Anyone have a wind turbine ? I know it's kinda not for heating but it is an alt energy.
Like to hear any experiences expecially ones that are like 6 ft dia or less.
Ug
Experiences With a Wind Turbine 6 Ft. Diameter or Less
- EarthWindandFire
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Here's a very good Popular Mechanics article that covers many different types of wind turbines.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a4 ... 8/4324331/
My personal favorite is the Mageen Air Rotor System which would look great over at Ug's house!
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a4 ... 8/4324331/
My personal favorite is the Mageen Air Rotor System which would look great over at Ug's house!
- Freddy
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I still have mine.....it's still off line. Still waiting for time, money, ambition. And still, the #1 thing if you are serious: Do a one year wind speed test at the height of your planned tower. There is no other way to estimate the power you have at your location.
- Uglysquirrel
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Fred, I must applaude for your independence. Stoker power.Freddy wrote:I still have mine.....it's still off line. Still waiting for time, money, ambition. And still, the #1 thing if you are serious: Do a one year wind speed test at the height of your planned tower. There is no other way to estimate the power you have at your location.
- WNY
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My sisters house is Totally Off the grid, Turbine power (with generator backup). She needs new batteries now, won't hold charge, I think they are about $200-300/ea and needs 12 of them.
- Freddy
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If she can find a way to charge them, wheel chair batteries might be found for a reasonable price. But, a "normal" charger will not charge them. Because they are Gel batteries they use a special charger. I think it's a tiny bit less voltage? I use a "smart charger". It'll say smart charger and mention gel batteries on the charger. eBay... $30. Anyway....the point I'm getting to is..... a friend of mine owns a "wheelchair store". People that use electric wheel chairs change the batteries by the calendar. They MUST know they have good batteries. So, if they used their wheel chairs 8 hours a day seven days a week, when the calendar says change them, they are used up, But, most owners use the chair a half hour a day & once a month go to the mall. When they get new batteries, the old ones are darn near new. I get them for $5 each....what the junk man pays my friend. I built an electric motorcycle & have used them for battery backups for coal stoves. Just a thought....if your sister can get some & has the capability to charge them she could save a bunch of money!WNY wrote:She needs new batteries now,
PS... my windmill does not use batteries. I am on the grid & trade my extra power 100% even with the electric company. In essence, the electric company IS my batteries.
- EarthWindandFire
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During lunch I was reading the WSJ and found this article from February.
FEBRUARY 28, 2011. It's Turbine vs. Turbine in Reno.
The wind of northwest Nevada, Mark Twain once wrote, "is by no means a trifling matter." But does harnessing its energy make economic sense? The city of Reno plans to find out.
Reno has installed nine wind turbines—each a different make or model—at four spots around town. Instruments on the turbines continuously measure wind speed and energy production, and all of the data are posted online at greenenergy.reno.gov/energy/.
The goal: To give consumers an in-depth look at how each turbine performs—and how that performance compares with manufacturers' promises.
- davidmcbeth3
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I looked into it but my wind is weak ... you can find the avg wind MPH online (forget where ...some fed govt site) ... need 17 MPH for it to be a go from what I read..