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My experience with wind... (not worth it)

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I bought one of these ages ago:
https://www.makemu.it/prodotto/wind-generator-smartwind/?lang=en

Couple of issue with it:
* the alternator corrodes
* the self braking design still needs a dummy load before the PWM to prevent over voltage under no load conditions
(I used a power Zener diode after the bridge rectifier to keep it below 20V)
* the screws for holding the post up damaged the soft aluminium easily causing a structural issue holding it up
* made a whirring noise (I enjoyed it but others may not)
* I didn't really measure it but power output appeared a bit low for built up areas

Admittedly, it was a major bodge (don't do it lol) to get it onto my bedroom wall just to experiment with for a few months. It's gone now though.
IMG_20191019_173159.jpg
 
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Exactly. Unless your average wind over the year is +6m/s there is zero point in wind energy generation.

I recently watched a YouTube video of a local company that specialises in "the whole package" (turbine, mast, the weight, controller or inverter). A 2kW unit (the smallest I would ever consider for a house) had a blade diameter of 3.8m and weight of 45kg. The total cost is in a region of ~$4000/$5000. My 14kW bifacial solar cost about that much.

I think the only time it makes sense if you live in one the red areas here https://globalwindatlas.info/en
 
Luk88 said:
Exactly. Unless your average wind over the year is +6m/s there is zero point in wind energy generation.

I recently watched a YouTube video of a local company that specialises in "the whole package" (turbine, mast, the weight, controller or inverter). A 2kW unit (the smallest I would ever consider for a house) had a blade diameter of 3.8m and weight of 45kg. The total cost is in a region of ~$4000/$5000. My 14kW bifacial solar cost about that much.

I think the only time it makes sense if you live in one the red areas here https://globalwindatlas.info/en
Click to expand...
Neat link, thanks! Note the height setting!
 
Please GOD forgive me for I am about to sin!!!

There are edge cases in where fighting with wind makes sense. I am an advocate of those use cases and hereby share my dislike of this general (undeserved) consensus that anything wind is bad.

Look brothers and sisters, cool dudes and cool dudeddeses.

I will truthfully report if I really am unable to get anything out of the wind.
That is my MO (Modus Operandi)

Set a goal, not knowing how to get there and then ask for help!!

And report on the progress
 
mdagli1 said:
I bought one of these ages ago:
https://www.makemu.it/prodotto/wind-generator-smartwind/?lang=en

Couple of issue with it:
* the alternator corrodes
* the self braking design still needs a dummy load before the PWM to prevent over voltage under no load conditions
(I used a power Zener diode after the bridge rectifier to keep it below 20V)
* the screws for holding the post up damaged the soft aluminium easily causing a structural issue holding it up
* made a whirring noise (I enjoyed it but others may not)
* I didn't really measure it but power output appeared a bit low for built up areas

Admittedly, it was a major bodge (don't do it lol) to get it onto my bedroom wall just to experiment with for a few months. It's gone now though.
View attachment 245307
Click to expand...
Location

Location

Location
 
OK GANG. as of current I have yet only a single goal to either meet or surpass.

Which has laid down by one of our long term participators.

If I can get anything similar or over 300 watts then I win. yes? Is that the consensus?

Because believe you me. I am not done yet making it so.

I am going at it!!
 
@justgary

Brother, I realize that it feels you are at times singled out. bub bub bub. bomm. bub bub bub. bomm.

Those are the cycles of all that is alive.

It would be ok for all to just ignore this line of addition to the diary.

yet do understand I will come back and then ask does one remember?

poised to strike. :)
 
The general problem is that it takes A LOT of mechanical energy to produce electricity - wind, water, gravity, fuel-generator. As the years of operating solar have gone on and wanting (so bad) to do wind, water, steam-engine, wood-gasifier, x, y, z for cloudy days... and paying attention - the amount of physical force needed has gradually sunk in to my brain and it's just not available for the common small home situation. Need too much drop/head-pressure/distance for water. Need too much wind (would not want to live in such a windy area). Gravity needs really-really-large a scale. Fuel(generator) -> Kwh -> heat is not even close to direct Fuel -> heat efficiencies.

Very sad (for me as a home in the city) but at least solar works and has exceeded my expectations. Other than being cold in winter, we could totally get buy with local PV/battery/inverters all year round :)
 
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brandnewb said:
Please GOD forgive me for I am about to sin!!!

There are edge cases in where fighting with wind makes sense. I am an advocate of those use cases and hereby share my dislike of this general (undeserved) consensus that anything wind is bad.

Look brothers and sisters, cool dudes and cool dudeddeses.

I will truthfully report if I really am unable to get anything out of the wind.
That is my MO (Modus Operandi)

Set a goal, not knowing how to get there and then ask for help!!

And report on the progress
Click to expand...
Is there a small scale wind turbine that is actually reliable?
 
I'm going to build a Hugh Piggott 8' diameter design that is meant to be low cost and low tech. I figure if I can build it I can fix it. Maintenance items are (wood) blade upkeep and eventual replacement, and maybe bearing replacement which is a $30 rear wheel hub off of a Chevy Cavalier.
 

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I couldn't figure that out on the website. Centerline of the rotor will be almost 40'. I assume the numbers there are an annual average. It's almost dead calm here from June 1 to November. The wind blows almost all winter.
 
Fetch and elevation is the key to success with wind…
If you have both it’s all good…
Fetch you can’t change…
Elevation you could , but maybe not because of laws or rules…

Jus what I have seen.

J.
 
I went through two 3m+ diameter small scale wind turbines on 100ft tower and both failed within a few years. It was somewhat worth the try back when solar panels were much more expensive but if you have the room and solar will work in your area then adding more panels makes more sense.. I'm sure there are some cases like @brandnewb says but for 99.9% of the people it will be better to add solar. It was really cool though when it was working:
P1010414.jpeg
 
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rhino said:
Is there a small scale wind turbine that is actually reliable?
Click to expand...
yes there are many many many!!!! EDIT"Well I think there should be many as not so many moving parts when things are small scale"


reliable to keep operating yes many many

now the yield is what we are interested in. In that case I agree. Small scale is just not going to cut it.

Hence I am going well above "small"
 
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