Where to Install turbines?
The conventional wisdom says as high as practical.
The best winds are above a building or tree line,
keep as far away from obstructions as possible.
Placement will be a function unique to each property
or location. Micro turbines are designed to capture
wind energy at lower elevations. Micro turbines
can be moved easily to locate the best winds on
your site.
Can I power my home or out building with
Micro Turbines?
You could have your own micro wind farm if you
want. The larger the system, the more components
are required. The first steps are usually the
most difficult, so just doing part of your power
needs is a good start. Learn as you grow! Think
about ending up with a wind and solar hybrid system
someday. Even producing 50% of your power needs
would be great, think about if everyone did?
Why start with small turbines?
If you wanted to gaze up at the stars, you would
not start out with a Hubble telescope, would you?
Same with alternative energy. It is a fact that
if you hire out the design, installation and maintenance
of any kind of system, you never would have a
payback.
How large are the turbine blades and
how much power do they produce?
Each blade is approximately 11 inches in diameter
and made from a very tough nylon. A generator
will produce 45-60 watts in 10-12 mph wind, 70-90
watts in 20-25 mph wind. Temperature and altitude
will also have an effect on output.
Who can help me learn about using wind
or solar energy?
If there is one common trait in alternative energy,
people love talking about and helping other people.
Most of these people have learned through trial
and error and are happy to share information.
Some are engineers, many are just everyday people
with passion for renewable energy. There are many
great articles and websites to help with almost
any issue. The only mistake you can make with
alternative energy, is doing nothing.
Other considerations for Micro Wind Turbines.
• An emergency electrical back-up system:
With a micro wind turbine set, a battery, some
wiring and a DC to AC inverter, keep your
refrigerator running, keep lights on or power
up a sump pump until grid power has been restored.
• Remote camping, RV or cabin in the
woods: The turbines are a perfect fit for
boon docking. A little extra planning will make
your
back country experience seem like a walk in the
park. Bring an inverter and run small appliances,
charge cell phones, even run
your laptop from the main camp. Stay longer too!
• Put a power station on your boat dock:
Operate your boat lift. Keep your bait fresh.
Top off the batteries for your trolling motor.
Just like remote camping, you'll have DC and AC
right where you need it, all thanks to the wind.
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