WIND CHARGERS: BUILDING TOOLS FROM THE NATION'S PAST
(Page 3 of 5)
March/April 1983
by Paul Gipe and Carl Judy
Good maps are, of course, essential to mark the location of a wind charger should the owner not be there ... and do keep in mind that there's always an owner! just because a site looks abandoned in no way means that it is. Respect property rights, or we'll be reading about you in the Sunday papers. (In Montana, taking a wind generator without permission isn't quite as heinous a crime as stealing horses, but it's always possible that an owner who catches such a thief in the act will be moved to administer instant justice!)
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR
You'll find it useful to develop skill in being able to tell, at substantial distances, the difference between a windpowered water pump and a genuine wind charger, as well as in identifying the various makes of wind generators at a glance. (The photos accompanying this article will help a bit.)
The most common model, Wincharger, was known as the "Chevrolet" of wind machines. It's typically not as durable as the more expensive Jacobs unit, primarily because its design made it somewhat vulnerable in the face of extreme storm conditions. (As a matter of fact, it's not all that uncommon to find Winchargers on the ground ... in pieces.)
Salvageable Winchargers, however, are relatively easy to find, and you can often get them at bargain prices. Unfortunately, they're not the units to look for if you're seeking a machine to power your home, because the biggest model delivers only 1,500 watts from its 14'-diameter rotor. Such a machine could provide a worthwhile source of supplemental electricity, though ... especially if the price is right.
However, if you can hold out for a Jacobs generator, you'll likely not regret doing so. Before the demise of their company in the mid-50's, the Jacobs brothers produced 1, 500-, 1,800-, 2,800-, and 3,000-watt models. The first two generated 32-volt DC power ... the 2,800-watt version, either 32or 120-volt DC (depending on the model) ... and the 3,000-watt version, 120-volt DC.
WHAT IT'S WORTH
Once you've found a generator and an owner who's willing to sell, you may want to use the following guidelines to help determine how much to offer.
First, if the turbine is still on the tower, consider that safely removing it from that ancient structure will be no small feat. If the generator is already down, take a parts inventory. (Should something be missing, it may have been tucked away in a cluttered toolshed, so check with the owner.) This could save you a lot of trouble and money, since machining new parts is expensive and timeconsuming.
Your next job will be to determine where the blades (if they're still around at all) have been stored. New "props" are costly, but weather-beaten ones may be unsalvageable. If the blades for your find appear relatively new, consider yourself way ahead of the game. With that taken care of, go on to check the wiring. Be aware that a few mouse droppings or a birds' nest doesn't rule out sound wiring, so take a close look. When you've evaluated the condition of the machine, you'll have some idea of what it's going to cost you to restore it.
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