More on windmills

[HoustonFarrier]

A good paper on the pros and cons

http://www.ntu.org/main/press_release.php?PressID=562&org_name=ntu

Steve

[rocknK]

Good read. A bit dated but still points out flaws of wind-generation. We've got hundreds of them on the hills around here. I think most of them were installed with Govt subsidies approx 20-25 yrs ago. Alot of them seem to have fallen into disrepair (missing props, etc) because its not unusual to drive by with the wind blowing like crazy & only half of them going roundy-roundy. Give me a good ol' nuke plant any day. All we gotta do is figure out what to with the waste. Oh, I forgot thats what we dug that big hole in the mountain in Nevada for...........:doh:

[offgridgirl]

All I can say it that we get 60% of our power from our windmill winter and summer. They do require maintenance but it's just greasing and takes maybe 10 min???? GO green Be Independent and make your own energy and sell it back the those money-hungary utility companies:)

[twofingers]

well I might add that where I board freya is completely off the grid. "Our" power is completely wind powered, "our water is form a well and "our heat is geo-thermal. it is possible but on small scale operations.

[John Boy]

Of course there is pro's and con's to everything ...
But the use of Solar (please reference Gemany) or Wind see West of Marshall , MN
and you can easily see progress using something that keeps the air clean.
When I passed through Marshall this past year , I was shocked at the hundreds of windmills , and to think that it's only starting to be utilized in the Dakota's speaks volumn's.

I agree Rod44 that Nuc energy is a given , and will dictate the worlds energy needs , but within the US legislation has some bumper pool affects with 'our people' and concerns not only of fall - out failures , as well as terrorism.
Once the bolts are tightened down fire 'em up ,, Wisc. I believe has three and many people are not aware of it.

[rocknK]

For smaller scale energy I've been researching fuel cell technology. Google "Bloom Energy" these folks are real players with a real solution. Should hit the market in a few years.

[Gem's Mom]

I'm probably getting way ahead of myself, but since we're looking at farms this would be neat to know: How do you get a windmill on your farm and hook it up to give you power? What else could we do to be more self sufficient? My parents had solar panels on their house in Milwaukee and said that's what ran the hot water heater year round. Also friends suggested getting an outdoor wood stove for the house and hook it up to the shop too so hubby can work on cars in some heat.

[HoustonFarrier]

I know of a lady who runs her 6-stall barn on solar panels....something I might switch too.

Steve

[westmanfarrier]

Steve, I was just reading in the current issue of Popular Science that they are improving the solar panels. The problem is that currently the cells are flat, and they need pretty direct rays to collect, so they can only collect for the part of the day that the sun is directly up. The new technology would allow the cells to collect solar energy for longer during the day at virtually any angle. It is a product that is applied to any existing solar panel instead of using expensive equipment to move the panels during the day. They are working on how to protect the film from the wind and heat, should be ready in a year or so. More cool stuff...I have been thinking about going solar too, now that I moved to the flats.

[HoustonFarrier]

Hers is 4 pretty big panels, wired into 4 big marine batteries, running to a 110V converter...pretty slick setup. She is waiting to have the panels installed on a moveable pole, so she can manually point them...right now, they are on the ground.

Steve

[westmanfarrier]

Pole with manual control is a great idea, but seems like it would need a lot of babysitting. I have only really seen them on rooftops. I have a neighbor with some across his garage, I think I need to open up discussion with him on the subject.

[offgridgirl]

Well we've being doing the manual pole for the last 15 years and it works! We have laser groove panels that allow wide angle of solar collections. If I'm not at home I set the panels to the south and still get a full charge even at a steep angle of the sun. Putting a windmill on the house is very LOUD and vaibrates the whole house!! We have on a pole about 200 feet away. It all works well.
STOP talking and DO it!!
Here are two great sites!! Lots of workshops to show U how to set-up solar and/or build your own windmill.

www.hompower.com (http://www.hompower.com)
www.otherpower.com (http://www.otherpower.com)

[WashingtonBay]

I have been intrigued by your lifestyle up there since first meeting you on the other forum, and I would love to visit and learn from you what we can in building our own place. I'm not sure we'd be completely off grid, that takes commitment, but I would sure like reducing power bills... and would love off-grid-ability just as a basic survival tool.

For instance, my big fear in life is wind storms, and in tall-tree country, the major side effect of wind storms is downed trees and power outages. I can see how a windmill that provides power when high winds are putting my power at risk might change my outlook on wind. :) - well that, and not living under tall trees in a house with no structure ;)

[HoustonFarrier]

STOP talking and DO it!!


Sure...can I borrow 10K from ya :p

Steve

[offgridgirl]

Sure...can I borrow 10K from ya :p

Steve
Sure but it's Canadian $$$.:innocent:.
We started with an inverter and batteries and added the solar/wind later on...so the total outlay of $$ wasn't huge at once!! I'm working on pictures to post.....sheessh ya think that the horses/hubby could feed and take care of themselves for
15 minutes:eek:!!!

[offgridgirl]

I have been intrigued by your lifestyle up there since first meeting you on the other forum, and I would love to visit and learn from you what we can in building our own place. I'm not sure we'd be completely off grid, that takes commitment, but I would sure like reducing power bills... and would love off-grid-ability just as a basic survival tool.

COME ON UP!!! We have plenty of room to camp(with horses..hint hint!!). Plan for 3 days as it takes awhile to get here with ferries and driving.....about 6-8h from Seattle. Don't forget your passport or aurhorized drivers licence!!:)

[offgridgirl]

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/offgridgirl/windmill2009top.jpg
Windmill from the bottom of the tower


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/offgridgirl/solarpanels2009.jpg
Solar Panels in the fog!!!


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p234/offgridgirl/windsolarsetup.jpg
Top right Solar controller, top left instant hot water
110V panel, electronic start to deisel generato and meter for batteries
then inverter(black box) @ bottom. Also weather station above inverter

Hubby did all the research and the classed to build the windmill. He will hopefully pop in and say something.....

[OffGridGuy]

There are always issues with just about anything, windmills and solar included. Having said that, we've had very few problems with our setup. Of course since we put it in, we understand it, and we can maintain it.

I read above that someone knew of a bunch of windmills that had fallen into disrepair. I'd be curious to see some pictures. I'm going to guess they are 'water pumping' windmill, not Electrical generating ones. There is a market today for the old Jacobs electric windmills of the 50's with modern parts available for them.

Our windmill here is 8' diameter generating around 600w at 25mph. Or next one will be 10' or 12' diameter generating around 1200 to 1400watts. Not very big by industrial standards, but sufficient to subsidize our solar panels, especially in the winter.

I believe decentralized power generation is what we should be working towards. This increases personal independence and reduces the corporate strangle hold that the big corporation have on power generation.

Power cells and the like are fine as clean burning fuels, but they still rely on the big commercial plants to create them. They keep trying to convince people to believe in their self fulfilling monopoly of only the Big guys can generate power. Almost 10% of energy generated is actually lost on the wire.

Very few people remember when farmers all ran their tractors and cars on Alcohol. They had huge stills, and some people 'claim' that prohibition was all an attempt to break the farmers ability to be oil independent.

Here we are 50 years later, now we've re-invented this with ethanol additive.

Anyone remember running Hemp Oil as engine oil during WWII because the war effort consumed all the petroleum ? Did you know the inventor of the Diesel did it using Peanut oil ?

I could ramble on for pages, but this is a horse forum. So it's off to take the big boys out for a walk, maybe even a run now that the snow is gone.

Remember, Reduce your carbon footprint, turn off all the devices you don't need, and conserve where you can.

[WashingtonBay]

Thanks offgridguy :)

[offgridgirl]

Thanks hon!! He so smart...cute.....knowlegdeable....I couldn't live w/o him....:innocent:

[OffGridGuy]

Here is a very good article on Windmill technology done by my friend Ian (we went School together) and Mick (who works on the big rigs). At last count, I believe Ian had 5 windmills up at his house, including 1 guy wired to a tree (which I've been up).

http://www.homepower.com/article/?file=HP122_pg28_Woofenden

[westmanfarrier]

Awwww...he is cute.

[WashingtonBay]

Awwww...he is cute.

The windmill guy, or offgridguy? ;)

(I agree they're both kinda cute, but methinks westmanfarrier has his threads crossed this morning :D)

[rocknK]

I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth!!:eek:

[OffGridGuy]

Awwww...he is cute.
Must be talking about my horse...:cowboy:

[WashingtonBay]

Well that could be...

Westman..... curious forumers want to know :D

[JackieB]

I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth!!:eek:

:hysterical::hysterical:

[offgridgirl]

Must be talking about my horse...:cowboy:
Well your both very cute....but back to Windmills!!:cool: Who wants to build one for themselves???