Cheap 12v Turbine

[aharrold]

Hello, I'm in a rather windy location in Scotland, thankfully.
I have a 12v gate opener, and an electric fence that I run off of 2 x 12 volt batteries currently charged by solar panels. I'm trying to add a small 12v wind turbine to keep the batteries topped up. I opted fore a cheap'ish 5 blade turbine off of EBay (12v 500w 5 blade wind turbine).
I've setup the turbine but I don't feel its operating correctly. When the turbine gets up to a good speed it seems to turn itself out of the wind either 180deg or a slow 360deg back into the wind to start again. Watching the way its operating I'd describe it as a gyroscopic effect on the spin. The seller is blaming air turbulence. Is there any way to determine whats causing it?

[stulindsay]

Hi,

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I've read that some smaller turbines will protect themselves from overloading by tilting away from the wind when they reach max speed.  It might just be that aspect?  Check the technical spec manual to see if it includes max speed information.  Good luck!

Stu.

[olivermasson99]

That's why i am more of Solar Energy fan. You don't need to worry about the little mishaps that could possibly take place.

[ronnie sunshine]

sometimes they small turbines have a short tail so not enough leverage, try extending the tail, even with a piece of wood with a tail on end just to test., make it twice as long as standard and maybe that will keep it pointing into wind !