1940_dodge
Well-known member
Has anyone done any systems like this? Tried searching the forums and didn't see too much about it. I have average wind speeds where I am of at least 20mph, and sunlight a good chunk of the year has direct sunlight.
Starting Wind/Solar Questions
- Thread starter 1940_dodge
- Start date
rsanter
Well-known member
Where are you?
For the wind, the larger the unit you get the more wind you need to make it generate.
If you have average wind speeds below about 10 you are going to have a hard time getting it to pencil out.
For solar if you have good sun that can work for you. You can do DIY and by the panels for about $1 per watt and then buy the inverter you need.
Total install if you do it yourself should be about $3 per watt and if you hire it out you should be able to do about $5 a wall or a little less.
Bob
For the wind, the larger the unit you get the more wind you need to make it generate.
If you have average wind speeds below about 10 you are going to have a hard time getting it to pencil out.
For solar if you have good sun that can work for you. You can do DIY and by the panels for about $1 per watt and then buy the inverter you need.
Total install if you do it yourself should be about $3 per watt and if you hire it out you should be able to do about $5 a wall or a little less.
Bob
Autorotica
Well-known member
Dodge,
Lots of requirement and restrictions. If you put up a tall unit for wind power, you have to have 1.5 X the height as a clear fall zone. Here is some information on solar power systems...
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/surveys/solar-power-kits-price-survey/
Chris
Lots of requirement and restrictions. If you put up a tall unit for wind power, you have to have 1.5 X the height as a clear fall zone. Here is some information on solar power systems...
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/surveys/solar-power-kits-price-survey/
Chris
HOTFR8
Banned
Plenty of topics about that in the electrical section of the forum.
OP
1940_dodge
Well-known member
I haven't seen anything on the topic of wind power utilization, and even the solar is really light as far as information for just starting out.
OP
1940_dodge
Well-known member
Hey Bob, I live in Rapid City, SD and I'm looking at having a setup for emergency power/misc landscaping lights to run all night. We've had weeks where we have an avg of 30mph throughout the day. The highest I've seen so far has be 55mph gusting.
What about just having a smaller unit for emergency power/LED lighting?
HOTFR8
Banned
Autorotica
Well-known member
Try www.northerntool.com and search for wind generator. They have several units on there. Small units seem to be popular with the boating crowd.
Chris
ddawg16
Well-known member
For wind to work it needs to be high....normal terrain really cuts down the wind speed....i.e., the closer to the ground you get, the less wind you have.
Solar is more DIY doable...
Solar is more DIY doable...
OP
1940_dodge
Well-known member
Do you have any forum recommendations for wind power?
The good news/bad news is that those wind speeds I talked about earlier are at 10 ft off the ground :/
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Very true ! Trees and structure will kill your power output. Even on "the plains" they put windmills up over 20' high !
Falcon67
Well-known member
Unless you are charging batteries for a small shed, for wind you will need a big turbine and a tall tower to have any hope of reasonable power. There are 1000s of turbines here and they work well - with 60' blades on 330 meter tall towers. Little ones like the Whisper series run small green houses and the occasional billboard. Turbines are rated at a steady wind speed that you will seldom see and it doesn't always blow either. There are wind charts you can use to get an idea of how many watts average you can get from wind.