MY WIND TURBINE

 

Electricity is a necessity nowadays. But sometimes one is held up at a place where this necessity is absent. Although generators can be used in most areas, in many cases these are insufficient and go off-road due to various reasons. Moreover, these are expensive and require a lot of fuel. Some other sources of energy can also be used e.g. solar inverters and wind turbines, but these are expensive. Here is an account of building an inexpensive and simple wind turbine to solve our ever increasing need for electricity.

Materials.

(a) A geared, 24V, PMDC (permanent magnet direct current) motor with rating of 300rpm at 24V.

(b) A three feet piece of 6” or 8” PVC pipe.

(c) A round piece of thick plastic for hub. (If one has access to metal turning machines, a metal hub would be better).

(d) A 12 Volts 7.5AH secondary battery.

(e) One 24 volts Diode from electronics shop.

(f) Some flexible wire for wiring.

(g) Some binding wire.

(h) A few tools from the signal platoon.

(j) A long GI pipe for mounting. (The higher the pipe, more wind the turbine will catch).

(k) Six nut-bolts of adequate length.

(l) One portable DC to AC converter.

Preparation

(a) The first step is to save the motor from the elements. For this, an empty can of Desi Ghee was used. The motor was secured using some binding wire. See the picture of the finished product below.

(b) The next step was to create a set of three blades for the turbine. The piece of PVC pipe was cut longitudinally into three long pieces. These pieces were then cut diagonally to get two sets of three blades each.

(c) A round piece of thick plastic was used for the hub (a bottom of plastic bucket of good quality did the trick). Two holes were then drilled every 120 degrees. See picture given below.

Construction

(a) The blades were given one hole each and bolted to the hub. One blade was then bolted using both holes and fixed. The other two blades were then so adjusted that the tips were equidistant (This is required to reduce vibrations in the turbine).

(b) The position of the other hole was then marked and another hole drilled at the marked point. Then the other two blades were also fixed and tightened.

(c) A rudder has purposefully not been installed as the wind direction at my place of work is uni-directional. It can be easily done but the mount will need a spring to bring the fan back or the wiring may entangle and break.

(d) An angle iron (one with a number of holes along its length) was bent at 90 degrees. At one end the Ghee tin with the motor inside was secured and the other end was fixed inside the GI pipe.

(e) The wiring was extended and the fan fixed onto the motor.

(f) The GI pipe was secured, making sure that the fan faced the wind.

(g) Immediately the turbine started working and the current was measured to be from 12 to 20 Volts.

Utilising the power

Wiring

(a) The positive wire was cut and the diode inserted so as to keep the current uni-directional (for this, the positive side of the diode was connected towards the turbine).

(b) The wires were then joined to the 12V secondary battery to charge it. The only thing is not to overcharge it, so the battery voltage needed to be monitored regularly. A charge controller will make it automatic but that will need some more effort.

(c) The battery was then connected to the portable DC to AC converter available in the market for Rs 800. This can either charge a laptop or a cell phone or light a CFL. One can even connect a bigger battery and inverter to the turbine to do all of these simultaneously.

Cost effect

8. Itemised cost of materials used

(a) 24V PMDC 300rpm motor Rs 2000/-

(b) 3’piece of 6” PVC pipe Rs 100/-

(c) 10 feet piece of 2” GI pipe Rs 600/-

(d) 12 Volts, 4.5 AH battery. Rs 600/-

(e) 24 volts Diode. Rs 10/-

(f) Some flexible wire for wiring. Rs 50/-

(g) Some binding wire. Rs 10/-

(h) A metal hub will cost approx Rs 250/-

(j) Nuts and bolts Rs 20/-

(k) DC to AC convertor Rs 800/-

9. As it can be seen from the list that the total cost (if everything is bought from the market) will be approx. Rs 4500/-. If the post has an inverter, then it can be used, it will bring down the cost to approx. Rs 3000/-

Wind power is an non polluting, easily available source of energy. Using the kind of wind turbine shown above, our quest for power at almost all inaccessible places can be solved at a fraction of the cost of conventional generators.

The fight over One Rank One Pension and the Indian Defence forces

I was just loitering around on the internet that I saw a post by an economist on the ongoing One Rank One Pension demand by the armed forces. Here is a link of same:-

http://ajayshahblog.blogspot.in/2015/02/understanding-one-rank-one-pension.html

So what basically he is trying to say is understood here (Though its all BS), but what about the millions of Officers and other ranks who will not be able to decipher anything as to why so much dragging of feet and reluctance shown to this long term promise of OROP???

And therein lies the problem - Financial illiteracy within the hierarchy of the armed forces. Majority of the forces are financially illiterate and are in the rat race. What else can one expect from boys who got into a job at a young age, are barely higher secondary pass (some are degree holders now) and are in a closed society which takes care of basic needs (Of a young boy - then they get used to it!!)

And what has been the loss of this illiteracy? Lets see:

(1) The bureaucrats have been shortchanging the defence personnel ever since independence - helped by a suspicious political class. And the top brass was unable to counter or even recognise it due to this handicap (Of Financial illiteracy).

(2) Most of the defence personnel rely on the provident fund and pension to save for a rainy day. Never do they suspect the demon of inflation and its bite! Some of them do try to invest in gold and real estate and fare a tad bit better.

(3) The AWHO and other institutions which were started as a welfare measure have been taken over by the bureaucrats assisted by the same 'illiterate' top brass who have no option but to take up a job (inspite of a huge provident fund)!

(4) The same top brass have to look for a plush post post retirement. Most due to their financial state and some for the hunger of power - but what is bigger power than money?

It is high time (though a tad bit late) that the defence person becomes financially literate and beat the bureaucrats at their own game. Or at least they will be able to invest better and become self reliant in their nether years.

I will try to write next on means to make your savings inflation proof.. Although a no of articles are already floating aroumd. IMHO, Market is the way!

What the world needs now is love sweet love

A beautiful song which touches your very soul.I thank my friend Deepak Tomar for introducing this song to me and here I share it with you all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fjP9o194Uo

In Rome do as The Romans do

A very old idiom but still holds true, Especially in today's world. We keep hearing of the alleged 'racial attacks' on the Indians in Australia and other countries - in my opinion, these are not just racial attacks but there is something more to them. Most Indians go abroad to either earn a living or to study. In both cases, they work at much lower wages than the locals. The locals, in the process lose their job oppurtunities. That is one sour point. Secondly, almost all Indians staying abroad have this miserly attitude: whether it be to save money to send back home or they just cannot help converting the currency into Rupees. That reminds me of an incident some years back - one of our relatives who works abroad had come on a visit to our home and told us that even a 'Samosa' costed Rs. 100 in that country. Now given that He earned quite a bit even by US standards, that 'Samosa' would not have pinched him a bit. But Indians being Indians and Him being an Indian, could not help it. Now what I am saying here doesnot mean that Indians living abroad should lose their identity or stop saving.... No nothing like that. In Fact all that I am trying to say is that please stop behaving like a typical middle class Indian when you are abroad. Try to get out of that close knit group of Indians once in a while and make friends with some of the locals! Try to call them for a get-together at the local pub (In many countries, these get-togethers are pay yourselves, that solves your 'Kitna Kharcha hoga' fears!). I mean, get to know them and let them know you! That way there will a better understanding and lesser 'Racial Attacks'

The great mother

"We're on a road to nowhere

Come on inside

Takin' that ride to nowhere We'll take that ride

Feelin' okay this mornin'

And you know,

We're on the road to paradise

Here we go, here we go

We're on a ride to nowhere

Come on inside

Takin' that ride to nowhere

We'll take that ride

Maybe you wonder where you are

I don't care

Here is where time is on our side

Take you there...take you there

We're on a road to nowhere

We're on a road to nowhere

We're on a road to nowhere"

-"Road to Nowhere", Talking Heads

Exactly what I feel when I see what others are missing. Many of my friends tell me about the latest malls and movies, and try to tell me what I am missing... I don't say anything cause if I just give a glimpse of what they are missing, I don't know what they will say.

Have you ever gone into the wilderness? Have you ever tried to listen what the silence and the noises of the jungles, the mountains and the deserts are trying to tell you? Have you ever heard the soft fall of the leaves and felt the softest carpet in the world made by the fine leaves of pine? That's what they are missing. The early morning calls of the myriad of birds and animals, The most soothing sound of the trickle of water as it takes its own time to turn into a raging torrent, rushing to meet the sea. That's what they are missing. The crystal clear waters of the lakes with its unafraid fish which come so near to you that you can touch them as they have never seen the beast that man is. That's what they are missing. The shimmer of the distant sands like water that beckons everyone for a respite from the all pervading heat and sand. The rolling bushes being tossed here and there as if some soccer match between some invisible giants. That's what they are missing.

Pictures from top to bottom

1. Sunrise over the sand dunes in Rajasthan.

2. The Jungles near Darjeeling.

3. A view from road to Nathu La, Sikkim.