Apologize for my crazy.
Not sure that lighter would be better.
In gusty winds, the heavier turbine will remain at a more constant velocity.
Recent tests of a max gust of about 11 mph and a steady 5-7 resulted in an RPM of around 160-200.
I had the thing tied down with weights on it. Not sure those were needed.

I will continue to post vids. Strapped for dough, I need a can of black primer before I can leave it out in any sort of weather.
It would just turn into mush if it got soaked right now.
I am determined that it will not end up as art, but it will certainly look neat as a shiny crystal ball when I am finished with it.
*edit: Will use laminating resin prior to primer.

 

I'll be studiously avoiding the free energy and magnet discussions, but the windmill project is interesting. A scope would definitely be helpful for seeing what's happening.

Given that you're working on a fairly small scale, you may want to look at "ideal diode" or "active rectifier" circuits which will allow you to convert your AC generator voltage to DC with minimal losses. If you don't want that much complication, at the very least shop for appropriately sized Schottky diodes with the lowest Vf you can get. Otherwise I'm afraid rectifier losses will eat up a good chunk of your available power.

Take my thoughts with a grain of salt - this is all theoretical for me, and I don't have experience to back it up. It sounds like @wayneh has been hands on with this stuff and can give better informed advice.

I absolutely agree. Complicated is not a bother. I have every intention of incorporating rasberry PI and arduino computer integration equipment.
Remote monitoring including a visual signal are definitely in the plans.
Plus I already have designs for the next turbine, which will be nearly identicle, just 4 times larger.

 

Not sure that lighter would be better.

Lighter is better because the power in a gust can be captured. The power in the wind goes up with the cube of windspeed, so it's tragic to miss the little bursts of higher speed. If the mechanism is heavy, it can't respond quickly because of its own inertia. At the moment of a gust, it's rotating below the optimal rotation speed for that windspeed. The gust is over before it adjusts. This is partially made up for by the inertia carrying the rotation speed briefly through a lull, but overall it's a negative.