Wind energy

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Originally Posted by offgrid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqEccgR0q-o

Here's a cool wind turbine crash video. Bottom line no one was hurt, no oil spilled, no haz mat stuff. Just pick up the pieces. Put up another one. No big deal.

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I've seen that before! amazing how fast it broke up

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Originally Posted by gnihcraes

since you wanted a picture for reference... there is a blade on the truck. :)

http://www.dcandh.com/gallery2/main....serialNumber=1

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that is awesome!

and to think the ones siemens make are all one piece (at least thats what they said on discovery)

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Originally Posted by gnihcraes

since you wanted a picture for reference... there is a blade on the truck. :)

http://www.dcandh.com/gallery2/main....serialNumber=1

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I saw one in Cheyenne on a run to N.D. They are a lot bigger than you think, I was impressed.

Google 'home made VAWT' for those who want a 'off grid' setup.

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Originally Posted by MB888

Google 'home made VAWT' for those who want a 'off grid' setup.

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MB888, don't mean to poo on your post, but Vertical Axis Winturbines ,VAWT's, are a joke. One of the biggest scams in the industry. What really pisses me off, is they are always claimed to be "new" technology and have wild production claims that defy physics. They have been around and tried since the 20's. The effiency of the VAWT can not compete with a horizontal axis turbine. I have a pdf of real world productions numbers of a several current production VAWT's. The numbers are horrible. I can't figure out how to link a pdf. If you would like to read it, PM me your e-mail and I'll send it to you.

Anyone interested in a home brew wind turbine check out www.otherpower.com, they are outside of Ft. Collins. They sell a few how to books/plans. I built a 10ft diameter machine about 8yrs ago, it is still up and running at my brothers in Iowa. I built it from a plan that Hugh Piggot put together.

VAWT would be the only option for me as far as being in the urban area. Nothing in the kw range from what I understand, but I couldnt see a HAWT standing in peeps backyard. [Beer]

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Originally Posted by sniper7

that is awesome!

and to think the ones siemens make are all one piece (at least thats what they said on discovery)

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not sure, I'll check, but I thought the Vestas blades are all one piece too, top secret methods and such...

I think that an offgrid system will work for people who are willing to try. We have friends with solar only homes. Out here at the Pawnee, you cant use wind turbines (unless you can afford 100+ towers, because we have ground level micro bursts and dangerous eradic winds sometimes)
I think you have to look at you electrical comsumption.

We have a 2432sqft house, we average $41.00 a month electric bill. We heat our house soley with wood. We have a soapstone stove, and have not used anyother heat source for 3 years. When, we decide we can afford it, I believe that we will make it easily on solar. A huge part of our electric bill, is a charge that is put on there, because we live so far out. I think our part of the bill is $16.00 and the charge is $25.00 .

What I am saying, is if you run your ac all day, leave every light and appliance running while you are not home, then maybe it wont work for you.

They have the little wind generators now for under $500 that can attach to your roof. I have no idea, if it actually works well. But, for the cost, yu could try it.

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Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck

I think that an offgrid Out here at the Pawnee, you cant use wind turbines (unless you can afford 100+ towers, because we have ground level micro bursts and dangerous eradic winds sometimes)

Got to respectfully disagree. With a properly designed tower and the right turbine, no problem. My turbine/tower has gone through many a gusty Chinook winds. We are at 10,000ft, exposed to the west. Last Jan peak gust of 102, previous Jan gust of 112. My neighbor has had a 80ft tower up for 23yrs, he's recorded 126. The turbine I'm using is rated at 155 at sea level. Documented survival of 138 at sea level. A 138 wind up here would have roughly 30% less force due to the air density at altitude. A friend and I did some maintenance on a machine in your backyard a couple years ago. It's a Bergey 1500 on a 70ft tower, I believe it has been up for 12-15 yrs.

We have a 2432sqft house, we average $41.00 a month electric bill. We heat our house soley with wood. We have a soapstone stove, and have not used anyother heat source for 3 years. When, we decide we can afford it, I believe that we will make it easily on solar. A huge part of our electric bill, is a charge that is put on there, because we live so far out. I think our part of the bill is $16.00 and the charge is $25.00 .

$25 usage will be easy to make with solar. You are using 250KW hrs a month? A 2500 watt system would cover your needs.

What I am saying, is if you run your ac all day, leave every light and appliance running while you are not home, then maybe it wont work for you.

That same guy is going to bitch about his bill.

They have the little wind generators now for under $500 that can attach to your roof. I have no idea, if it actually works well. But, for the cost, yu could try it.

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Waste of time and money. Mounting a turbine on a roof is a bad idea, lots of turbulence, sound vibration transferred into the house. They are toys at best.

i figured, which I was why I dont own one. I was hoping someone else had experience with home generators under about $10,000.


as far as the generator on a tower. I was basing my information on one of our neighbors. his entire house is solar. he also bought a wind generator. i am not sure which one. but, he said it was something like $7000. and he put up the tower. I believe he said 30 foot. he said he had bad luck with it. and it didnt last. I wanted to go that way. obviously within 30 miles of us we have the towers on hwy 85, and we have a new wind farm at New Raymer or close to it. I thought, it would be the way to go, with the photovoltaeic also. I personally think that none of this technology has been pushed far enough. Maybe because the arab oil producing countries can lobby with more money than the pv, and wind people. but what do I know.