Wind Turbine Modelling Kit using Pi as "Data Logger"

[KieranClarke]

Hey,
So as a project I am going to be doing for a piece of coursework has got me a little bit stuck. I have been provided with a Wind Turbine Kit that allows the user to adjust the number of blades and other variables etc. However,. the bit that I require help with is the idea of taking that voltage and using it as a input to the Pi so that it can be graphed and compared by a program I intend to write. So the initial question is, can I get the Pi to take a voltage? Either using external chips or using the Pi itself. Any help would be appreciated and if anyone has any questions then do not hesitate to ask
Thanks,
Kieran.

[Hagar]

Hi kieran, the pi doesnt have a built in anologue input so you will need to connect another board to get your variable dc signal into the pi. These are available for about a tenner for a 12 bit ADC in the UK. A quick google came up with this one:-

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/adaf ... 0wodcIQKAw

Do you know what output you turbine gives? Because this will determine what adc to use and if you need to add extra circuits to step down the voltage.

[KieranClarke]

Thanks for the reply, I believe it will produce between 1-5V so I don't think it would need stepping down, so I imagine it wouldn't need any other boards. Next question is, is there a way that I can monitor the number of rotations the blade makes?

[lastpak]

if the axle is long enough a vane through a light-sensor would do i think.
keep it simple.

[KieranClarke]

Ok thank you for your replies, I will try and keep this updated with what I have done. Also, if anyone has any suggestions for this project then please do share

[Hagar]

Just use a light sensor mounted to detect the blades passing then divide the pulsed output by the number of blades

[KieranClarke]

Ok, so I am back again for help. To start this is the kit I have been provided http://www.ecostyle.co.uk/renewable_ene ... e_kit.html and I am still thinking about ways of taking data from it and what data I can take from it. I know as it stands it produces a voltage (upto 5v I believe) and I was thinking that I could take the voltage using the ADC as stated above. However, I would also like to do like wind speed and stuff like that. But the idea of the kit is to simulate a wind turbine and adjust the position and number of the blades. Then I want to take this data and graph/table/analyse it, while still being user friendly. So really any extra advice would be quite useful .
Thanks,
Kieran.