alt.energy.homepower

Nice to hear that you are in the neighborhood, Gordon. I've collected
many permanent magnet DC motors from the metal recycling yards. Oddly
enough, most of them were still fully functional. It makes you wonder
why people throw things away? I've brought home a 240volt DC elevator
motor from Calgary metals. This beast weighs 525 lbs. and it produces
electricity even if I kick it over with my foot. I purchased it for
$100. I can get it to motor with only a 12 volt battery.

I've often wanted to build a dome house and I had the idea of mounting
this motor vertically at the peak with a huge whirly bird turbine that
covered the entire outside of the dome house. Now, that would be one
heck of a wind generator. When it was spinning, you would still be
able to view out the windows. I have no expectations of wind power
but with the wind always blowing, I just can't leave this form of free
energy alone. Wind machines can be built from inexpensive recycled
components. I can't say the same for PV. I do own four PV panels
that are approximately 1 foot X 4 foot in size each. I use them
mostly for keeping my vehicle batteries charged up all the time.