PV and wind?

[jflorey2]

Someone mentioned I should consider wind turbines after stating I need energy during the coldest months in Iowa. Do you have any information about these residential 10kW turbines on top of 120 foot towers?

Try here: https://www.homepower.com/

[bcroe]

From what I have seen, small wind turbines are needing a lot of
maintenance to keep them running over the long term. The big
ones may too, today I noted several not turning or even missing
a blade in a bunch about a decade old. That maintenance is very
difficult on a tower high enough to be effective. My solar has
minimal maintenance, so easily done on the ground. Bruce Roe

[Ampster]

The information about wind turbines per se is secondary to site characteristics. You would need to have very good annual data about wind velocity at the proposed height to even know if it would be economical.
EDIT: Also as mentioned below, wind turbines require a lot more maintenance because of the moving parts.

[SunEagle]

Someone mentioned I should consider wind turbines after stating I need energy during the coldest months in Iowa. Do you have any information about these residential 10kW turbines on top of 120 foot towers?
captur10.jpg

I hope it works for you. Just remember that turbines and their towers require maintenance or they will fail.

[organic farmer]

Someone mentioned I should consider wind turbines after stating I need energy during the coldest months in Iowa. Do you have any information about these residential
10kW turbines on top of 120 foot towers?

I have a neighbor who has a 10kW windmill on a 120foot tower. He loves it.

It works great.

[rebar]

Yep.

Wind turbines work great when they are used as the manufacturer designed them to be used. But very few people do that. They get a 20 foot pole and put them in their back yard, in a clearing among 50 foot trees. They put them on a 10 foot high pole on their house. Then not only are they not very effective, but the vibrations from the turbines are transmitted through the house.

One of the buildings at the Intel campus in San Jose had a row of about 20 turbines 10 feet above the building. They looked like the sort of 100 watt turbines that they used to sell for about $600. At any given time maybe 3 of them would be turning. I talked to one of the guys there who had the opinion that wind power is BS since their turbines don't generate any noticeable power.

Home Power used to do articles on people who did successful wind turbine implementations, and many people had great success with them. But these were people with 10kW turbines on top of 120 foot towers. If people aren't willing to put that level of work into the system, they are likely to be unhappy.

Someone mentioned I should consider wind turbines after stating I need energy during the coldest months in Iowa. Do you have any information about these residential 10kW turbines on top of 120 foot towers?
captur10.jpg

[bcroe]

Agreed. As long as they don't endanger anyone else (i.e. they put up a 100 foot tower 50 feet from a school) let em try whatever they want. Most will fail; a few will succeed and learn a lot in the process.

The dreamers do stuff. A decade ago a couple school officials wanted to
take a $100K grant and put up a reconditioned turbine in the 100KW class.
We objected on zoning and safety issues, but they did it as educational.

For years we could see it from a distance, but it never turned. It was in
the center of a playground, never mind the danger of components or ice
hitting kids. Turns out it was never connected to anything, did not have
the $ needed.

In time it was hit by lightning, damaged pieces. After the neighbors started
complaining, they took it down. Bruce Roe

[jflorey2]

Let those wind dreamers have their wind dreams man, hey good spicy thread, just take it easy hey boys

Agreed. As long as they don't endanger anyone else (i.e. they put up a 100 foot tower 50 feet from a school) let em try whatever they want. Most will fail; a few will succeed and learn a lot in the process.

[solar pete]

Let those wind dreamers have their wind dreams man, hey good spicy thread, just take it easy hey boys

[J.P.M.]

Back to the point......wind power requires maintenance...lots of maintenance....lots of expensive maintenance.

Moving parts are wearing parts.....its just a mater of time.

Yea, unless a large commercial operation like in the Altamont or Beaumont passes, or the big wind farms in the midwest, because of siting and maintenance requirements WECKs are better left to isolated applications and serviced by informed DIYers who know what they're getting into rather than dreamers living is (sub/ex) urbia who read a magazine article and drank the kool-aid. It's just not practical to generate electricity for most small applications.

[solarix]

Yes, and the maintenance is all way up there on top of a tall pole....

[DanS26]

Back to the point......wind power requires maintenance...lots of maintenance....lots of expensive maintenance.

Moving parts are wearing parts.....its just a mater of time.

[sdold]

If I draw a suspension for behavior I've done in response to what I believe is disrespectful, unfair or unwarranted treatment of me by others, especially when the intent of my actions is meant for the good of the forum, please know that such suspension, either now or in the future will be the last action I'm involved with on this forum.

You can always respond appropriately to any of those, but when it degenerates to the point it has in this thread, it's time to stop.

[J.P.M.]

Ampster and JPM: you're normally both good contributors, but this kind of stuff isn't good for the forum. You've both made your points clearly, so please, let's end it here. More jabs will lead to a vacation.

If I draw a suspension for behavior I've done in response to what I believe is disrespectful, unfair or unwarranted treatment of me by others, especially when the intent of my actions is meant for the good of the forum, please know that such suspension, either now or in the future will be the last action I'm involved with on this forum.

[sdold]

Ampster and JPM: you're normally both good contributors, but this kind of stuff isn't good for the forum. You've both made your points clearly, so please, let's end it here. More jabs will lead to a vacation.