WIND CHARGERS: BUILDING TOOLS FROM THE NATION'S PAST
(Page 4 of 5)
March/April 1983
by Paul Gipe and Carl Judy
As a rule, any Jacobs is worth at least $ 100, while a fully rebuilt 3-KW model will bring a whopping $3,500. A machine on the ground in good shape is worth more than one on a tower. Furthermore, a 2,800-watt, 32-volt model is worth more than a 1,500- or 1,800-watt unit. This is partly because the larger model provides more power, but also because it can be rewound to generate 120 volts ... a useful attribute. And, since it doesn't need to be rewound, a 120volt Jacobs in good condition (which will be about as hard to track down as Bigfoot) can bring over $2,000 (as is) on the used generator market.
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On occasion, you might be able to talk a rancher into selling the tower along with the generator, but that assembly's value-as a lightning arrester, TV antenna, or a source of scrap iron-makes this less than likely. If you can find a 40' or taller tower for $200, you've got yourself a real deal! However, not all such structures are created equal. If you've bought a Jacobs generator, buy a Jacobs tower, too.
TAKE IT DOWN
The hard labor will begin once you've struck a fair deal. Getting a wind generator down off a tower is dangerous work, period. And since every situation is different, there's no chance to test your equipment under full load until the generator swings free. This is a task that requires pulleys, safety harnesses, hard hats, utility belts, ropes, a "gin pole" (generally an 11'-long steel pipe), at least 150' of high-quality, multistranded steel cable of 3/16" diameter or better, and a galaxy of other tools, along with a lot of adrenaline for those special moments when you're teetering 60 feet up in the air.
You'll also need a good bit more specific information than we're able to give here. And in our opinion, the place to get that instruction is Michael Hackleman's The Homebuilt, Wind-Generated Electricity Handbook, which is available at good bookstores (or can be ordered for $9.95 plus 95 cents shipping and handling from Mother's Bookshelf ® , 105 Stoney Mountain Road, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791). The volume has a detailed chapter on the mechanics of taking wind machines off and putting them on towers. This is required reading! Tower work should not be taken lightly!
Once the generator is down, you can either truck your ticket to free electricity back home or send it by commercial freight. If you decide to ship it, put all the major components in secure crates and label and box all the loose parts. Be sure, too, that the generator's shaft isn't exposed ... the crate should go around the entire machine. (We suggest that you do the packing job personally to see that it's done right.)
PUT IT UP
Jacobs generators are not especially difficult to restore, but their size does make them a tad unwieldy. A little familiarity with electric motors will be a big help to anyone tack ling a rebuilding job. In fact, if the generator's wiring is in good repair (and if the restorer is content to leave the unit at 32 volts DC), most of the work can be done by an average handyperson. The better part of the job involves replacing the brushes and bearings. (Again, Hackleman's book can help keep the project on line.)
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