Wind Turbine Project: Making a new test bench

I soon realized that my quick test cradle was inadequate to determine the potential of my modified motor. The 1 hp motor was probably close to burning out and the rectifier was overheating. I purchased some 2x4s and 2x8s and a lot of screws. I found a solid 1.5hp motor on Ebay for $79. I got pulleys and belts from Grainger. The pulleys are 4" and 8" for a 2:1 gear reduction. They are made of cast iron. The 25mm bearing holder is from VBX.com.

I modified my rectifier by using two rectifier diodes. Each is rated for 25A. They split the current and the signal is smoothed by the 425v capacitors. With two of them I can see a potential of 850v before I need to worry about them exploding from over-voltage.

I also enclosed the flywheel with a cage of wood. This way if the belt snaped or the flywheel came off it should be contained within the cage. The last thing I need is a 800rpm disc flying off!

Here are some pictures of the test setup.