| RSS Web Feed for Renewable Energy UK | REUK Shop | Directory | Bookmark Site | About Us  

Sturmey Archer Dynohub



Sturmey Archer Dynohub

The Sturney Archer Dynohub in RE Applications

wind | electronics
Printer Friendly Version Print Article     

A simple way to learn more about building wind turbine generators is to use a bottle dynamo or Sturmey-Archer Dynohub as your alternator rather than building your own. While bottle dynamo generators are useful, they suffer from large friction losses and do not generate much power, therefore the Dynohub is of more interest. It generates power at a much lower RPM (60 RPM to generate 6V / 3W) than a bottle dynamo which is useful for a practical wind turbine.

What is a Dynohub

The Sturmey Archer Dynohub is a heavy over-sized hub that fits onto a bicycle and generates AC electricity with no moving parts of mechanical frictional losses. As the wheel of the bicycle turns, a ring-shaped 20-pole magnet revolves around a fixed coil attacted to the wheel axle. Used in its traditional sense the Dynohub had a tendency to burn through bulbs when the cyclist raced down a hill since the voltage generated increased with the speed of rotation of the wheels.

Sturmey-Archer 6 Volt / 3 Watt Dynohub


Making a Dynohub Wind Turbine

Converting a Dynohub into a wind turbine generator is simply a matter of bolting on three suitable turbine blades. We recommend that you make your own PVC wind turbine blades since they are very cheap and easy to make.

You will need to make the turbine blades at least 3 feet long (and ideally 4 feet long) since the Dynohub needs a good bit of torque to get it spinning. Blades any longer than 4 feet will turn the generator more slowly and put extra stress on the hub bearings.

Using a Dynohub Wind Turbine as a Battery Charger

As stated above, the electricity generated by a Dynohub is alternative current (AC). If you intend to connect your Dynohub wind turbine to a small incandescent light bulb you will have no problems - if the wind is strong enough to turn the turbine, the bulb will glow. If you intend to connect it to an LED then there will be some flickering since the LED will only light when the current flows in the correct direction. If however you intend to use your Dynohub as a battery charger you will need to rectify the AC electricity output into direct current (DC) using a suitable bridge rectifier.

1.5 Amp 50 Volt Bridge Rectifier for use in a Dynohub Wind Turbine Generator Battery Charger

Pictured above is a W1005 1.5A 50V Bridge Rectifier perfect for use with a Dynohub wind turbine generator. We have these rectifiers for sale in our REUK Shop together with 35A Bridge Rectifiers (from £1.79) which are suitable for larger wind turbine generators.

A Smoothing capacitor should also be used to smooth the output from the bridge rectifiers if it is to be used to directly power an LED to prevent it from flickering on and off repeatedly. Suitable 16V 1,000uF capacitors are also available in the REUK Shop.

Buy a Dynohub Now

It is virtually impossible to find a Dynohub in the shops today - rather than a cycling shop you're better off looking in an antique shop! However they can occasionally be picked up on eBay in various conditions and ages from £15-£30 including postage, or found in scrap yards or on old bicycles.

Click here to find a Dynohub on eBay UK, or here for a Dynohub on eBay US.

Modern Alternatives to Sturmey Archer Dynohubs

If you are having a lot of difficulty obtaining a Sturmey Archer Dynohub then have a look for one of these alternative Dynamo Hubs for Wind Turbines.

Useful Dynohub Wind Turbine Links

Instructions on dismantling and servicing the Dynohub are available here. Or you can download an exploded drawing of a Dynohub here.

Here is a website which demonstrates the use of a 6Volt / 5Watt Dynohub clone in a working wind turbine generator: GotWind.org

Article Last Modified: 16:37, 3rd Jun 2008


Recommended Related Articles

People who read this article also enjoyed the following articles:

PVC Wind Turbine Blades
Learn how to make your own PVC wind turbine blades
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008
wind

Permanent Magnet Generator
Build a wind or water power system with around a PM Generator
Article Last Modified: 11:44, 21st Jul 2008
wind | hydro

Dynamo Hubs For Wind Turbines
Dynamo Hubs for use in Wind Turbine Generators
Article Last Modified: 08:41, 18th Dec 2006
wind | electronics

Photos of PVC Wind Turbine Blades
Photographs of PVC wind turbine blades
Article Last Modified: 13:09, 22nd Dec 2006
wind

How I Built A Wind Turbine
Read how a wind turbine was built for under US$150
Article Last Modified: 15:16, 19th Aug 2008
wind | education

Ametek PM Motors
Use an Ametek PM Motor as a DC Generator for Wind or Hydro Power
Article Last Modified: 09:14, 22nd Jul 2008
wind | hydro

Electricity with Stepper Motors
Find out the basics of generating electricity with stepper motors
Article Last Modified: 17:07, 10th Jun 2008
wind

DIY 2kW Wind Turbine
Read about a home built 2kW wind turbine constructed from scrap
Article Last Modified: 08:46, 4th Oct 2007
wind | recycling

Three Phase Basics
Get an understanding of three phase wiring in wind turbine alternators
Article Last Modified: 15:13, 19th Aug 2008
wind | electric circuit | websites

Bridge Rectifier
Find out more about bridge rectifiers.
Article Last Modified: 15:33, 2nd Feb 2007
electronics | wind | wave

© 2006-2008 REUK - All Rights Reserved
Page Last Updated on 11th October 2008 at 09:50:05am

Latest
Articles


solarDAB Solar Powered DAB Radio
Find out more about the world's first solar powered DAB radio
shopping
09:49, 11th Oct 2008

Convert Digital Mains Timer To Low Voltage
Convert a cheap digital mains timer into a low voltage programmable timer relay
electronics
16:21, 5th Oct 2008

Simple Well Pump Controller
Find out how to automatically get water from the well into a header tank
water
11:52, 1st Oct 2008

Solar Powered Poultry Lighting
Put together a solar system to power poultry lighting - increase winter egg production
solar
10:05, 27th Sep 2008

Solar Powered Security Spotlight
Protect your home with a solar-powered motion-detecting security spotlight
solar
14:22, 25th Sep 2008

Shed and Garage Solar Lighting
Light your shed or garage with solar powered lighting
lighting
14:03, 25th Sep 2008

Wind Up Eco Media Player
Find out more about the Eco Media Player - the world's first windup video player from Trevor Baylis
shopping
12:55, 25th Sep 2008

Solargorilla Laptop Charger
Find out about the Solargorilla - a rugged solar powered laptop charger
shopping
12:55, 25th Sep 2008



REUK Shop

Popular Items


12 VOLT 3 WATT SOLAR PANEL
Waterproof 12 Volt 3 Watt Solar Panel - 199 x 136mm with fitted leads (fiberglass and resin).
£19.99 each.
Solar Power



EFERGY HOMECO2METER
efergy homeCO2meter wireless electricity monitor
£38.99 each.
Energy Saving



6V 250MA SOLAR PANEL
Waterproof 6 Volt 250 milliamp (1.5 Watt) Solar Panel - 130 x 135mm with fitted leads (fiberglass and resin)
£13.99 each.
Solar Power



300 WATT POWER INVERTER
Convert 12V DC battery power into 230 AC to power portable televisions, computers, video recorders etc. 300 Watt power rating - peak power 600 Watts
£29.99 each.
Renewable Energy System Parts



SOLAR PUMP CONTROLLER WITH RELAY
Solar water heating system microprocessor controlled circuit with fitted 10A relay
£25.99 each.
Complete Circuits



SUNSAVER 10A SOLAR CONTROLLER
10 Amp at 12 Volt solar charge controller - epoxy encapsulation, marine rated terminals
£35.99 each.
Solar Controllers