millimeter thick. I have a set of very small screwdrivers and bolt wrenches. The head on most bolts was about 2 millimeters in diameter. Basically I built a car.
 

Tieball

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I dig it! Kinda like wind chimes but maybe not as obnoxious. Would be really cool if it even had a miniature squeak to it just like some of the big ones can make.
I like the miniature squeak idea. That would be perfect. I can also see me perfecting the rust impression.
 

Shibui

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I meant use the direct mechanical energy.. not generating electricity... (my uses would be SUPER “micro”)but I still may be way off base. :)

...but I am interested.
The answers are theoretically the same because the turbine harnesses power which we then convert to either electricity with a generator or to moving water with a pump.

Looks like the blades on this are 5" diameter. Calculation of the power in the wind at 20kph (about 12.5mph) for a 5" turbine gives a theoretical power of 59 watts. Efficiency of the turbine reduces that. A really good turbine coefficient would be about .3 or .4 so at 20kph wind speed we might be able to get 17 W of power.
Then attach a pump to that windmill. The pump is also not 100% efficient so you may be able to convert half of that 17W to move water. If my calculations are correct 8 Watts is about enough to lift a bucketful of water 1m every 2 minutes.
So, if you have a constant stiff wind blowing you may be able to light up a small, energy efficient light globe or pump a small amount of water a small distance.
I found a small pressure pump that draws about 30W so that windmill is going to need a very strong wind to run even the smallest pressure pump.
 

HorseloverFat

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The answers are theoretically the same because the turbine harnesses power which we then convert to either electricity with a generator or to moving water with a pump.

Looks like the blades on this are 5" diameter. Calculation of the power in the wind at 20kph (about 12.5mph) for a 5" turbine gives a theoretical power of 59 watts. Efficiency of the turbine reduces that. A really good turbine coefficient would be about .3 or .4 so at 20kph wind speed we might be able to get 17 W of power.
Then attach a pump to that windmill. The pump is also not 100% efficient so you may be able to convert half of that 17W to move water. If my calculations are correct 8 Watts is about enough to lift a bucketful of water 1m every 2 minutes.
So, if you have a constant stiff wind blowing you may be able to light up a small, energy efficient light globe or pump a small amount of water a small distance.
I found a small pressure pump that draws about 30W so that windmill is going to need a very strong wind to run even the smallest pressure pump.

Awesome! (I will take this formula to heart) This is precisely the kind of answer i was looking for and LOVE.

:)
 
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