Wind Turbines - What you need to know

Are you considering adding some Wind Energy to your On or Off- Grid home, business or retreat? However the more you research the more confused you get?

We have spent the past several months evaluating various products, data, the longevity and much more from numerous manufacturers for both small and large Wind Turbines. One thing for sure, there are a lot of products, vertical, horizontal, commercial/industrial (big) residential (small) a wide range of ratings, performance accusations and prices are all over the map.

The Wind Turbine industry is pretty much unregulated, you truly need to do your homework and know what questions to ask. It is a substantial undertaking to merely filter through all the overrated products to create a short list of those that garner further investigation.

We have assembled a list of topics that can help you in making your decision: 

Presently the Industry is mostly unregulated therefor another example of “Buyer Beware!”

Off-Grid Supply, does not favor regulations as we believe they are running out of control and presently strangling the advancement of new technologies and hindering the introduction of many new products to North America.

However, while doing our research, we did learn of SWCC https://smallwindcertification.org/. They are attempting to assemble a list of reputable proven wind turbine products.

You need to know if a wind turbine is really a good solution for your location or requirements.

We also discovered that a good quality wind turbine is likely going to cost a lot more than what you anticipated. There are a lot of moving parts, research and development costs, calculated aerodynamics that had to be tested and proven prior to the production of a good product that performs well and is built to last.

Fasten your seatbelts!

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Local Bylaws, Building Codes & Insurance

Some municipalities have banned the installation of any wind turbines for aesthetic or noise reasons. You should also ask your property insurance company if they have any requirements.

Location

do you have the space or location that it takes to install a wind turbine. Will a crane or heavy equipment need to have access?

On or Off-Grid

Are you connected to the grid? If so, do you want the turbine to be tied to the grid as well? You will need to talk with your power company for approval and have a design ready. 

Output Voltage

Know what you are looking for, in an Off-Grid situation with a Battery Bank setup, you will need to know what your battery bank configuration is, typically 12, 24 or 48VDC.

Output Rating (Watts)

How much power do you need or want?

Wind Turbines are generally rated by the output Wattage they can generate. You can find wind turbines rated at 1000W for a few hundred dollars while others cost thousands. It is quite common for unethical companies to brag that they have a higher wattage output at a better price than the other guys. Who is going to prove them wrong or challenge their accusations in an unregulated arena?

Advertised Output Ratings is probably the most abused accusation of them all. When doing your research, ask for verifiable proof of performance whenever possible.

• At what wind speed (RPM) was the rating taken?
• Is the wind speed realistic in your area?
• Can the Turbine survive a constant wind at the speed used in the rating?

Charge Controller (overcharge control)

This is especially important for an Off-Grid System. It is great to have wind charging your battery system at night or on cloudy days when sun energy is low or nonexistent. However, once your batteries are fully charged does the wind turbine have a charge controller that will stop sending power to your batteries and prevent overcharging which reduces and can in fact destroy your batteries. The charge controller should also limit the amount of power it will feed the batteries to avoid an overvoltage scenario. Your solar system might be setup for 12, 24 or 48V input, you want a controller that will assure the voltage is never greater than what your system is designed for. Some manufactures call Charge Controllers a brake however there are really two different topics here.

Brakes

Stop the Car! Now we got this thing spinning and generating power, what happens if we get a prolonged strong wind or storm? Different than a charge controller that we spoke of in the previous paragraph. Lack of having a mechanical type of brake system can allow your turbine to operate at speeds which it cannot sustain, resulting in self destruction. This would also not be covered by any warranty.

• Ask if the turbine has a mechanical braking system?
• What is the maximum wind speed that the turbine can sustain and how does that compare to where you are installing it?
• Will the wind turbine survive a constant wind at the rated speed?

Maintenance

Always ask if the turbine has any maintenance requirements. 

Noise level

it is a good idea to learn what is a good acceptable noise output level for your location. Some turbines sound like a helicopter flying around in your yard.

Construction Materials

What is the wind turbine made of?

Pole /Tower Foundation

Whether you are considering a roof mounted or ground mounted wind turbine. Does the wind turbine come with everything you need to stand it up?

Do you require special equipment like a crane to install it? Concrete slab (do they have specifications? Evaluate your location and ask any related questions or concerns.

Extras

Are there any additional components that are not included with your purchase?

Warranty

We suggest reading it twice, make sure you fully understand what is and is not covered. What is the process involved should you need to make a claim.

We could write a lot more however we believe you now have the basic information to go ahead with you decision. 

Hopefully we have assisted you with this article and you can move forward with switching to wind turbine power with the proper tools and in formation to move forward with your purchase. 

We always welcome your feedback and are happy to answer any further questions you may have. 

Contact us at service@off-gridsupply.com or call 1-866-837-0401