I would love to learn how to build a windmill and save on my energy bills, and eliminate dependancy on the electric companies. I believe a LOT of your audience would agree, especially at this very unstable time.
Is there a specialist who can provide instructions on building your own windmill?
Unfortunately, windmills are probably cost prohibitive for the standard home owner. You would realize far more benifit by turning off lights when not in use, running the dishwasher/clothes washer when full. Adding insulation, and maybe lowering the thermostat a couple of degrees.
You won't know if you can do something if you don't try.
Building your own windmill involves a lot of dedication to developing a design and putting it into reality. It's not much different from building a car from scratch. Only a very special few can make it work.
The size of a windmill is directly tied to the amount of power it generates. There are a number of small wind generator windmills on the market. I've seen some in the Northern Tools catalog. There are other sources for these small ones. They usually make 12, 24, or 32 volts.
Have you figured out how much electrical energy you use every month? That will give you a goal for generating capacity. Then you can take a look at generators and towers for them that will produce that much. You'll have to work out a plan for the times that the wind does't blow.
JdN
Posts: 7551 | Location: Elkader, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 07, 2004
Pick up a copy of Mother Earth News. There's lots of info in there about getting off the grid. By the time you try to reto fit an existing home to windmill powered electricity you better plan on several thousand dollars to do it. There's a lot more to it then sticking one in the back yard and plugging it in. You'll also need the wind to blow 15 mph 80% of the time to keep it charged up.
joecaption
Posts: 11264 | Location: Halieford VA | Registered: Jan 31, 2004
Your probably looking in excess of 7,000 dollars by the time your done putting up a windmill...
But, great news! A lot of electric companies will give information about how you can go about it, and the tax man will (if its not too late) give you a huge tax incentive for alternate power sources... (Check with the IRS before you do this to verify that they still give you a tax break so that it may eventually help pay for itself quickly!).
Remember, windmills are noisy! Your neighbor may not appreciate it that you have one overlooking thier propery, and I hope you have a lot of land to keep it far enough away from your sleeping quarters so as not to bother you at night.
You have the option of vertical or wind blades, so that it will save you 'space', and I believe the vertical ones can be stacked 3 high! So that you can really reap the benefiets of excess energy to sell back to the grid.
Its people like you that I 'salute' for being adventurous and wanting to do things 'your way'!
Originally posted by joecaption: Pick up a copy of Mother Earth News. There's lots of info in there about getting off the grid. By the time you try to reto fit an existing home to windmill powered electricity you better plan on several thousand dollars to do it. There's a lot more to it then sticking one in the back yard and plugging it in. You'll also need the wind to blow 15 mph 80% of the time to keep it charged up.
Haven't figured out how to post yet!! Can anyone tell me how I can run a pool pump from solar power? I'm not sure about watts, etc! If I get 45 watt solar panels, how many batteries, what size inverter, etc.? Just starting so anything will help....thanks, Bill
bill chase..at the top of the window is a dark blue tool bar that has go,new,find,notify,tools,reply on it.. click on new...the scroll down to discusion click on it..your there..
Posts: 1690 | Location: i i live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008
toni the tigress.. i have looked into it for myself the cheapest i could find was 10 grand and that was everything, connected and hookuped to the powere grid i figured it would take 15 to 20 years for it to start paying for itself..the 10 k and 20 year were not numbers that i liked at all..so i droped it like a hot potato..if you can come up with a differnt set of numbers, let me know. but 10 k.....naw!!! sounds like some body making a large wallet..just because the tech..olgy is new..
Posts: 1690 | Location: i i live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008
Yeah, I found the same thing for my house...I am going to try to figure out how to run my pool pump only...it can't be that hard...you can buy a 45 watt panel for about $200, an inverter for somewhere between 30 and 90 dollars, and a "few" 12 volt batteries for a couple of hundred....I'm just not sure about amps, watts, and volts!<GRIN> I'm adding solar heat to the pool in a couple of weeks and think it would be great to get the pump to run off of solar... Thanks for your reply, Bill
a pump that would work off that solar panel would move about a quart of water a week. seriously.
assume we've got a quarter-horse motor on there. that would be 120 volts at 8 to 10 amps, with a start influx current of probably three times that for 5 to 10 seconds.
1200 sustained watts, 3600 peak watts. off 12 volts, that is a 200 amp inrush current requirement, plus inverter inefficiencies of around 40 percent, so that inverter needs to be rated at at least 300 amps.
your piddly 45 watt/ 3 amp panel for $200 is not going to trickle-charge the battery for this.
ain't gonna work is the bottom line. you will need a solar field about a half acre in size to run your application.
and that's why you can't live the modern life on your own solar power. busted by the laws of physics.
sig: if this is a new economy, how come they still want my old-fashioned money?
Below is a link to a site where a young couple chronicles the building of a home which is entirely off the grid. The story is long, rich with pictures, and a chronilogical dialogue by the young wife as they build their home in East Tennessee. If you are truly interested in getting partially off the grid you may find this couple's journey an enjoyable read, but I warn you it is very long but you will love it long before the end for younglisa7, the writer, has a spirit that is imparted both in her style, description, and the images shared. It also gives excellent info as to the solar and wind systems they use to get off the grid.
back to the orginal..rudely highjacked thread tonithetigress they are making,low profile windmills for the residental market. the wind mill part is not huge paddles, but a barrell shap with fins on the side, i will find out the name and post back
Posts: 1690 | Location: i i live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008
