Turbine choice
Saturday, November 8th, 2008
Hi Jeff,
I’m building a new home on a 35ft high bluff overlooking Cook Inlet. We have a healthy amount of wind, and I would like to generate some of my electricity requirements with a wind turbine. I was thinking in the 3-5kw range. The 2 names up here most often used are Kestrel and Skystream. Are those my best options or do you recommend another brand?
Regards,
Hugh
Hugh:
Sounds like a wind turbine will work really well at your location. However, larger models like you are looking for will require a very tall and very heavy tower. Also, servicing a wind turbine on top of a 75 foot tower is not for the meek.
If you do not want to install this heavy tower, perhaps you might consider installing two (2) smaller wind turbines which can be “tilt-up” type towers. They may be just as tall, but can be raised and lowered without climbing.
I have on client with two 500 watt wind turbines on his farm house, and another client that has two 1,500 watt turbines on his greenhouse, both trying to avoid a major steel structure standing near their home.
Otherwise, for a larger system you will need a regular installer with a very tall crane, and have some type of service contract.
Good Luck,
Jeff Yago
Hi Jeff,
That sounds like a good solution. And I like the idea of a tilt up tower. How far can I go with 24V from my house where I need the power and how do I best convert the 24V into 240V AC?
Hugh
Hugh:
If you have to run DC wiring very far, you want to have it as high a voltage as possible. If this will be a battery based system, you would want a 48 volt DC system, and keep the wire run under 200 feet or you will need a really expensive and large size copper cable.
You use a DC to AC inverter. Check out Outback and Xantrex brands. Most are 120 volt AC output, so for 240 volt AC you will need two identical units or a 120 to 240 volt transformer.
Try http://www.backwoodssolar.com/
Good Luck,
Jeff Yago
