Discussions
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Generators For Home
David asks…
How much power is required to power a large family home?
I am doing some research into setting up a wind turbine for my house. I see terms like ‘kW hours’ for energy or power consumption. If my house uses 1500kW hours of energy per week does this mean i need to run a 1500kW generator for 1 hour to satisfy my power needs?
How would i then go about sizing the required turbine needed to effectively power my home?
This is all new to me so i can see alot of follow up questions coming/
admin answers:
In terms of system design, you need to consider the load imposed on the supply. In your question you mentioned a figure of 1500 kWh per week. This seems very high. It represents an average of 35 amps being drawn from the supply 24/7.
I have a 4 bedroom house occupied by 2 adults and the minimum load, during the night falls to 0.8 Amps and peaks on some days to around 18 Amps for very short periods, the average through the day is about 2 Amps.
One kW represents a load on the supply of about 4 amps for 240 volt supplies and about 8 on 120 volt supplies Understanding the load that is being imposed on the supply will help you to decide the dimensions of the system you need.
For local power generation (micro generation) you can use wind or water turbines dependant upon location, and you can also use peizo electric generation (solar cells), all these are referred to as primary power. In addition to this you will need storage which is in the form of batteries.
To use the battery power you will need an inverter, which generates power at mains voltage from the low voltage batteries. Additionally you will need a regulator, which controls the charge/discharge of the batteries, and is essential for efficient battery use and economical battery life.
If your system is capable of generating power surplus to your requirements, you can sell this to your grid supplier for quite a reasonable return.
Paul asks…
Is it true that wind turbines can never produce enough energy in their lifespans to offset its creation?
I’ve heard on several occasions that wind turbines are not economically feasible because it takes an inordinate amount of time and money, such that it will never produce enough energy to recoup that which was lost in building the turbine. Is this true? Can anyone give me a source?
admin answers:
Hey Patrick, this concept has been around since about 1998 when it first surfaced in regard to solar panels. There was a lot of complaints that solar panels never earn back their, “Embodied Energy,” which is a phrase referring to how much energy it takes to mine raw materials, ship them to a factory, build the product, ship it to it’s destination and install it. To be honest, it is difficult to put an exact energy price on something like that, there are almost limitless variables, such as which mine was used, where it was shipped, how it is installed and used in the end, and so on. A non profit group called, Solar Energy International finally offered some grants to a few colleges to research this. In the end, they couldn’t come up with an exact timeline, but a range based on the above variables.
First of all, solar panels actually do repay their embodied energy some time between 1.5 and 6 years after they are installed. Virtually all manufacturers warranty their product to last at least 25 years, and typically they operate well beyond this time. Similar work was done later with wind turbines, and the results are very similar. The main difference being the range of payback time is wider, meaning it’s possible for a turbine to repay its embodied energy faster, like in less than a year, but it may take as long as 9 years. This is because shipping a utility sized wind turbine can take a huge bite into its embodied energy budget depending on how far it has to go. Solar panels can fit in the back seat of a good sized car, some wind turbines have specially designed hauling vehicles that might have to drive across the country, or across the street. But when you look deeper down this rabbit hole, you eventually learn that non of this matters, I’ll explain.
Electricity has been around since Thomas Edison nearly burned down his house running high amounts of current through bailing wires inside old mason jars, so it isn’t going away anytime soon. The question becomes, “What is the best way to produce it?” Let’s assume you build a 10 KW wind turbine, and put it alongside an efficient conventional power source, say a natural gas fired turbine 10 KW generator. Which will earn back its embodied energy faster? The answer is the gas generator never does. You have to remember that once you build a natural gas generator, coal plant, or any other non renewable energy based power plant, you now have to feed it fuel for the rest of it’s life. It’s conversion rate will always be something below 100%, so in the end it slowly digs itself a deeper and deeper energy hole that it can never crawl out of. At least the wind turbine has a chance to get even in it’s lifetime. This is the key to what makes renewable energy so great, it’s really the difference between buying a home and renting an apartment, one day the home will be paid off, the apartment never is.
We live in a home that is powered by the wind and sun today. About 12 years ago we started looking into solar and wind when our electricity was constantly going out. It began as a small backup plan, just to run a few lights and some electronics. Over time it became more of a hobby and lifestyle, like growing your own tomatoes instead of buying them at the store, we just grew electrons in our garden. Now our home generates over 90% of its own electricity, and we use the power company as our backup source. Even though it will take years to get even with the power bill, it’s worth it to us, and we’ve turned a lot of heads. Once each year now I am invited to the local schools to teach solar power to the 5th graders, then they run a field trip out to our house to see a working solar and wind powered home. Since then the power companies have been busy building wind farms and looking into solar, geothermal and biomass energy. They even have a methane plant alongside a landfill in the next county. Most people are not aware of these things, but they are happening. They are busy complaining about wind mills never earning back their manufacturing energy, solar being too expensive, or hybrid cars not really saving and gas. There is research on these subjects, and it’s available for the asking if you look for it online. My suggestion is you look into it and become better informed insteading of asking hacks like me online for advice. I’ll include some sources below. Hope this answers your question. Good luck Patrick, and take care, Rudydoo
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Generators For Sale
Mary asks…
How can I create high voltages at home?
Say in the range of about 5K volts?? What is the equipment required?
admin answers:
A generator? For real?
You don’t need a generator. You need a transformer. You need to know how much voltage you’ll be supplying it with, and you already know what voltage you need coming out of it. Transformers work on simple ratios. You have two sets of wire wound around each other. The magnetic field of the supply windings induce a voltage on to the secondary wires producing your 5000 volts. Florescent ballasts are transformers and you may find a specific one that produces that voltage. Http://www.dencosales.com/files/Download/Allanson%20EK%20Product%20Dimensions.pdf
This is a pdf from denco sales that fits your output voltage, but only at 30mA.
Best of Luck,and Be careful! Amperage may kill But voltage hurts!
Helen asks…
What are 25 ways to protect my family and home from a torrential storm?
Detailed List please.
admin answers:
1) move *the act of packing and moving to a different location. If not possible, continue.
2) depending on your budget, some major re-modeling is in order.
3) install additional braces to your roof trusses.
4) Glue your roof…
(a)During a hurricane, the wind may almost seem to be ripping the roof off your home. So give your roof a bit of reinforcement. With some glue, you can increase your roof’s resistance to wind.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Home recommends you go to your local home improvement store and get premium flooring adhesive. Using a caulking gun, put a small bead of glue to the underside of your roof where the roof and the support beams meet. Be sure to look for an adhesive that has been tested and has a strong rating like APA AFG-01 ASTM D 3498.
5) insure your storm gutters are draining rain ample distance, peferably down hill from your home.
6) insure your storm gutters are free from leaves and other foreign debris.
7) waterproof your basement. You can do it yourself by consulting a sales associate at your local home improvement store. Or you can hire an outside company. Again, depends on your budget.
8) ensure your home is fall distance away from large trees or poles. Trees you can use a chain saw yourself and cut it to fall away from your house. Poles are more tricky to remove. You need to write your congress person and tell them that the utility pole on your property is causing cancer to your child. Then you need to adopt a girl and shave “most” of her hair off… Then get the news to have a heartfelt story on you and your plight. Then, the pole is moved…
9)Back up generators for emergency power. Generators are cheap and run on gas. You can get a decent one at your local home improvement store.
10)Vacuum sealer and large bags. Seal blankets and pillows and the like into these bags. You should vacuum seal the blankets as to keep spiders, mice and other “pests” out.
11) Large bags for your vacuum sealer.
12) sleeping bags for your vacuum sealer
13) invest in a sump pump incase the water comes into your basement.
14) replace your old windows. Newer windows come with an “act of god” warranty.
15) think about installing “impact resistant windows”
16) invest in a flash light that doesn’t require batteries (the one you shake “as seen on T.V.”)
17) invest in a radio that works on gyroscope
18) check the weight on your garage door. Many use the lightest material to save them and ultimately you costs.
19) have tarp handy for if when a hole is blown in your roof, you can patch it up when the eye of the storm is over you.
20) register for the next CCW class (carry concealed weapon). Check state and local laws…
21) practice at a shooting range after obtaining your CCW Permit. You never know when Martial Law will take over….
22) register for CPR courses. It may come in handy…
23)
(a) If you have furniture and other outdoor equipment on your patio or deck, bring them inside when strong weather threatens. Don’t forget trash cans, grills, toys, and potted plants. Keep them from becoming flying objects that can cause additional injury or damage during storms with high winds.
“You would be very surprised about what people don’t think about,” says Chapman-Henderson. “We saw garden gnomes wedged into palm trees. We saw an old record sliced into a tree. We saw sailboats in the tops of trees after Hurricane Andrew,” she said.
24) purchase blow up inner rafts, innertubes ect. Ect (and an air pump) You never know when you will need to float to the nearest shelter after a major storm.
25) go to www.myspace.com/therukiz
“Your next door neighbor Warpath the Battle AXE”
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Cost
Lizzie asks…
What’s your response to a wind turbine company marketing only in blue states?
Madison-Green Technologies, a startup firm in upstate, New York is currently working on something called the “Model 10” wind turbine, a device which is designed to be a low cost point of access for those who wish to get started with alternative energy. The wind turbine kits, which cost under $1000 are designed to produce 130 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month when placed in an area with exposure to a 10 mph prevailing wind. 130 kilowatt-hours is roughly 10% of the average American consumers electricity usage per month, and is closer to 20% of the average users tally in Northeastern states where air-conditioning usage is lower and many homes use heating-oil or natural gas furnaces.
In an interesting twist, the company founders are using the 2012 electoral map to focus their marketing efforts, and will focus on those states where President Obama won by the largest margin. “We know that just because we’re a green technology company that FOX News and Newsmax will do everything they can to convince conservatives that we’re evil incarnate,” said one company founder. If someone lives in a Red state and they want to purchase one of our units via our website they can but we aren’t going to waste our time developing any storefronts or looking for partnerships with contractors to install the units in any of the states where Romney won,” he continued.
What’s your response to green energy company like Madison-Green Technologies using the 2012 electoral map to focus their marketing efforts?
Alan, they said people can still purchase the units and they’ll ship to a red state, but people in those states are on their own from that point. They have to install it themselves or find their own contractor to do the work.
admin answers:
I don’t know if it’s such a smart marketing plan. Wouldn’t it make more sense to develop storefronts and partnerships in those areas of the country with exposure to a 10 MPH or greater prevailing wind? I think the pitch should differ in red and blue states, however. In a blue state saving money on your energy bill WHILE reducing carbon emissions that cause climate change AND putting contractors to work, which pumps money into the local economy, is a pitch that makes sense especially if there is also a local bank willing to provide affordable financing. In a red state you simply want to point out the cost savings, ease of financing and collateral benefits to the local economy.
That’s my response.
Out of Afghanistan in 2013!
Mary asks…
How much do wind turbines cost?
roughly how much do the huge wind turbines cost that are put on wind farms? thanks 🙂
admin answers:
A small turbine can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000 installed, depending upon size.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Generators Manufacturers
Maria asks…
Who is a manufacturer of a small generator that can fit inside of a small wind turbine?
Any help is very appreciated. I’m looking any manufacturer EXCEPT ones in China, which may be a kind of picky exception, hahaha.
Thank you
admin answers:
Try looking on www.thomasnet.com
Would an automotive alternator do ? THey would have the advantage that, being mass produced, they would be cheap. Also spare parts would be available through a huge supply chain, parts stocked on someone else’s inventory cost….
Steven asks…
How do you measure windmill efficiency without using a generator?
Is there a formula I can use to convert the number of the windmill’s rotations into watts or some other measurement? I’m doing a science fair project about windmills and I don’t have a generator I can use to measure the amount of electricity produced. The only formula I found is watts = (Kh x number of disk rotations x 3600) / number of seconds, but I don’t have the Kh.
I’m really confused, please help!
admin answers:
Go look at www.awea.org for general info on turbines.
Unless you know the specific turbine manufacturer and model, it will be very difficult to relate turbine speed (in rpm) to power produced.
Besides, how do you expect to relate rotational speed to efficiency?
Efficiency is Output electrical power divided by Input wind power.
Perhaps you should look at the capacity factor of wind turbines, and the resulting relative cost of electric power as it relates to capacity factor.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Generators For Home Use For Sale
Mandy asks…
Solar generator for tiny house?
Hi, Im looking for a 2000+ watt solar generator that i can connect to the electrical system of the tiny house that I want to build. I want there to be a long lasting battery, and i also want to be able to charge the battery from a standard 120 volt outlet. I need to connect the power output to the electrical system of my tiny house, so i can not use an outlet that is built into the unit, because the unit (battery/ charger/ inverter) will be somewhere else (connected to the house system.
admin answers:
I’m a permaculture farmer, on a 40 acre farm. We are slowly moving our entire farm to becoming off grid. So far the water and the heat are off grid. Next is the power.
We’ll be using both wind and solar, because on days the sun doesn’t shine, it’s usually windy. If you go with a grid tied solar system as another person suggested, it will save you more than 1/2 the cost. However when the grid power goes down, so does yours. If you have no batteries and no inverter, you have no power.
I really like the solar systems that Costco has been offering for sale. The nice thing about them is you can start small, and ad more as your budget allows. For your batteries, you want to look at marine batteries (for boats), or golf cart batteries. This next part is really important, so pay attention; BATTERIES GIVE OFF TOXIC GAS, AND MUST BE VENTED TO THE OUTSIDE! So no batteries in your house. Plan on building your batteries a protective box OUTSIDE. Also realize that you should not talk to ANYONE about your batteries and off grid home. Why? Because it’s valuable, and has immediate resale value for those who steal and turn items in for scrap and recycling. You could come home and find your entire system, including the valuable and expensive batteries gone.
Since the batteries have to be vented to the outside, theft is a real possibility. What do you plan to run, in terms of appliances? A laptop takes little power. A desk top computer is a power hog. A refrigerator from an RV can be run off propane, and will use no electricity. CFL or LED lights take very little power. You can install a gas powered stove, so again you need no power for it. We are going to use an on demand water heater, so no power needed for the water. We are currently building a 600 sg ft house, with propane powered fridge, stove, and water heater. The actual power needs of the house are very minimal. We’ll be heating with a wood stove.
You might actually find you don’t need 2000 watts if you choose the right appliances. Of course if you go for full electric everything, you’ll need a lot more than 2000 watts. If you live someplace where you have to run A/C you’ll probably need more than 2000 watts. In our climate, a ceiling fan is more than sufficient.
So sit down, plan your house, and what your ACTUAL electrical appliances will be. Go to YouTube, there are lots of great videos on there about people living in little solar powered houses.
~Garnet
Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years
Thomas asks…
How do I get started with solar/wind generators in the home on a budget?
I am wanting to play around with solar and wind power, right now I am just in the learning stages and would like to run my flat screen t.v. and maybe some lights, eventually I would like to be able to run a 660 watt window a.c. unit. I found this kit at Harbor Freight and they go on sale as low as 179.00 sometimes http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599 I already own a 2000 watt vector power inverter. any advice will be appreciated, if you are a nay sayer, keep your comments to yourself, I am doing this more as a learning experiance than any big plans on saving big bucks on my electric bill. any inut on inexpensive wind generators will be appreciated also!
here is a related question I posted, please check it out also, thanks!
here is a related question I posted, please check it out also, thanks!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090402050242AAe34S9
I plan on buying 6 volt golf cart batteries, I would like to hear some opinions on inexpensive charging controllers..
I plan on linking several kits together also if that helps…
admin answers:
Solar arrays are quite expensive and the payoff period is measured in decades.
Re the link, 45 watts is not much. It will power 1 or 2 CFL lamps, that’s all, and that is when the sun is shining. And exactly at right angles to the array. Typical output is probably half that.
You will need a charge controller, and one or more large sealed marine lead acid batteries, as well as an inverter. A good charge controller is essential, as the voltage and current output of a panel varies a lot. A good charge controller has a DC-DC converter that presents the optimal load to the panel to get the maximum power from it, and converts that to the right DC voltage to charge the batteries.
.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Manufacturers
Lisa asks…
How can I make a composite material to build wind turbines with recycled material?
My father and his friends are trying to start a buisness building wind turbines, and we have been trying to figure out a good material to make them out of, that we can use recycled material Eg. milk jugs, cans, etc.
We have almost every resource you can think of and lots of different machines to work with. Cranes, everything.
Any suggestions would be very helpful, the reason they’re doing this is because they are being laid off as millwrights.
admin answers:
Its so hard to find good materials for wind turbines. Manufacturers of wind turbines use very specific materials. But if you want to build one for you from recycled materials, its good but efficiency of turbine will be very small. I build one wind turbine from plastic pipe :
http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/index.html
You can take some ideas from this site
Best Regards and i wish you good luck in work.
Carol asks…
What companies hire to build wind turbines?
My husband wants to find companies who hire for building wind turbines. We realize that the best people to talk to are subcontractors, but I have searched all over the internet, and I can’t find any jobs. I know that Iowa has a project going on now, but we can’t find who is hiring. Also, my husband has been in many phases of construction, but he has zero experience in this area. He would like to learn, however, so who would he talk to?
admin answers:
Here are lists of companies that are active in this area. Check their web pages and look for a personal page or a human resource page.
Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wind_turbine_manufacturers
http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byP/wRP/lwindturbine/byB/mfg/mfg.shtml
http://www.awea.org/smallwind/smsyslst.html
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Generators Australia
Mark asks…
how is using energy resources in Antarctica important?
admin answers:
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) received a grant of half a million dollars from the Australian Greenhouse Office to demonstrate the use of hydrogen generated by wind in Antarctica. The demonstration project at the remote Mawson site will research the safety and operational aspects of using hydrogen on station, as well as its viability as a major energy carrier.
Hydrogen is not, as many people believe, an energy source. Neither is electricity. In contemporary energy systems, electricity serves as an energy carrier. It is produced from primary energy sources using technology such as diesel powered generators or wind turbines. It is the same case with hydrogen.
Hydrogen will be generated using energy from the Mawson station’s wind turbines, stored and used in a test fuel cell, as fuel in a heater and in one of the station vehicles. Two Enercon wind turbines, capable of withstanding blizzards in excess of 300 km/h, were recently installed. Together, the units provide one MW of electricity for use at the research station and for the hydrogen project — and dramatically lower the need for imported diesel fuel.
“The Mawson system will generate well over ten times the power of existing Antarctic wind-power systems while having a much lower environmental impact than the current option of diesel fuel now used throughout Antarctica,” said Australia’s Environment Minister Robert Hill, regarding the wind turbine construction. “When the system is fully developed, an Antarctic station will, for the first time, be able to use a renewable source to meet virtually all its energy needs.”
For the upcoming hydrogen demonstration project, the AAD plans to install the test fuel cell and heater at the field camp on Bechervaise Island. They will provide electricity and heat for the scientists involved in the penguin monitoring program.
By the completion of the project, the staff at AAD expects to gain sufficient information to be able to model the large-scale use of hydrogen to supplement their energy requirements.
Hydrogen used by the Bureau of Meteorology staff for daily weather balloon flights is currently generated on site. Electrolyzers, powered in part by wind energy, produce hydrogen from water. Any excess hydrogen produced will be stored and utilized for the project. The system will be installed and implemented during the 2005-06 season.
The AAD expects that the use of hydrogen as a fuel will reduce the need for fossil fuels during those times when the wind energy is insufficient to power the station. The hydrogen will fuel either a large-scale fuel cell system or an internal combustion engine generator.
The ultimate aim is to be able to run the station and all the field camps without the use of any fossil fuels. The AAD believes this may be the first attempt to use hydrogen as a major energy source in Antarctica.
John asks…
How does tidal power work?
admin answers:
Tidal power is the only form of energy which derives directly from the relative motions of the Earth–Moon system, and to a lesser extent from the Earth–Sun system. The tidal forces produced by the Moon and Sun, in combination with Earth’s rotation, are responsible for the generation of the tides. Other sources of energy originate directly or indirectly from the Sun, including fossil fuels, conventional hydroelectric, wind, biofuels, wave power and solar. Nuclear is derived using radioactive material from the Earth, geothermal power uses the heat of magma below the Earth’s crust, which comes from radioactive decay.
Variation of tides over a day
Tidal energy is generated by the relative motion of the Earth, Sun and the Moon, which interact via gravitational forces. Periodic changes of water levels, and associated tidal currents, are due to the gravitational attraction by the Sun and Moon. The magnitude of the tide at a location is the result of the changing positions of the Moon and Sun relative to the Earth, the effects of Earth rotation, and the local shape of the sea floor and coastlines.
Because the Earth’s tides are caused by the tidal forces due to gravitational interaction with the Moon and Sun, and the Earth’s rotation, tidal power is practically inexhaustible and classified as a renewable energy source.
A tidal energy generator uses this phenomenon to generate energy. The stronger the tide, either in water level height or tidal current velocities, the greater the potential for tidal energy generation.
Tidal movement causes a continual loss of mechanical energy in the Earth–Moon system due to pumping of water through the natural restrictions around coastlines, and due to viscous dissipation at the seabed and in turbulence. This loss of energy has caused the rotation of the Earth to slow in the 4.5 billion years since formation. During the last 620 million years the period of rotation has increased from 21.9 hours to the 24 hours[3] we see now; in this period the Earth has lost 17% of its rotational energy. While tidal power may take additional energy from the system, increasing the rate of slowdown, the effect would be noticable over millions of years only, thus being negligable.
Types of Tidal Energy
****************************
Tidal power can be classified into two main types:
* Tidal stream systems make use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power turbines, in a similar way to windmills that use moving air. This method is gaining in popularity because of the lower cost and lower ecological impact compared to barrages.
* Barrages make use of the potential energy in the difference in height (or head) between high and low tides. Barrages are essentially dams across the full width of a tidal estuary, and suffer from very high civil infrastructure costs, a worldwide shortage of viable sites, and environmental issues.
* Tidal lagoons, are similar to barrages, but can be constructed as self contained structures, not fully across an estuary, and are claimed to incur much lower cost and impact overall. Furthermore they can be configured to generate continuously which is not the case with barrages.
Modern advances in turbine technology may eventually see large amounts of power generated from the ocean, especially tidal currents using the tidal stream designs but also from the major thermal current systems such as the Gulf Stream, which is covered by the more general term marine current power. Tidal stream turbines may be arrayed in high-velocity areas where natural tidal current flows are concentrated such as the west and east coasts of Canada, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Bosporus, and numerous sites in south east Asia and Australia. Such flows occur almost anywhere where there are entrances to bays and rivers, or between land masses where water currents are concentrated.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Generators Alaska
Chris asks…
If it is dark in Alaska half the year, what about solar items?
Do items such as solar calculators and such still work? Yes I know you can just go inside and turn on the lights.
admin answers:
Little solar items like watches and calculators work like anywhere else – fine indoors and fine outdoors dawn to dusk. And they don’t work outdoors at night (the northern lights can get bright enough to cast a shadow but never bright enough to power a solar cell.) Just the nights are longer in Alaska.
Note that where most all Alaskans live (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, etc), there is always daytime and nighttime throughout the year. Very short days in winter and very long in summer (5.5 hours in Dec, 19.5 hours in June where i live in Kenai), but you have to be north of the Arctic Circle (like Prudhoe Bay or the town of Barrow) to have weeks or months without any sun.
In those locations, various solar installations wouldn’t work – power for remote highway phones, radio repeater sites, weather stations, railroad switching gates, etc (not that the Alaskan Railroad goes north of Fairbanks). Such off-the-grid uses would require wind power or a fuel-powered, auto-start generator.
Both solar-generated electricity and solar heating are tough up here. When you need it (winter), we’ve got only a few hours of low-angle sun. When you’ve got it (summer), you don’t use much electricity nor need much heat. Since you need to be on-the-grid or have a generator anyway, the advantages of solar rarely emerge.
I have seen an Aaskan Railroad switching gate just south of Denali National Park with a huge array of PV solar panels for power. At 11 pm, the sun was shining almost directly at the BACK of the panels. Looked all wrong, but they were installed correctly. And sized large for winter use.
Linda asks…
How to people have electricity in remote places? ?
I was reading someone’s web page who had built a cabin in a remote part of Alaska. They had to have an outhouse, no running water, etc. But then they showed pictures of the inside when it was finished and it looked like there were lights lighting up the place….so how could that be possible in this situation? A generator? or what? Thanks for any ideas!
admin answers:
We lived ‘off the grid’ for years before power was brought out to our more remote area in Alaska. You can run a generator (gas or diesel) for basic power needs. Generators come in all sizes depending on your power needs. Or have inverter that allows you to use the power stores of batteries, which will need to be recharged with a generator, wind, or alternative means.
If it is just lights you can easily install propane lights in a cabin that work quite nicely. A a propane stove and propane refrigerator, and you are all set.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Technician Jobs
Sharon asks…
what industry has more growing jobs and is growing faster?? wind turbines or solar panels?
I wanted to get training as a wind turbine technician but i’m wondering if maybe a job in solar panels is a better choice. And I live in southern california.
admin answers:
Firstly, your very lucky there in california as either way would actually be pretty good.
Solar will be bigger than wind for many years to come as there are many more companies investing in solar panels as they require a lot less maintenance. This could be a good reason to go into wind, More money, less work. Being in california you may have enough work either way. Maybe do both? Might sound weird but there are many companies employing people that know about both. Solar companies that want to expand into wind but cant afford 2 experts might want a join expert.
Linda asks…
What are some high paying jobs with dangerous aspects? (Fearsome aspects, fear, potential danger, etc)?
Long ago I discovered the job “Wind Turbine technician“, which basically involves greasing the turbines and perform regular maintainence while receiving 14-25 dollars an hour. The job doesn’t seem too rigerous, but the fact is that these technicians operate from a terrifying hight which intimidated the reporter interviewing the technician. Obviously the job requires additional education, but even with that aspect there isn’t any availability in my state.
I’m not sure what the term is for these types of jobs, but it seems very appealing to me
admin answers:
Dangerous jobs include working on our power-line workers, crab fishing, timber cutter (lumberjack), structural metal workers, farmers and ranchers, miners, roofers, truck drivers, and fishermen. This is a list of careers that record the most fatalities annually and they all pay more than average because of that.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Generators Types
Donald asks…
what are different types of wind generators?
i am looking forward all kinds of generators which can be used in wind turbine(wind farms).
i search about real types and industrial of generators, not mankinds or labratoars ones.
thank you
admin answers:
Induction generators are used for stand alone systems, synchrounous generators could be used as well.
Susan asks…
How would you calculate the theoretical power output of a Savonius wind turbine?
I built a small scale Savonius style wind turbine for a project. I can easily measure the power it puts out in a wind tunnel using a wattmeter, but how would I calculate the theoretical maximum power output? I want to use these two values to find the turbine‘s efficiency. Thanks!
admin answers:
Hey Drew, Gatorbait is on the right track, but the formulas in Mr. Voneshen’s publication cannot be used for a savonius turbine.
First, the actual formula originally derived by Albert Betz was this:
P = .5 X rho X A X V^3
P is power in watts
rho is the air density in kg / cubic meter
A is the swept area in square meters
V is the velocity in m/s, which is cubed to get the final power.
This is the actual formula to find theoretical power available in a moving column of air. There are lots of hybrid formulas, such as the one Gatorbait references. Mr. Voneschen’s instructions use one that takes air density at sea level times one half, then converts it to a constant to adjust for the fact that he is using Diameter instead of swept Area. That’s fine, as long as you are using a horizontal turbine. With a vertical, or savonius, the diameter means nothing, because the area can be changed dramatically with a taller or shorter barrel. It is the area of the rotor that the wind sees that must be used for power calculations. Once Mr. Voneschen finishes his discussion, showing a diagram of a horizontal turbine, he then goes on to show you how to build a vertical one, so the hybrid formula no longer applies.
The other problem is the efficiency he is using. The best modern turbines that science can build today run in the 25 to 35 % efficiency range, and they are all horizontal. Albert Betz correctly calculated that the best ideal efficiency any turbine could ever reach is a theoretical limit of 59%. The horizontal types have horrible efficiencies, generally in the 5 to 8 % range. The reason for this is that most of the torque developed by the downwind blade is used to push the upwind blade back into positon, so very little is left to actually push the generator. It is this reason that no commercial applications of these devices are built today. I think Savonius rotors are neat, as do most of creation, but besides turning a wind chime in the garden, or running a small pond pump, they can’t really do anything for us. In Mr. Voneschen’s instructions, he is using 50% as the “rough” efficiency of the home made barrel rotor. Even the very best horizontal units today do not come close to this level of efficiency, a good quality well engineered savonius rotor won’t be within one tenth of this level.
We’ve been powering our home for 11 years now with the wind and sun, and the last 5 years or so I’ve been teaching renewable energy seminars in the local schools. In my experience, there are two things in vast supply when you get into wind power, wind, and missinformation. My suggestion is to go to the source and don’t waste your time asking questions to hacks like me online. When your turbine is finished, if you can get it to run well in a wind tunnel, get some good watt readings, then go to the American Wind Energy Associations website and do your calculations for theoretical power available, and it will be simple math to come up with your efficiency. Don’t be dissapointed by the results, if you can reach 3 or 4 %, you’re doing really well. Take care Drew, Rudydoo
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Generators For Sale
Sandra asks…
What type of power inverter should I get for home use?
I would like to have a power source I can use when the power goes out for a couple of hours. I would just want to use a lamp, a cable modem, maybe a fan. Nothing which would draw a lot. I am looking for an alternative to a gas-powered generator. Are there power inverters available that you can keep plugged in so a battery stays charged? And when the power goes out, you pull it out and use it. It would need to have a standard outlet you can plug into. I do not want a power inverter that plugs into the car cigarette lighter. I think I saw such a device at Staples, but I’m having a hard time finding devices for sale on the internet.
admin answers:
A UPS would do what you want and would automatically switch online so you wouldn’t lose power to the devices. Check the manufacturers specs for run time at various loads to help determine which size would work best.
I have a pair of very large storage batteries which are kept charged with a 28VDC power supply. They power a 1kW sine wave inverter which powers the outlets in my bedroom. During a power outage there is no change to whatever is plugged in. I can watch TV, clock radios do not start flashing. In the event of the batteries draining, the circuit will automatically revert back to normal AC power.
There are some pictures and other information on my web page.
Http://members.rennlist.org/warren/wind.html
Susan asks…
Detailed information on the Hush wind generator?
It is an Australian invention and should be released for sale soon.
admin answers:
Haven’t heard about it, but sounds like I would want one.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Syndrome
Carol asks…
After seeing videos like these, do you still think more wind turbines are a good idea?
Or are they still good until they are brought into your own neighborhood?
Headaches, dizziness and nausea cause by the unnatural “flicker effect” of the giant shadows cast by the giant turbine propellers:
People being forced out of their homes because of health health problems cause by “wind turbine syndrome” caused by the flickering, EMF energy pollution emitted, noise, and vibrations.
Maybe I’m more sensitive than some, but even seeing videos of wind tubines spinning and causing blinking lights makes me sick.
admin answers:
The flicker effect is annoying. Maybe the agw socialist hippies would like to live in the shadows of wind turbines because they’re a bit like disco strobe-lights. They’re already dizzy and nauseous in promoting global warming.
Seriously, wind turbines have a role to play in isolated areas where generating power is a problem. But they’re expansive, expensive, ugly on any landscape, noisy and only work when there’s enough wind to make them turn. The idea of building them to power large communities is scary, and now apparently they lead to health problems. My opinion is to use them only where other power sources aren’t practical/possible.
Jenny asks…
After seeing videos like these, do you still think more wind turbines are a good idea?
Or are they still good until they are brought into your own neighborhood?
Headaches, dizziness and nausea cause by the unnatural “flicker effect” of the giant shadows cast by the giant turbine propellers:
People being forced out of their homes because of health health problems cause by “wind turbine syndrome” caused by the flickering, EMF energy pollution emitted, noise, and vibrations.
I’ve seen a lot of electrical plants and I would rather live near one of those if I had to choose. Seeing these giant EMF towers with their spinning propellers makes me sick, don’t they make you sick too?
It Girl: I agree–when you look at them they stand out as not belonging there. As being unhealthy and unnatural.
piegowdealer: The third video is in the US–Oregon.
And I’m not against clean energy at all–I still think electric cars are a good idea. I just think fake “clean energy” schemes/scams are bad ideas and bad for our health.
admin answers:
Hmm…strange, because we have wind farms where I am and I have not heard of this. At all. I have not felt massive vibrations, I have never seen shadows that large cast anywhere near residential housing, and I know of no animals who have suffered dangerous reactions to the stimuli. I have never experienced hearing much noise from them either. It isn’t like you can compare a wind farm with an international airport, a train station, a bus depot, a nuclear energy plant, an oil rig, a coal processing plant, a shooting range, a major waterway, a large city (more than a million), barges, lock and dams, a major grain plant, rendering plant, hog or chicken farm, or distillery (they all smell to high heaven) or even a military base where they set off ammunition–all of these are way worse (trust me–I have lived near all of these items at some time or another in my life).
If you do not trust my accute assessment (since I am not a scientist or an energy advocate of any kind), then try reading up on the views of wind energy from communities that have lived with it for many years. You will find that the level of satisfaction in this method of energy production is superior to that of energy created by other methods. Not everything you see on youtube can be trusted as comnplete fact–if you believe everything you see on there, then I would be worried. As for them not being attractive…well, not everything can be aesthetically pleasing, now can it. If you can’t seem to live near it, then move–people do it every day, especially when they live near noisy or obstructive things (airports are a great example). Otherwise, get over it–unless we want to spend billions of dollars in solar panels, or geo-thermal energy systems, this is one of the cleanest energy solutions we have available.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Generators Wiki
James asks…
How much longer are we going to put up with these stupid wind turbines?
Recent research has proved that the power that these hideous contraptions put out is unbelievably puny and that they are monstrously inefficient. When are the wind energy plant kissers going to admit that they have been conned?
admin answers:
They’re not bad. Research makes them better all the time, and they’re getting steadily more important. So many people don’t agree that they’re bad.
“At the end of 2006, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 74,223 megawatts; although it currently produces less than 1% of world-wide electricity use, it accounts for approximately 20% of electricity use in Denmark, 9% in Spain, and 7% in Germany. Globally, wind power generation more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2006.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power
They’re one important tool in fighting against global warming. They’re not going away any time soon.
George asks…
what are the necessary parts to build a small wind turbine?
what parts are required?
is a gearbox needed and what is the price range of everything since i don’t want to just buy a complete system, finally where are the parts available for purchase?
admin answers:
If you actually want to use it for anything serious, you are better off to buy a small wind turbine for a few hundred $ than to try to build one yourself. Prices on small win turbine generators have come down over the years.
If on the other hand, you just want a simple demonstration device, all you need is a generator with a shaft of adequate length, a fan assembly to bolt to it, a post to mount it on, output leads and some bits of hardware. This will produce a varying and uncertain voltage……
BUT…………..
You can then gussy it up with a wind vane and a pivot and add control electronics and you may well end up with something usable.
Here are two sites to help you go that route:
http://greenterrafirma.com/DIY_Wind_Turbine.html
http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/
http://en.howtopedia.org/wiki/How_to_Build_a_Small_Wind_Turbine
Have fun!
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Generators Cost
Charles asks…
What size and cost for windmill power for school needed?
My school is trying to get an energy saving wind generator to help make it “green.” Our physics class is working on the cost / size issue, and I would like to know an estimate for both. I have been researching and according to my teacher our school uses 100,000 KWh each month.
admin answers:
There are two options here.
1) Install a wind turbine to meet the building’s maximum demand. This allows the school to “disconnect” from the grid.
2) Install a wind turbine that reduces the school’s carbon footprint by producing enough kWh to offset all the electric energy used by the school.
I suspect your teacher is interested in option # 2, since all you were given is the energy usage of 100,000 kWh per month.
The average wind turbine only produces about 25 to 30% of its rated power (RP). A really good location might get up to 40%. This value is referred to as the Rough Capacity Factor or RCF. I will assume your location has wind conditions that will result in an RCP of 30%
RP x RCF x 24 hours x 30 days = 100,000 kWh.
Solve for Rated Capacity:
RP = 100,000 kWh ÷ (RCF x 24 x 30)
RP = 100,000 kWh ÷ (.30 x 24 x 30)
RP = 100,000 kWh ÷ 216 hours = 462 kW.
Round this up to 500 kW.
Assuming an average cost of $3000 per kW, a 500 kW wind turbine is going to cost you about $1.5M before tax incentives and other credits.
Daniel asks…
what are the components needed in order to make both: a solar-panel and the system to apply it to daily use?
I heard on an add (trying to be VERY persuasive for me to get the guide) that building solar panels, wind generators and the system to put them to use, is easy and much cheaper than getting the set and it implemented by specialist, but the guide cost $50 so i cant be bothered, but i would still be interested in learning more about it for free! So anyone got the know how?
admin answers:
Well, you can’t make a solar panel. Unless what they were talking about was buying solar cells (those small 1″x1.5″ cells) and soldering them all up together to make a panel. Then buying or making an aluminum frame and putting a low iron glass sheet over it. Then wiring up the diodes for the panel you just made. I guess it would be cheaper if you don’t count the hours of labor you would have to put into it to make one panel. Oh also, you would need an inverter to convert it to AC. Some people just buy broken solar cells which cost next to nothing and make a panel out of that.
As far as the wind generators? I guess it would be far less time consuming than the solar panels and that might be worth doing but you will still need an inverter. They are actually pretty handy for camping, I made one that gave out 24v at max with a voltage regulator. The only problem with that is that you’re going to need more than one and they need to be bigger. Plus you need a healthy amount of wind. They are just trying to make a quick buck, this isn’t something practical really.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Cost
Steven asks…
What does the wind turbine do in Farmville?
The wind turbine costs 1,500,000 and I need 45 neighbours…so I can’t buy it yet, what does it do?
admin answers:
It makes you realise you need to get a life.
Donald asks…
How much does a GE wind turbine cost. Is the cost of the tower included?
Wind turbine 1.5 megawatts to 3.6 megawatts.
admin answers:
A 5-Turbine wind farm in NJ cost 12.5 million dollars and supplies approximately 2500 homes. A 1.5 MW turbine can supply about 500 homes.
So, about 2.5 million dollars per turbine.
It would seem that it takes about 10-12 years for a 1.5 MW turbine to pay for itself, assuming a 500 dollar/year electricity bill.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Generators For Home
Steven asks…
how can i build a wind turbine at home?
I want to build a wind turbine that will allow me to power my home. Can this be done and can you show me where i can find some wind turbine plans?
admin answers:
I have recently built three as a hobby. I have actually managed to lower my electric bill by almost 30% (I use only 2 of the generators). The first one I built was a true learning experience. I learned, a bit later, that the blades really need to be aircraft like.
Listed below are three sites that I know will get you started on the right path. Have fun, and feel free to write to me. I’ll give you the benefit of my experience, and hopefully, you can teach me something new too along the way.
Http://www.homemade-wind-generator.com/
http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/index.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Wind-Turbine-Generators-For-Home-Electricity&id=1419642
James asks…
How much would it cost me to install a complete wind turbine system?
With my electricity bill as high as it is, I’m considering going off of city power and installing a wind turbine system that can power my whole house. I live in the state of Oregon. Can someone give me a ball park cost for such an endeavour and what kind of performance I could expect? Thanks.
admin answers:
A few years ago a coworker looked into this because they found out after they moved a mobile home onto their property that it was going to cost about $10,000 to have electric brought in. The wind turbine setup was also about the same price. Remember that your generator needs to be larger than your average load to charge batteries for when the wind does not blow. I am in Oklahoma where we have some of the best conditions for wind generation and still would need considerable storage.
I helped a friend build his own to power a storage/shop building. He did it cheap by getting an old windmill from a farmer for $100 including the tower. Bought a used truck alternator at Pick a part junkyard. For $25. The batteries and inverter cost another $500.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Generators For Home
Steven asks…
Is wind power generator at home really work ?
I heard about wind power generator and I want to make a wind power generator to power things in my house. Although I am not sure where to find good information. I want to save money. Is there any reliable information on how to make wind power generator at home?
admin answers:
I made mine wind power generator and its saving me some good money 🙂 I use it to power various things inside and outside my house. I found the best source of info for this at:
http://homemadeenergyreviews.blogspot.com/
David asks…
how can i make a wind generator for home use ?
i want to make a wind generator in my home to use it to open lamb tv and so on how can i make it ?
admin answers:
It isn’t necessarily easy to make a wind generator at home, but it’s certainly possible. I’m slowly gathering supplies to build one myself for the fun of it.
Here are some links from my bookmarks.
Http://www.otherpower.com/
http://www.scoraigwind.com/pmgbooklet/itpmg.pdf
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Technician Salary
Nancy asks…
Becoming a wind turbine technican?
I think I should pursue this career. I am 18 years old and the future looks really bright for this. People say that you could travel all around the country and that would be AWESOME. all of it sounds pretty good except for the salary. They only make on average 43k a year which is awful in my opinion. Does that sound about right? making 43k a year?
admin answers:
It’s anywhere from 36K to 70K depending on what you’re doing or what your skill set is.
Most “technicians” are just doing preventative maintenance/checks and there isn’t really a whole lot involved other than climbing.
They even call janitors “custodial technicians” so don’t let the title fool you especially if it’s a trade school trying to sell you on their program(s).
You should choose a career path that is what YOU want, not what pays the most. You’re going to have to go to work and do it every single day and if it’s not something you really enjoy, then you will become very disheartened very quickly. You also want to be treated with respect, not like someone who can be replaced by the next set of shoes that shows up.
George asks…
Wind technician salary?
How much do wind turbine technicians make and how can someone get a job as one?
admin answers:
Curently it looks like they are making between $65,000 and $75,000 per year and get a company truck. There are 2 main schools that offer training for wind technicians;
California Wind Tech
Alternative Energy Institue
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Turbine Generators For Sale
Mandy asks…
I want to invest in wind energy, but am not sure where to put my money.?
I want to invest in the wind energy industry, but I am not sure where would be the best place to put my money.
turbine manufacturers?
consulting firms?
development firms?
construction firms?
Which “component” of the wind energy industry is the smartest place for my money?
Thank you
admin answers:
If you want to speculate I suggest AMSC. High risk.
American Superconductor Corporation, an energy technologies company, together with its subsidiaries, provides an array of solutions based on two proprietary technologies, programmable power electronic converters and high temperature superconductor (HTS) wires. Its products, services, and system-level solutions enable generation, delivery, and use of electric power. The company’s AMSC Power Systems segment produces products to increase electrical grid capacity and reliability; supplies electrical systems used in wind turbines; sells power electronic products that regulate wind farm voltage to enable their interconnection to the power grid; licenses proprietary wind turbine designs to manufacturers of such systems; provides consulting services to the wind industry; and offers products that enhance power quality for industrial operations. Its power electronic devices include power electronic converters and thyristor switches; and grid reliability, power quality, and grid interconnection systems consist of Dynamic VAR, Static VAR Compensators, Power Quality-Industrial Voltage Restorer systems, and Power Quality Static VAR compensators; and wind turbine designs and services include design and development, customer training, and support, as well as wind turbine electrical systems and components. This segment offers its products to the transmission and distribution, wind power, and manufacturing industries through manufacturer’s representatives. Its AMSC Superconductors segment manufactures HTS wire and coils; designs and develops HTS products, such as power cables, fault current limiters, and rotating machines, such as motors, generators, and synchronous condensers; and manages large-scale HTS projects, such as HTS power cable system design, manufacturing, and installation. This segment sells its HTS wire to original equipment manufacturers through direct sales force and distributors. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Devens, Massachusetts.
Mary asks…
I wanna use golf cart batteries but which one?
I found this system on the internet
http://www.wholesalesolar.com/system/solaredge-8-trina-solar-panel-gridtie-system.html
and i know its already grid tied but still i wanna add in some batteries for emergency situations and people keep suggesting golf cart batteries. What voltage of golf cart batteries should i purchase? they keep saying that the voltage used by the solar panels, the batteries and the inverters must be the same but i dunno how to determine the voltage used by the solar panels in the link above.
admin answers:
Hey Stefan, actually, you can build up a, “hybrid,” solar/battery/grid tie system like you’ve described here with parts off the shelf, but I don’t think you’ll find that package already made up at Whole Sale Solar. You could give them a call and tell them what you want to do, they should be able to give you a quote on what parts are necessary and what the price would be.
First of all, all golf cart batteries are 6 volt, but the best one is made by Trojan. They are made in California, the model no. Is Trojan T-105. Each one holds 220 amp hours at 6 volts, has 3 cells, and weighs 80 pounds. We only have 4 of them in our hybrid system, really just enough to keep the basic loads in our home running overnight during power outages until the solar array comes back up in the morning. There are other golf cart battery makers, like Interstate for example, but you’ll get the best longevity from a Trojan. Our home has been powered by the wind and sun for 11 years now, we’ve been through lots of batteries in our day, trust me, the Trojan will hold up best. Look in the phone book for a place that sells and services golf carts, they go through batteries by the truckload, that’s where we found ours. There is a great book at the library on battery charging, I’ll list it below.
Our system uses a 1.4 kw solar array made up of Kyocera 120 panels, and has a Southwest Windpower H-40 900 watt wind turbine. The array and turbine all charge our 24 volt battery bank (using 4 golf cart batteries wired in series) through separate charge controllers. The solar array uses a Xantrex digital C-60 controller, and the wind turbine has its own, like most genny’s do. The heart to the system is the Xantrex SW-4024 sine wave inverter. It can stand alone, using battery power to feed AC power to your home, like ours did for years, or tie with the grid and parallel feed, like we have it doing now. The inverter has multiple connections, output, grid connection, generator, battery, and so on. It is programmable to sell/buy from the grid, and automatically switch to stand alone to keep your house running if the grid goes down, as long as your batteries have power. Since you’ll be charging them from the solar panels, this will work fine.
There are probably other inverters today that can do this same thing, but you have to have one labeled, “Utility Interactive.” A utility tie, or, “Grid Tie,” inverter only works with the grid, and a stand alone or, “independent inverter,” only works with the batteries and your loads, but an interactive inverter can do both simultaneously. I’ll warn you that they are not cheap, last time I checked that inverter was a little over $2,000 USD. This is why most of the grid tie systems do not use them, by listing a less expensive grid tie inverter, and then leaving the batteries off the parts list, they can reduce the total system cost by over 30%. It’s up to you what you are willing to pay for.
What I would do first is spend some time educating yourself on all of this. There is a great magazine that gets into the nuts and bolts of this stuff, and has lots of advertisements from vendors like Wholesale where you can shop for prices and kits. Also consider taking the time to get to one of the energy fairs listed in the back of the mag, we did 12 years ago, and this is where it got us today. The magazine liked some of our system so much they ran an article on our place several years ago. If you subscribe, you can check out articles and write ups on lots of peoples homes that work like ours. In the end, you might decide not to get involved at all, and that’s fine, but at least you will be well informed. Good luck Stefan, and take care, Rudydoo
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Your Questions About Wind Generators For Boats
Nancy asks…
Can someone please tell me the advantages and disatvantages of wind and tidal generators?
plz help!
if u can also explain how a generator works?
admin answers:
We’ve used the wind as an energy source for a long time. The Babylonians and Chinese were using wind power to pump water for irrigating crops 4,000 years ago, and sailing boats were around long before that.
Wind power was used in the Middle Ages, in Europe, to grind corn, which is where the term “windmill” comes from.
Windmills
How it works
The Sun heats our atmosphere unevenly, so some patches become warmer than others.
These warm patches of air rise, other air blows in to replace them – and we feel a wind blowing.
We can use the energy in the wind by building a tall tower, with a large propellor on the top.
A wind generator
The wind blows the propellor round, which turns a generator to produce electricity.
We tend to build many of these towers together, to make a “wind farm” and produce more electricity.
The more towers, the more wind, and the larger the propellors, the more electricity we can make.
It’s only worth building wind farms in places that have strong, steady winds, although boats and caravans increasingly have small wind generators to help keep their batteries charged.
Try
home.clara.net/darvill/altenerg/wind.htm
jj
Mark asks…
How is living on yacht compared to a townhouse/condo?
Has anyone lived on a 40 foot +/- yacht? I see them outside my office window all day and it seems like a relaxing life. Are they really too small to live(single) comfortably and how fast do they depreciate? A quick seach revealed that a 40 footer cost more or less the same as a condo or small house, but what are the upsides of living on a boat(other than being mobile)?
admin answers:
It is a very relaxing life, and you can live quite comfortably on a sailboat, depending on what your expectations and needs are. You should be able to buy a 40 footer for much less than a condo would cost in most places, by the way.
Here is an answer I gave yesterday to someone who asked a similar question. I hope it helps.
Living on a boat is not for everyone. It is a lifestyle that can be great fun and very relaxed, but you have to work a little harder to be comfortable. Can you try it for a little while without having to make a committment?
You have to make arrangements for water and to have your holding tank pumped out. Most people go ashore for water – sometimes to a marina dock. In a very few places there is water delivery to boats, but in my experience that is not the norm. I have never seen that happen. When we anchored for longer periods my husband and I often dinghied 5 gallon jugs of water back to our boat on a regular basis – every time we went ashore.
What about power? Do you want to have electricity? If so, you need to think about wind generators or solar panels, depending on where you live. How about refrigeration? That is the biggest consumer of energy on a boat. There are options that use less power, but they tend to be more expensive. Do you want to be able to have a hot water shower on the boat? Is it hot enough where you live to use a solar bag/sun shower to heat your shower water each day or will you need a water heater?
How about cooking? If you have a propane stove, especially a Force 10, two burner with oven, that will be great, and many people also have a BBQ in the cockpit. With propane you should have a propane detector in your cabin and bilge as propane sinks if it is leaking, and could collect in the bottom of your boat and cause an explosion.
If you anchor, you have to dinghy ashore everyday. You may need to lock your dinghy when you go ashore, depending on where you are anchored. Will you have a vehicle on shore? If so, that will make life easier, as you will not have to backpack laundry, groceries, etc. If you are depending on getting ashore by dinghy to get to a job, what about the days when it might be too rough to get the dinghy ashore?
Do you want to have TV and Internet on your boat? We used a cell phone to have Internet access when we were anchored. Sometimes we were fortunate enough to be able to receive an unsecured wireless signal. For TV, you might be able to receive the free channels from you boat if you put an antenna high enough. The reception will of course vary with the movement of the boat.
Depending on your location, you may need to protect all you clothing from humidity and mildew. We rolled all of ours and packaged everything in airtight ziploc bags to keep the moisture out.
Some people who live on boats choose to rent a slip at a marina and then they can have most of the conveniences of a land based home while living on a boat. Not all marinas allow live aboards.
I would live on a boat again in a flash if the opportunity presented itself with the right person. My husband and I enjoyed it immensely and had wonderful adventures. We were happy vagabonds. We were both retired though, so we did not have to worry about getting ashore for work, etc.
So I hope I have given you some food for thought. Most people I know who live on boats and work ashore actually live in a slip at a marina, but I also know a few who anchor and dinghy ashore everyday to a job. Best of luck with you plans. I would do it. Feel free to ask about anything else you think I could help with.
Best of luck.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
