Solar and Wind power - Installing a wind generator
As my house is some distance from the nearest power lines, when we built here we installed solar power. This has now been operational for eleven years.
Backup is by a generator (originally petrol, now diesel), which makes up the shortfall due to cloudy days or grandchildren who watch too much television and leave the fridge open. I have considered increasing the capacity of the system, or getting more economical fridge, freezer & TV, but all options are expensive.
But recently the electronics supply place Jaycar has listed a cheap wind generator. Cheap as in $500 for 200w (c.f. 85w solar panel is over $600 - and solar is good for a maximum of about 12hours a day compared with a maximum of 24hrs for wind). It is made in China, as you may have guessed.
On my recent trip to Melbourne I bought one (they weigh in at 71kg so was worth saving the freight), and I am currently starting to install it.
First step is to refurbish an old windmill tower I bought for $90 about ten years ago, and modifying it to accept the generator. Then have to prepare foundations and erect the tower, and fit the generator and wire the whole lot up.
The generator will require a bit of preparation - the case is plastic, and this will have to be protected from the sun - I will add an aluminium extra cover, and the blades will need to be painted - they are unpainted fibreglass. Probably take me at least another week to do all this, perhaps more, depending on how much I get sidetracked.
I will assess the performance over the next year or so, and if it performs as I hope, I will get at least one more, possibly another three. Having wind as well as solar is complementary, as often there is wind when there is cloud.
John
John
JDNSW
1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
Bookmarks