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       #Post#: 2216--------------------------------------------------
       175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 12, 2014, 4:12 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       After meeting up with several Forum members and the year long
       discussion here, I have firmed up what the new Seagull Wind
       Turbine should look like.
       Size,  most of the opinions were to keep it to a manageable size
       but make it more powerful.  It should fit through a doorway and
       one person should be able to erect it and take it down, it
       should fit on a dock, a boat or on a roof.
       Alternator, beef it up so it is strong and more precision
       Keep the parts simple, light and strong
       I chose a 3' Diameter and a 4' Height.
       Aluminum 24" long blades are very economical, good looking and
       fast to make.
       The rotor will be in three pieces and be made of 3/4" marine
       plywood with three coats of latex.  This has proven to work very
       well.  It could be sheeted with aluminum if desired.
       The alternator will start with a precision hub, bearings and
       steel rotor for purchase.
       12 strong magnets will be needed.  These will be 1" x 2" x .25"
       Optionally 3/8" or 1/2" thick are available for more voltage.
       This size magnet is economical and common.
       The blade tips can be made from aluminum or plywood or composite
       material.  Spars will be 1/2" fiberglass 24" long and be joined.
       Bracing will be 1/2" stainless steel strips.  All hardware
       stainless steel.
       All parts for the turbine should fit in a 24" x 18" x 10" box
       for shipping.
       The stator will be made by the user and be comprised of 6 large
       20 awg magnet wire coils.  It will be built up similar to the
       Seagull 75 but have a 12" diameter.
       The Turbine should be capable of 250 watts in 24-26 mph winds.
       20 watts at 10 mph.
       #Post#: 2217--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 200 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 12, 2014, 4:31 pm
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       Here is a diagram of the alternator.  It is single phase and
       will put out 60 hz at 300 rpm.  Target voltage is 12 at 120 rpm.
       #Post#: 2229--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 13, 2014, 10:13 am
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       I re-titled this topic Seagull 175 staying with my convention of
       multiplying diameter x height divided by ten.  I do think 200 or
       250 watts is possible based on power in the wind and what I have
       seen from this design.  Also, in keeping with convention the
       Seagull designation is for the more DIY kit even though this is
       getting very close to the Gull 160 in parts and size.
       I would like to make 3 prototypes and have two forum members
       test the design along with me.  Sut we need 3 sets of blades, so
       a total of eighteen - 24" long sections which I will pay you
       for.  SUT and CG have contributed so much and have such an
       interest, so you guys are elected.  Also we are close by so we
       can critique and compare.
       I'll buy some more 20 awg wire and get the steel rotors and hubs
       made.  I have plenty of spars.  Plywood, magnets, pole and
       stator building will be your job.
       If anyone else on the forum is jealous and wishes they could get
       in on this, let me know.  I just don't want to send hundreds of
       dollars of materials all over if people aren't builders and
       aren't hyper-motivated.
       #Post#: 2235--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: sut Date: April 13, 2014, 3:58 pm
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       NP on making the wings !!!! I will order up some white,  Do you
       want me to make the formers and glue up or just give you the
       wings like a customer would get in kit ?  If we are going to
       compare stats we need some set of guide lines so they are as
       close to the same  (you can email me  or pm me with that stuff
       as needed )
       I am currently trying out some new glue (gutter seam sealer )
       to see how it bonds to wood and aluminum.  I like how it comes
       out of tube and self levels but I won't know about adhesive
       properties until I give them at least 24 hrs to dry but will
       keep you posted
       #Post#: 2237--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 13, 2014, 5:07 pm
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       @SUT
       Yes, I will give you dimensions.  I am planning on the 24"
       length so you only have to make one cut.  The blades should be
       flat with the TE fold only.  No formers until assembly.
       I think we should plan on the Seagull type plans, templates for
       people to cut so I will start work on those.  We should plan on
       a common type adhesive most people can find and that works.
       My goal is to keep working on this until we get a low cost high
       power wind turbine.
       The wire and magnets are sort of a given cost, but we are
       getting the rest down.
       #Post#: 2242--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 14, 2014, 8:09 am
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       The rotor design is coming along.  It is very close to the same
       size as the Gull 160.  The rotors are in three parts and bolt
       onto the steel magnet plate with fender washers and stainless
       steel bolts.  They look broad because they are.  Early on I made
       them a bit curvy and pretty.  There is a tremendous amount of
       twisting motion.  This beefy construction transfers all the
       torque to the alternator and keeps the blades straight.
       Today it is very windy.  I only have two blades on the Gull 160
       and I had to short the alternator to keep it from turning.
       #Post#: 2243--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: sut Date: April 14, 2014, 8:16 am
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       Looks good  Sorry to hear about 1 of your wings coming off !
       #Post#: 2248--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 14, 2014, 11:14 am
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       I removed one rotor for our show and tell and never put it back
       on.  Sorry for the confusion.
       #Post#: 2300--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 16, 2014, 10:57 am
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       As I draw this new Seagull Turbine, I am thinking it may as well
       be an uprated Gull 160.
       I was redrawing the rotors for a 36" diameter and the Gull 160
       has a 39.75" diameter.  Why not just leave it the same?  I am
       also thinking about uprating the pole to a 2.5" EMT instead of
       the 1.5".  Originally I wanted to match the Gull 160 for people
       used to the AirBreeze so the mount was the same.  I think the
       Gull 160 looks odd on top the skinny pole.  So usually I put a
       3" PVC sleeve around the steel pole for looks.  I would still
       suggest a big white PVC tube surrounding even the 2.5" steel
       pole for looks.
       The new Seagull wont be a completely DIY nor will it be a
       complete kit.  I could see selling the coils, magnets, blades,
       spars, hub and steel rotor, coupler, hardware and having the
       customer cut plywood, paint, and complete the stator.  This
       would bring overall cost way down, including shipping cost, and
       ensure the hard parts are machined correctly.  If this all goes
       together well I could see marketing this new product which I
       never wanted to do before.
       Thoughts on the size being 40" D x 49" T  ?  Theoretically this
       could put out 500 watts in 30 mph winds, and in a 10 mph wind a
       realistic 25 watts
       What's in it for you guys that contribute so much?  However you
       wish to participate.  Supply blades, circuitry, add ons....
       Design and manufacture something of value and LYNX Wind pays you
       - no risk to you, you don't have to form a company....  Or just
       keep having fun in retirement!
       With the SUT Blades, I no longer fear ramping up sales.  Before
       I would have to make 6 perfect blades, and packing was a tedious
       task.
       #Post#: 2349--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 175 Watt Seagull DIY Kit
       By: lynx wind Date: April 18, 2014, 4:57 pm
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       That site does look pretty good.
       We are moving pretty fast on the new Seagull 175.  Magnets and
       wire ordered.  Aluminum for blades ordered.  Spars are in stock.
       I'll get the drawings done for the plywood parts and you can
       get started on those.  You will need some 3/4", 3/8" and maybe
       some 1/4" plywood or other material for blade tips.  You will
       need some fiberglass resin (1 quart) You will need to put 3
       coats of a latex gloss paint on the wood parts.  Latex handles
       expansion and contraction best.  Alternatively you could
       fiberglass all wood parts but that is a lot of work.
       Find a suitable site for a pole but hold off on a pole.  A good
       site is clear of trees and any other obstructions that cause
       turbulence.  The cleaner the air the more power you will see.
       I am debating about pole size and may go up to 2" EMT.  There
       are ways to create a solid foundation and then a pivoting mount
       so you can raise and lower.  I don't recommend going over ten
       feet without guy wires.  And unless you really want really clean
       air ten feet up is pretty good.
       You'll need at least 12 awg wire from turbine to rectifier and
       battery.  You'll need a kill switch rated for 10 amps, SPDT.
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