Hurricaine Coming- Should I Ground Leads or DUmp?

[Jim Mac]

Hello- the storm is coming today or tomorrow- I'm in the path of it.. Is it best to tie all 3 leads from my windmill together during the hurricaine- or straight to a dig dump?

Hope to get an answer in time. Thanks

[Rob Beckers]

Jim, that one is not as easy to answer as it might seem. It depends...

Best is if you can tilt the tower down, tie the turbine off so it physically can't spin, or furl it out of wind mechanically. If one of these can be done for your turbine.

If your turbine has an alternator that's 'strong' enough to keep it from spinning with the leads shorted, even with the wind speeds that are expected for your area, then yes, short them and ride it out like that.

However, if a shorted alternator starts spinning (because the wind forces working on the blades are stronger than the electromagnetic forces holding it in place), it will melt the windings of the alternator very quickly, destroying the alternator. If there's any chance of this happening you will be much better off letting the turbine run under regular load (inverter/batteries) or dump-load, and hope for the best

The manufacturer of the turbine should have information that says up to what wind speed is safe to keep the alternator shorted.

Good luck!!

-RoB-

[Andy Rhody]

Jim, I'm facing the same type of thing.

Where are you located and what kind of wind system do you have? I'm here in Central Pa. and we're expecting maybe 65 MPH winds.

I have a 2000 watt Chinese windmill. I don't trust tying the 3 leads together so I'm gonna risk running it on the dump. The tail furls pretty easily so we'll see what happens.

Good luck.

[Joe Blake]

That hurricane/storm Sandy looks pretty ferocious:eek:. Good luck to all in its path, and hope to see you on the other side.

Joe

[Jim Mac]

Hi Andy- I'm in west side of the Poconos- PA (NEPA) - I'm like 25 minutes from Jersey. So were facing the same storm.. Sounds like I'm a little closer to the coastline though..

I have a 1Kw mill which specs say it can survive 120 MPH winds.. SO I am and rectifying the leads then going straight to a 1500 watt heater. No batteries, no controller. Just running it against the heater till she passes..

I was thinking about leaving the leads tied together- but I have them tied together often and she spins some.. So better not risk burning it out.

Thanks Rob and the rest for the advice.. Hopefully I'll report good news in a few days:wondering:

[Jim Mac]

just as a followup- the windmill screamed all night and was still spinning after she passed. So looks like we made it without a hitch.

Thanks all

[Rob Beckers]

Jim, good to hear you weathered the storm!

-RoB-