No Discussion On Wind Generators?

[Defcon090]

Here and on other sites I do not see much, if any, discussion on wind generators. Since moving back here from FL in 2007 I find this area very windy. The wind has blown patio furniture and grills off the porch day or night! This winter season we have had more cloudy days than sunny ones and most of those days winds have been 10 - 25 MPH day or night. I see where one can get a nice 400 watt system for around 500 bucks, less than a solar setup for half the wattage. Any thoughts on wind?

[Big Guy]

Right now I am working on building my own 3500 watt solar generator. I built a 425 watt solar generator for under $200 so I think I can build a larger one pretty cheap also.

When I'm finished with that project I do plan on building a wind turbine generator and I have done a little research. It is my belief that a system the encompasses solar and wind is the best option but finances keep me from doing it all at once. I'm doing this a little at a time.

[RICHFL]

You need wind year round not just for one season. Solar is on every day, and even when it is cloudy, you still get power.

Out west wind power is used to move water, then for anything else.

A major problem is getting permission from your county to put up the type of tower to run a total complex like a farm. You would need a minimum of 20KW power source to run that type of operation.

A normal Dairy farm 120 cows you have a great amount of energy usage, to remove, move, store, and cool the milk prior to delivery. I do not remember how much, but it ate up a lot of the monthly budget on our farm.

We had a wind mill used in the Spring-Fall to move water in a pond to keep it from becoming stale and usable for the cows. It was 45 feet tall with 6 foot blades.

[Mangler]

I take the approach that no single source of alternative energy can replace the power grid. So I plan to use multiple sources.

I currently have a 64 watt solar system feeding a 12V battery bank. I plan to build the wind turbine kit below and add it to my system. It has the capacity to make over 250 watts, but more importantly it starts producing in only 10MPH wind.

My experience is if it's cloudy it's windy. On the coldest days it's crystal clear and calm. So the combination of power source will provide a charge to the battery bank more often than just one or the other.

http://www.windbluepower.com/Lite_Br...cy-low-kit.htm

[m38]

If you are interested in wind generation for your place, I recommend getting a recording anemometer to see what the winds are really doing. That may make a difference in what system you need to buy/build, and how much power you'll get out of it. I've got one of these and it does a great job of telling me in real time what my local wind speed is, plus it also records my max wind speed and my average wind speed.

http://www.inspeed.com/anemometers/default.asp

[Applejack]

Not much here at all on wind generators. But from what I am reading here we won't have enough wind to power it. Would have to have solar for well with wind for back up. Will be checking all these options out as I really will need that well one day. We only use it now to water garden when needed. I am getting ready to have water tested to see if safe to drink since it is about 50 years old.

[RICHFL]

AppleJack is the water 50 years old or the well????? lol

[Applejack]

Funny Rich. The well is 50 years old. lol

[Cedar]

Not much here at all on wind generators. But from what I am reading here we won't have enough wind to power it. Would have to have solar for well with wind for back up. Will be checking all these options out as I really will need that well one day. We only use it now to water garden when needed. I am getting ready to have water tested to see if safe to drink since it is about 50 years old.

Buy a weather station which has an anamometer to record your wind. In a pinch you can also note down your local forecast daily.
Someone up above mentioned that clouds = wind, clear = sun. This was true where I have ever lived. My friends in the bush who live off grid, run solar-wind hybrid with a large army generator for emergency backup. They had a battery bank of twelve 12 vt batteries... And get this... They ran their entire house, including the largest flatscrern TV I have ever seen, and welders. Their stove and clothes dryer were propane, but they were never hurting for lack of power.

My friend down here with their creeks I talked into a peltum wheel, so he hot three and didn't set a single one up yet... But I am considering one for my winter runiff which is about 550gpm. I did and still might go hybrid with wind. It is usually a steady 9mph at my place.
I have looked at https://m.canadiantire.ca/products/c...Results=true#0 but not settling on this for sure. Canadian Tire does ship to the US, so with this price on sale at 25% off, and whatever the exchange rate is currently, you may win out.

Cedar

[Cedar]

To get your water tested, you usually can for free at plumbing places in the USA, or the provincial district offices in some Canadian provinces. Don't get the water from your kitchen sink. I was told your bathtub faucet tends to be the cleanest one in the house.

Cedar

[Applejack]

Thanks for that info Cedar. I didn't know the bathtub was best place to get the sample. We do have a place where we can get it tested for free. Just have to take the time to get it done. Have to go get car inspected tomorrow and a few other chores to do. Rain yesterday and today has slowed me down a bit for some things I wanted to do outside.

[CountryGuy]

AJ, are you currently set up to pull off this well, or is it an old one just sitting in the yard? Was it hanFor sampling you can build a small dipper out of pvc pipe and a cap with some weight on the bottom (glue some metal washers to the out side bottom. Add a rope and you're in business. U can use it like an old well bucket and pull up your water.

Depending on the depth to your water they are options, don't forget the old tried and try method of a hand pump. Lots of new ss types out there, including ones that can be plumbed inline to your water and allow you to charge up your pressure tank. Though if you're on city water you likely won't have a pressure tank.

If the well is plumbed into your house already the other place to take it is at the pressure tank valve as this is closest to the source.

[Applejack]

This is a well that was here when hubby bought the house. It is a pipe just outside of garage door that runs 35 feet deep. It has a very old 220 electric motor that pulls the water up. We have to attach a hose to the motor to get the water. It is not connected to the house in anyway. The previous owner was a welder and he used it when he was weldon. I am thinking about calling a well guy to look at it as I would like to fix it to run a sink in garage if possible. The motor we have is very heavy and old, Hubby used to remove it, drain it and put in shed for winter months. He can't lift it anymore. So we winterize it best we can still attached to pipe but also unplug it till spring when we need it.