The Complete Consumers Guide To Wind Power

The Ultimate Consumers Guide to Wind Power
The Complete Consumer's

Guide To Wind Power: 2011
Turbine Reviews
By Ricky & Jordan Wilder
Power-Talk.net
Copyrighted material
The Complete Consumer's Guide To Wind Power:
2011 Turbine Reviews
Copyright 2011 by Ricky and Jordan Wilder
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted an any form by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without prior written notice permission of
the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote
brief passages in review.
Cover and book design by Jordan Wilder
All suggestions and opinions made in this book are just that.
We take no responsibility for your actions!
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/The%20Complete%20Consumers%20Guide%20to%20Wind%20Power.html [7/14/2013 5:43:39 PM]
Introduction
Introduction
The thought of generating electricity from wind, for us, began in 1982 shortly after moving from Tennessee
to a small town in Alaska. The oil pipeline that extended from the North Slope down to the port in Valdez
had been recently completed. With all that potential source of energy flowing out of the ground, one would
think the cost for heat or electricity would be very reasonable for the Alaskan residents. This was not true
then nor is it true even to this day, over 25 years later. The expense we encountered for electricity prompted
a burning question. Why did we use a substance that can be consumed like oil or coal, when the elements
that don't vanish but were present each day such as the sun and wind went virtually untapped?
Having grown up in the South with cheap natural gas for heating and inexpensive electricity, you might say
we were spoiled by the ability to use these energy sources freely at little cost. However as cheechakos living
in the Last Frontier, we were astounded at what it could cost to stay warm in this northern climate and keep
the lights burning during a long, dark winter.
The first house we purchased shortly after moving to Alaska was all-electric, as were most of the ones we
could afford in the little town of Palmer. One thing we found out very quickly was that high prices on
anything was to be expected. Our neighbors took the huge electric bills in stride but to us it seemed wrong.
At the time solar was not a hot item here but wind turbines were an occasional sight around these parts.
When we began inquiring about these machines it was quickly realized that a seven thousand square foot
city lot did not make a good site for a Jacobs wind turbine. Disappointed we suffered the electric bill, turned
to wood for heating and the need for a wind system diminished. But it was always in the back of our mind
that you could use such devices for producing electricity.
Rolling Foward a couple of decades...

We found ourselves in a similar situation but this time it was planned. We wanted to wean ourselves off of
relying on things over which we have little or no control. Living off of the commercial power grid was one
thing on that list. We intentionally purchased a place that was tens of thousands of dollars away from the
grid and a diesel powered generator supplied the electrical needs. This gave us a place to design and build
our own renewable energy system. What we didn't know was that it wasn't as easy as it sounded. So began
serious research on what a system should look like.
We quickly found out there wasn't a Walmart for wind turbines and solar panels. Even though there are
many people in the state living off the grid, knowledgeable sources and equipment proved hard to find. We
were relying on books, the internet and long distance phone calls.
Solar was the easiest to deal with since there are no moving parts so it was the first thing we got up and
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Welcome.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:45:25 PM]
Introduction
running. The problem we faced was that solar would be of no help in December. We also knew that wind
was in no short supply in December. After scouring the area for anyone familiar with wind systems, we
found a company in the northern part of the state that had experience with turbines and towers.
This is where our lessons began. The company sold and installed equipment. This was exactly what we
needed. For some parts of the story this was good. For others it turns out not so good. They did a fantastic
job of getting us a nice Rohn lattice tower with a tilt-up base. They also provided excellent technical support
in all the matters regarding the tower.
But the story takes a turn with the wind turbine. We indicated to the company that we could see strong
winter winds with gusts up to 90 mph throughout the winter. We felt that information was important to take
into consideration when choosing the turbine and tower. The two choices offered were the Whisper 200 and
the Bergey XL.1. The Bergey was crossed off the list because at the time they were having some quality
control issues. That left the Whisper 200 as the top selection. It sounded good to us, after all it could survive
in winds up to 120 mph... right?
Here is what we concluded after the first time our Whisper destroyed itself. The dealer we were working
with is in a relatively flat, low wind area of the state. The Ranch, however, is located in a mountainous wind
tunnel. We still enjoy dealing with this particular company but now have our own opinions about wind
turbines and we express it in this book.
While we have done a tremendous amount of homework for you, there will still be many decisions to make
when putting your system together. The information in the book is designed as a guide to answer questions,
offer candid reviews of wind turbines and ultimetly help you design your own system. The goal of this book
is to eliminate some of the surprises and pitfalls that may be encountered in the world of wind energy.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Welcome.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:45:25 PM]
Glossary
Glossary
Alternator
A device that converts the rotation of a shaft into alternating current (AC).
Alternating Current (AC)
Electricity that changes direction periodically. The period is measured in Cycles per Second (Hertz, Hz).
Ampere (Amp)
A unit of electrical current. Can be thought of like the rate of water flowing through a pipe (gallons per
minute).
Ampere-hour
Amperes x hours. Used to measure energy production over time, and battery capacity.
Anemometer
Wind speed measurement device. Typically used to conduct wind site surveys.
Angle of Attack
The angle of the airflow relative to the blade.
Axial Flux Alternator
An alternator design where a flat disc carrying magnets on the face (the Armature) rotates near a flat disc
that holds the Stator.
Axis
The centerline of a rotating object's movement.
Battery
An electrochemical energy storage device.
Battery Bank
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Glossary.html (1 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:45:28 PM]
Glossary
An array of Batteries connected in series, parallel, or both.

Bearings
Something that transfers a force to a structural support. The bearings allow the shaft to rotate freely. The
Yaw Bearing allows the machine to rotate and track the wind.
Blades
The airfoil which catches the wind and turns the generator. Most wind turbines have 2 or 3 blades.
Brake
Mechanical or dynamic force used to stop the rotor.
Capacity
The power generating or carrying potential of a device.
Charge Controller
The device that accepts the electricity from the turbine and insures compatibility with the battery storage
system. If the shut down method is by dynamic braking, this function is usually performed here.
Coil
A length of wire wound around a form in multiple turns.
Cut-in speed
The speed at which a shaft must turn in order to generate useful electricity.
Downwind Turbine
A downwind turbine relies on the nacelle and blades to keep it oriented into the wind.
Dump Load
A device which allows excess energy to be safely absorbed when the system batteries are too full to accept
more power, usually an electric heating element.
Glossary
Efficiency
The comparison of energy input, to energy output, expressed as a ratio or percentage.
Energy
The ability to do work.
Furling
The act of a wind generator yawing out of the wind either horizontally or vertically to protect itself from
high wind speeds.
Gearbox
Increases the rpm of the low-speed shaft by transferring its energy to the high-speed shaft in order to
provide enough speed to generate electricity.
Generator
Device for converting kinetic energy from the rotation of the blades into direct current (DC) electrical
energy.
Governor
A device that regulates the speed of a rotating shaft, either electrically or mechanically.
(The) Grid
An interconnected electricity distribution system. A Grid often covers a large area, and incorporate many
forms of generation.
Guy Anchor
Attaches tower guy wires securely to the earth.
Guy Radius
The distance between a wind turbine tower and the guy anchors.
Guy Wire
Glossary
The wire that attaches the tower to an Anchor.
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)

A "normal" wind turbine design, in which the shaft is parallel to the ground, and the blades are
perpendicular to the ground.
Hub
The center part of the rotor assembly, which connects the blades to the shaft.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
One kilowatt-hour is the expression used for one kilowatt of energy produced for one hour. Eg. 1,000 watthours is like keeping ten 100 watt light bulbs lit for one hour. Energy is normally sold in this unit of
measurement.
Leeward
Away from the direction of the wind. Opposite of Windward.
Nacelle
Contains and protects the gearbox and generator,
Renewable Energy
Energy that is inexhaustible.
Rotor
The blades and hub assembly.
Shaft
The rotating part in the center of a wind generator or motor that transfers power.
Start-up speed
The wind speed at which a rotor begins to rotate.
Glossary
Stator
The part of a motor, generator or alternator that holds the coils and does not rotate.
Tower
Steel structures which support the turbine assembly. Taller towers allow for longer blades, and the capture
of faster moving air at higher altitudes.
Transformer
Used to change the voltage of AC current.
Turbine
A device for capturing kinetic energy from a moving mass of wind, water, steam, or other gas or liquid.
Upwind Turbine
A Turbine that faces into the wind. It requires a wind vane or tail in order to maintain proper orientation in
relation to the wind.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)
A wind generator design where the rotating shaft is perpendicular to the ground, and the cups or blades
rotate parallel to the ground.
View shed
The scenic characteristics of an area, when referred to as a resource.
Voltage
The measure of electrical potential difference.
Watt
A measurement of energy equal to one joule per second.
Wild AC (3 Phase)
Alternating Current that varies in Frequency.
Glossary
Windward
Into or facing the direction of the wind. Opposite of Leeward.
Wind Turbine or Windmill
A device for harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind and using it to do work, or generate electricity.
Yaw
Rotation parallel to the ground. A wind generator will Yaw to remain facing the wind.
Wind Farming
Wind Farming, the Other Solar Power

Well, let's get started on this tall, towering task that lays ahead on the journey to wind farming.
Jordan: Wait, why do you call it wind farming? I don't

usually hear the term "hydro farming", it's a hydro plant. And
solar seems to get a more elegant portrayal, like "harnessing
solar radiation" or reaping the benefits of the sun implying
the hard work is already done. So why does a wind turbine
always seem to get the work intensive term, farming,
attached to it?
Rick: Have you ever watched a wind turbine during strong

winds? There isn't anything calm or elegant about it. Some
pretty serious work is taking place up there.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Farming.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:45:52 PM]
Wind Farming
Jordan: So it's like a farmer toiling and working the soil as

opposed to sitting on the porch, watching the plants grow and
then delicately plucking the fruits and carrying them to
market. Come to think about it, when our wind turbine is
working hard, it does sound like a cage full of monkeys. On
the other hand the solar panels sit quietly and harvest the sun.
Rick: Yeah, something like that. That is why we need to make

careful selections in everything from the site, to the tower, to
the wind turbine itself. The forces that work on the turbine are
a little more violent than what a solar panel experiences. A
solar panel can sit leaned up against the side of the house and
be happy. A wind turbine has to be perched high up on a pole
with stuff anchoring it strongly in the ground or otherwise...
Jordan: ...Otherwise, so long wind turbine and tower. Sort of

like the big bad wolf huffs and puffs and blows the wind
turbine down, that sort of thing. It sounds as if you are trying
to scare folks out of tossing up a turbine.
Rick: I don't mean to scare anyone, especially on something

we know is worth the effort. It's more like making sure you
know what you are doing before you go hoisting a ton of
metal high up into the air...
Wind Farming
Jordan: There you go again with the negative connotations,

hoisting a ton of metal...
Rick: Well, it is serious stuff but if you do it right and exercise

caution it can be done safely. Hey, after all we did it!
Okay, back to the serious stuff

In this e-book, we will give some practical and detailed information to assist you in the field of .... wind
farming. This is intended to help you in making good decisions regarding the subject of gathering wind
energy.
Why use the wind? If you have ever felt a breeze, you have felt the potential of wind power. Usually wind
is not something we dwell on but is just a part of daily life. The fact is there's great potential blowing in that
breeze. It is up to us to figure out how to capture this energy and convert it into something useful. Most
likely this is the reason you are taking the time to read this book, so you can understand the components
involved in wind farming.
Capturing wind energy is easy in some respects but complex in others. One thing that is often confusing to
someone new to this subject are the numerous numbers that get thrown around. You may encounter
numbers quoting price per kilowatt of a system or the fact that commercial wind systems can produce power
for less than $0.04 kWh. (Just as a quick note, your small residential system will probably have a much
higher cost per kwh attached to it.) These are not things you want to get wrapped up in initially. You will
find that there are many variables to consider in a wind system, especially one that is off the commercial
grid. The off grid system will be anything but cut-n-dried. This will be the theme in several parts of this
book, that wind systems are dynamic in nature.
History of Wind Eergy
History Of Wind Energy

Wind energy has been used for a long time to perform various types of work. For thousands of years people
have been benefiting from this widely available and powerful source of energy. Sails were used to capture
wind to propel watercraft over 5,000 years ago. This concept is still being used today as propulsion for
marine vessels. Windmills came next and were used for grinding grain and pumping water.
The Aermotor Windmill Company of Chicago has been producing water pumping windmills for rural
American farms since 1888. These units could supply fresh water for the household, irrigation and
livestock. The Aermotor company still sells water pumping mills today. Only since the late 19th century
have wind capturing devices been used to generate electricity.
In the early to mid 20th century, many rural American farms were using windmills to not only pump water
but also produce electricity. Thousands of these battery charging generators, generically called wind
chargers, were in use across the country.
The electricity was typically used to power lights and radios. Department store labels such as Sears
Roebuck, Zenith and Montgomery Ward were printed on some units along with the more familiar names of
Windcharger and Jacobs. However, the winds of change were certainly blowing.
The centralized production and distribution of electricity was starting to stretch across the landscape. The
electrification of rural America was beginning to happen. Farms and ranches were given the ability to hook
into the grid. As a result, there was little need for wind generators and thus began the demise of the wind
generation industry.
Interestingly, it was a government program that was the major cause of the collapse of the wind industry.
The Rural Electrification Administration was created in 1935. The goal of the Administration was to
provide an incentive to electric utility companies for bringing power into rural areas. This move was viewed
as a good addition to the homestead by farmers and ranchers. They willingly connected to the electrical
power cord that was beginning to stretch across the landscape.
By doing so, they lost some of their independence by giving it to centralized power production plants. This
would not seem to be a bad move for the rural community considering the access to relatively inexpensive
and unlimited electricity.
What in fact happened was the end of power independence for most of America and the stagnation of
necessary innovations that were needed to make electricity affordable in small distributed energy systems.
Seven Decades of Change

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Energy%20History.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:45:55 PM]
By plugging into commercialized power, American independence started slowly giving way to the new
thought emerging in our country. This thought was that all progress was seen as good. The old ways of
doing business were to give way to a modern and more efficient structure. Personal convenience was to
become something to desire and seek with great intensity. By having this electricity at our fingertips we
had found a way to power appliances intended to make our lives better.
Several decades have passed since the centralized power supply machine began to turn and some things
have become apparent in the aftermath. Neither 100% good nor 100% bad has occurred. We could safely
say that important advances have taken place as far as improved living conditions for most people. We have
all kinds of devices that have made our world more friendly. Many contribute to the health and well being
of scores of people across the nation. However in doing all this good, there is a wake of problems to
contend with that have been slowly building.
The first problem is expectation. We have become accustomed to expecting electricity as a basic essential
of life. Second, is the infrastructure issues. It appears that nationwide, the commercial grid system is
maxed out in capacity and hobbled with aging equipment. Many transmission lines are in need of serious
repair or replacement. These rebuilding projects will eventually be paid for by the customers in the form of
higher electrical bills. Third are the environmental problems associated with the extraction and consuming
of the fuel needed to power the plants that generate electricity. While we feel that natural resources are
intended to be used by the people that inhabit the planet, we have given a whole new meaning to "being
used". Words like excessive and wasteful come to mind.
But with these problems another one has slowly emerged during the last three decades. The issue of
dependency. We find that we need this power and will acquire it at great cost, buying from whoever will
sell it to us. We are no longer independent as a nation or individuals in this issue. As a nation we have
handed our dependence to foreign countries and as individuals we rest in the hands of large centralized
power production. As many people will panic when the power cord is cut for even short period outages, one
would hate to think what our nation would look like if we were cut off from the international flow of oil.
Unfortunately there are no easy solutions that can be implemented overnight to solve this dilemma. It
would be very hard to get the masses to change their behavior without ample incentive.
Fortunately a motivated individual can begin making a difference, however small, by learning to be
defensive in this field. It will yield two benefits. One is for yourself since you will be learning to curb your
appetite for energy which will eventually lessen the demand on your pocketbook. Second is the fact that you
can become invisible to the commercial grid by either having the confidence to leave it or by working to
become a net zero consumer with a grid tie system.
Summing It Up
We have a questionable infrastructure working overtime off of fuel that we have to import to keep up with
our bloated energy demands. Though the grid will most likely limp along and continue to supply electrical
power to meet our needs, some of us are not satisfied with the current state of energy affairs. This means
evaluating the alternatives. Most everyone has access to the wind and sun making these two renewable
options the most attractive. Wind is the more difficult to harness but it has a place in many systems.
Hopefully with the renewed interest in wind power, a serious time of improvements will begin to take
place.
the issues
The Misconceptions Overshadowing

Wind Power Generation
Looking back at the expansion of the commercial grid, in retrospect we find the move to provide centralized
power production resulted in the stagnation of wind turbine technology. European countries have for
decades been transforming wind power production into a maturing art while the U.S. is still taking baby
steps. Additionally there are many who are confused about what they really want. These are the folks who
want conveniences such as heat and electricity but are in conflict about how to get it. Wood, coal, oil,
uranium, and various gas products are unacceptable for such people and we would tend to agree on some of
these points. The real kicker comes when even such green methods as wind farming gets harassed.
Typically the vocal minorities outcry consist of such unwarranted or outdated drivel as:
Common Misconceptions
the wide-spread slaughter of birds
the horrible noise from wind turbines
the inhumane transformation of thousands of acres of land into dreaded

"Wind Farms"
What is even more interesting is when wind projects are stopped or slowed down by what may be
considered environmental concerns. Yes, birds do get hacked up occasionally by the old style, high speed
commercial wind turbine blades. And, admittedly these older machines are noisy.
The argument about wrecking the view shed in a particular area is a rather amusing argument when you
consider the alternatives of coal strip mining and mountain top removal. These types of opinions come to us
from well-meaning people, but reality has the coal dust settling on our backs as we try to find places to bury
radioactive waste from nuclear energy production. This is not to mention the nitrogen and sulfur oxides
raining onto the soil in acid precipitation from the burning of coal while the released arsenic and mercury
finds its way into the water supply. So the question that should be put forth to the mixed pro/op-ponent is,
how do you want the electricity generated that flows into your house?
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Common%20Misconceptions.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:46:21 PM]
the issues
Do They Kill Birds ?

The bird myth is just that. A study done in 2002 on bird mortality shows that one thousand birds die at the
hands of ordinary house cats to each one kill by a wind turbine.
One location that has received criticism is Altamont Pass in California. The Wind Farm there is accused of
being the cause of a large number of bird deaths. This site still has a number of the older, high rpm turbines
which seem to be more deadly than the newer slow turning units. It seems that most other wind farms do not
have the same issues and result in very few bird deaths per year.
To ensure avian friendly wind farms, new sites are undergoing close scrutiny in regards to nesting areas and
migration paths as well as safeguards being built into new turbine designs such as eliminating nesting areas
on the turbines themselves. So how can anyone interested in reducing bird deaths help? Considering the
fact that more birds are killed by cats, windows, buildings, high tension lines, vehicles, and pesticides than
wind turbines, forming an action group to eliminating these things should be in the sight of groups actively
seeking to reduce bird deaths.
There is another issue to consider in regard to energy production from a clean source such as wind. It
involves the negative environmental effects that are displaced by the use of clean energy. Reducing disease
brought on by the tons of toxic waste produced by the mining and burning of conventional fuels is
something to be desired. If you are convinced that global warming is going to cause the destruction of the
earth, wouldn't the billions of tons of carbon dioxide displaced by using wind power be looked at as
favorable? The global warming theory is not seen as good for birds either. We have to draw a line at some
point and decide what we really want.
Are They Noisy ?

The noise from a modern turbine is similar to sitting in your house with a refrigerator running. The older
turbines did face a number of issues and noise was one of them. Newer turbines spin at a much slower speed
and are quieter. One thing that helps with noise is the wind itself. As the wind picks up speed, so does the
ambient noise.
the issues
Decibel Level Cart
The Sight
The saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder might pertain to a wind farm. Oil platforms, strip mined
land, belching coal plants or wind and solar farms, I guess that is subjective.
the issues
As we have said before, we are not trying to convert you to our thoughts on why alternative energy
production should be used. That is something you will have to decide for yourself. The Power-Talk crew is
just trying to get you to look at a wind turbine as not something sitting on top of a pole looking ugly but
the issues
rather something sitting on top of that pole that just might let us enjoy bright blue skies and have a cleaner
food and water supply.
photos Courtesy of DOE/NREL
Grid Tie Vs. Off Grid
Grid-Tie or Off-Grid
Grid Connected
The question will occasionally come up as to the viability of disconnecting from the commercial grid. We
see certain advantages and one particular disadvantage in being plugged into the grid.
The Advantages
Batteries and generator are optional. The best situation occurs when
you are able to run your meter backwards or get credited for the excess
power. This way the "grid" acts like an infinite battery. You are able to
store excess power then use it at a later time when the sun or wind isn't
performing. This can present considerable savings in the start-up cost of a
system. However, if there is a power outage you'll be left in the dark.
Power is available at all times without having to run a generator.

You can run any kind of power tool or appliance anytime you want.
Power Point
Public Utilities Regulatory Act (PURPA) defines the type of facilities that
qualify as a cogeneration unit. Generally solar, wind, hydroelectric or
geothermal generation of 100 kW or less are included. The maximum a
utility is obligated to purchase or provide in compensation from a PURPA
qualified facility is what is called the "avoided cost" rate. This basically
amounts to the wholesale price.
If the utility is paying the avoided cost, they typically are not interested in
supporting alternative energy production. What's happening is that you are
paying retail for the electricity flowing into your meter and they are paying
wholesale for the excess power flowing back into the grid. As for the
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Grid-Tie%20or%20Stand%20Alone%20System.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:46:23 PM]
Electrical Association in our area, they pay the avoided cost which
amounts to about $.05 per kWh. Their claim for offering the minimum
amount for PURPA power is that you are taking advantage of the existing
infrastructure without having paid for it.
Net metering is a better deal for you. Essentially you are getting a retail
price for your power production. If you can match your power production
to your usage, there is no charge except for maybe a meter charge.
Contrast that to the avoided cost method where you may pay $.12 per kW
hour and only receive $.05 for excess.
There are several net metering variations that can be used. For instance, if
you overproduce one month, some may allow this credit to be carried to
the next month, but at the end of each calendar year any excess credit is
cancelled out. You can avoid a bill if you consistantly produce more than
you use but you receive no cash for it. Some Utilities will pay very little
for the excess while yet others that support alternative energy production
will pay a premium.
The Disadvantages
Your lifestyle probably won't change and you might continue to use
the same amount energy as you always have. It is hard to change
when you don't have to!
Off Grid
This is what we are most familiar with, a system running independent from the power company.
Basically it is distributed energy at its simplest level, just you and the elements. This might be the
best option if your land is remote or the nearest power pole is too many thousands of dollars away.
Will this possibly be inconvenient? Yes.
Will it change the way you live? Most likely.
Will it open your eyes to how dependent we have become on

centralized grid power? Definitely.
Can you still operate electrical devices when and how you want
to? Yes. But this will probably mean running a generator. For some
this may mean running it a couple of times a year and for others it
could be a couple of times a week. You will suddenly be faced with
the question of whether the activity is worth the cost of fuel. Even if
you adjust your lifestyle to be more compatible with the flow of wind
currents, a generator will still most likely be needed. Overall though,
the off grid system should be mostly dependent on the renewables.
How to View This Lifestyle

When the wind is not supplying your electrical needs and you don't want to burn fuel, read a book,
take a walk or play with the kids. You may find that you can catch up on chores that require no
electricity like chopping and splitting wood or working in the garden. Just remember that the wind
probably has provided needed power in the past and will blow once again. Be ready to take
advantage of that period by doing household chores such as washing clothes and running the vacuum
cleaner. It is not really that hard but it does take a conscious effort on our part to make it happen.
The rewards of the off grid system will become obvious once the wind turbines, solar panels and
associated hardware are installed. Going for days or weeks at a time just using renewable energy can
certainly be satisfying if you conserve when necessary. Though some will find the need to ration the
energy stored in the batteries as being a chore, for others it will integrate into their lifestyle just fine.
One thing is certain, at the end of the day, being off the grid will make you a more conscious
consumer of all things electrical.
Wind Basics
Wind Basics
How Does It Happen
Indeed, wind energy actually comes from solar energy. We typically do not put the two together but wind is
an effect of solar radiation. During the morning, the sun starts to warm the earth more quickly than the
surrounding water. This sets the stage for afternoon wind. As the warm air over the earth rises the cool air
from the body of water rushes in to replace it. Thus the afternoon wind pattern will typically be from over
the water flowing towards land.
At night the earth cools quicker than the water. This results in the wind leaving the land mass and flowing
out over the water. This is a general and very basic idea behind air movement. If you live near a large body
of water this could provide you with a somewhat predictable wind pattern.
One important fact to note: the wind speed typically has a higher average along a shoreline since there
are no parasitic obstructions such as hills and trees to contend with.
How Is It Captured
The wind turbine is the electromechanical device we use to harness the kinetic energy in the wind. The
concept is similar to how a hydro turbine works. There, the water flows and turns a wheel which is
connected to a generator that produces electricity.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Energy%20Basics.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:47:13 PM]
Wind Basics
Wind turbines use a "river" of air to turn the blades. There are two main differences between these forms
of energy. Wind is much less dense so it requires a larger surface area than water for the same amount of
power generated.
Wind Basics
The wind turns the turbine blades that are attached to a shaft which spins a generator. In small wind
turbines, the spinning shaft is attached directly to the generator.
In a large scale turbine there is a gearbox which allows the blades and shaft to spin at a lower speed than
the generator. Large or small, these turbines produce electricity that can be used immediately or stored for
future use.
That is about as simple this explanation can get, however, the complexities surrounding a wind turbine are
worth much discussion and consideration. We will go over enough of the factors involved so that anyone
new to the concept of wind power can get a grip on its feasibility for home or small business use.
Energy in the Wind
Understanding The Energy in Wind

Wind power is the result of converting wind energy into a usefull form. The available energy can vary
according to the temperature and density altitude. Low speed wind does not contain much energy, therefore
wind speed is an important factor in the amount of power a turbine will produce.
A very important fact to grasp is this; the energy in the wind is not a linear function but a cubic function of
wind speed. This will mean small increases in wind speed will produce large increases in available power.
A simple example is to look at a 10 mile per hour vs. a 20 mile per hour wind. It would seem the 20 mph
wind would have twice as much energy but it actually has eight times that.
For example
How To Calculate wind energy at 10 mph vs 20 mph

10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000
20 x 20 x 20 = 8,000
For an example of how important small wind speed increases relate to power production, consider the
difference of 10 miles per hour vs. 12.6 miles per hour.
10 cubed = 1000
12.6 cubed = 2000
The 2.6 miles per hour increase equals a 100% increase in available power. Remember! - these small
increases will be important to consider when you are choosing your tower height.
Air Density and Power Output

Air density also affects power production as it changes according to temperature and altitude.
Air density decreases with higher temperature and altitude.
Air density increases with lower temperatures and altitudes.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Energy%20In%20The%20Wind.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:47:23 PM]
Energy in the Wind
If you live at an elevation above 2000 feet, during hot summer days your power production may decrease
from roughly 5% to 20%. If you're counting on wind power during the hot summer months and live at high
elevations you may want to contact the turbine supplier to get an estimate of the decreased output you can
expect. This will be most critical in an off grid system where you have no solar and rely on wind power
throughout the year.
Limiting Factors in Wind Capture

As mentioned earlier, a wind turbine is similar to a water turbine. Since a wind turbines job is to capture
air it would seem that more blades would be better but there are limiting factors to consider. More blades
will capture a lot of wind energy and provide increased torque but at a slower speed. This is good for a
water pumping machine but an alternator for electrical production needs a higher rotational speed for
efficient production. The most efficient number of blades on a modern turbine is three, providing the
needed speed and proper gyroscopic balance.
So, no matter how many blades on the rotor or their shape or size, there will always be wind energy that
will remain untapped as it slips past the turbine. Let's look at four things that make up some of these
limiting factors.
First, since we do not have a solid disc capturing 100% of the energy available, what do we get? There
has to be some energy potential that slips past the rotor blades. This theoretical limit of power that can be
captured by the rotor was derived by a fellow by the name of Albert Betz. Betz found that the maximum
amount of capturable energy in the wind is 59%.
Keep in mind that 59% is the maximum theoretical limit, again in practice this will be lower. Even with a
rotor that were to approach this theoretical limit, any slight changes to the blade surface, whether bugs or
abrasions, would cause a decrease in performance. This is why, generally speaking, the more advanced the
airfoil, the greater chance of performance reduction over time.
Second, lets deal with the yaw factor. When the rotor blades are not turned directly into the wind,
inefficiencies will result. The yaw factor is apparent when the wind is rapidly shifting directions and acting
on the blades at an inefficient angle.
The third factor is gusting wind. Inertia within the generator has to be overcome. When a gust of wind,
even if mild, blows past the rotor it may dissipate before the full potential energy can be captured. For this
reason, matching the speed from an anemometer to the instantaneous power output is close but not a totally
precise method of determining a turbines output at a given wind speed.
Fourth, electrical alternators tend to be slightly more efficient when operating closer to their maximum
rated output. However, they spend most of their time at a lower speed so this small inefficiency will be an
ever present factor.
Energy in the Wind
This is a brief glance at some of the factors that seem small but their cumulative effects will add up to a
sizable loss of efficiencies in most systems. Unlike air density and wind speed which can vary at different
locations and periods of time, these losses are inherent in the basic turbine design.
Average Wind Speed

While we are on the subject of energy in the wind, let's look at how often this energy potential crosses our
wind turbines path. Breaking down the percentage of time the wind blows at a given speed enables us to
understanding two things:
(1) how average wind speed can be not so average.

(2) why focusing on the wind turbines rated output is misleading.
A Weibull or a Rayleigh Wind Speed Distribution Chart can help us visualize at what speeds the wind will
be blowing the most frequently. These distribution models break down various wind speed numbers into a
percentage or estimated hours the wind is most likely to be at a particular value. The chart shows us what a
13 mph average wind speed may look like.
Energy in the Wind
You can see that there is a lot of time spent at 10 mph or less where there is not much energy available.
During this period you will see little significant gain toward offsetting electrical usage. However, from 12
mph up to 20 mph also represents a major percentage of time. This is where the overall largest portion of
our electrical production will occur. The percentage of time over 20 mph is relatively small. In the over 20
mph range, keep two things in mind:
(1) considerable power production happens here. This is where a turbine

typically produces it's rated output. The chart is helpful to let us see,
much to our disappointment, that our turbine isn't steadily pumping out
that 1K or 10K watts of electricity. It actually spends a low percentage of
the time in this upper range.
(2) The over speed mechanism will kick in at some point. Anything above
this regulation speed usually will not result in more electrical production
than the rated output number.
As we can see, a 13 mph average wind speed does not mean the wind will spend most of its time at 13
mph. That is just where the average falls. What's happening at the times above or below this speed is of
real interest to anyone operating an off grid system. If we get a lot of the lower speed wind for several days
at a time, there is little charging for our batteries. This may mean supplemental charging from a gas or
diesel generator. Then let's say the wind picks up and blows nice and strong for several days. This tends to
fill the batteries up rather quickly. If the wind is strong and steady enough the batteries may get topped off
during the first or second day. Since the off grid person is typically frugal with consumption and has
appliances to match, they can hardly figure out how to use very much excess. Most likely this excess will
be burned off through water heating or an air heat resistance load. Increasing battery capacity is one way to
assist in this balancing act but too much capacity can be as detrimental as too little.
This particular problem for the off grid system can actually work fine for the grid tie machine. You get the
benefit of using the grid for your electrical consumption during the slow times, then get to feed it back when
not needed. Some may call this a win-win situation.
One other notable situation becomes apparent when looking at the wind distribution charts. It is not
needing to build a turbine that is capable of harvesting every bit of wind energy. To build a turbine that
continues to increase production in the higher but extremely infrequently occurring winds would carry a
price tag that may be hard to justify. Actually a cheap turbine can work in high winds at least once. It is
more reasonable to allow the turbine to regulate at a more moderate speed. A good turbine, when
regulating, will continue to produce its maximum power but is protected from the destructive forces found
Energy in the Wind
in high winds. We will cover more on this subject in the chapter on Over Speed Protection.
Wrap Up
It comes down to one thing. Wind speed plays a very important role in the energy output of a wind
turbine, with qualifiers of course such as too much wind. There are several variables that will always be in
play like temperature and altitude. If you understand these factors you will not be surprised or disappointed
if the recorded output from your turbine varies from the optimal figures often published by the
manufacturer. In the real world our sites will always have more turbulence than we realize and the density
altitude will come into play more often than we would like to think. More wind, more power.
Site Selection
Site Selection
Site location will play a large part in the cost of your system. The hidden expense of the conductor from the
turbine to the batteries can be significant if a great distance must be covered. Stay as close to the batteries
as possible. Obviously if your batteries are already located in a valley with no wind, there is no point in
installing the turbine there. You will simply have to bear the expense of placing the turbine in a suitable
location.
We have already looked briefly at how wind is generated, through the effects of solar radiation, so now we
will take a look at how the geographic features can alter wind flow patterns. We know that solar radiation
striking the earth causes conductive activity to occur, generating what we call wind.
Let's talk about suitable locations.
Hills and Plateaus

Hills and plateaus can provide high ground on which to site your wind turbine. Typically you'll find higher
wind speeds there. These terrain features can accelerate the flow of wind, which is what you are looking for.
The air approaching a hill will begin to compress and result in higher wind speeds as it crosses the summit.
The wind at the base of a hill will typically be slower as it starts to " heap up" and begins to climb the hill
prior to the base.
In the same way be cautious of bluffs. It may seem to be the place to take full advantage of the wind but
you may encounter turbulent conditions. The wind climbing the face of the hill will mix with the wind
traveling parallel to the earth and create some level of turbulence. The steeper and more uneven the rise, the
more turbulence will be created at the edge of a bluff. This requires the turbine to be situated back and away
from the cliff edge. The top of a gently sloping hill would be more desirable.
Valleys
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Site%20Selection.html (1 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:47:49 PM]
Site Selection
If you are located in a valley, do your research and carefully observe the wind patterns. If there is high
ground all around you your wind site may be too sheltered to be effective.
However, a valley may also be a wind funnel especially if it runs parallel to the prevailing wind. We would
suggest if you are planning to site your turbine in a valley that you spend some time on site for personal
observations.
Bodies of Water
If you live near a large body of water this might provide you with a somewhat predictable wind pattern. One
important fact to also note is the typically higher average wind speed along the shoreline. This is a result of
the long unobstructed area the wind has as it blows across the water. There are no parasitic obstructions
such as hills and trees to contend with.
What Is The Problem With Trees And Buildings?

Trees and buildings are typically hard to avoid so we just need to understand and minimize their affect on
your wind turbine. This will require you to know the typical direction of your strongest prevailing winds.
For most sites this will be in the winter. When referring to upwind and downwind of the site, this will be in
relation to your prevailing winds.
The problem with obstacles occurs when the wind strikes them and is deflected in various directions. You
have probably at one time or the other sought shelter behind a building during a strong wind. You basically
wanted to get into the 'wind shadow' of the building, the place where the building was creating a calm area
by deflecting the wind currents to other places.
In regard to the prevailing wind, being upwind of obstacles would be the best scenario. If you are going to
be downwind of tall obstacles more turbulence will be generated so tower height is absolutely critical.
Here is a rule of thumb that is commonly used to easily determine the minimum tower height:
Make the height of the tower such that the entire rotor is at least 30 feet
above the highest obstacle within 500 feet. Just call it the 500/30ft rule.
Site Selection
This is simple and easy to understand. Just be sure to use it as a minimum, not a 'low' goal to shoot for. Not
getting your turbine up and out of the turbulence because a short tower is cheaper may be false economy.
The turbine will be subjected to destructive forces in the turbulence and that possibly will lead to early
failure.
Generally, the extra money spent on a taller tower is well justified.
How to Measure The Height of Objects

The procedure for measuring the height of trees or objects is actually very simple.
You can do this with or without someone to help you. To begin you will need a ruler or
yardstick and an object of known height. A 2x4 works very well for this. No specific size is
required but it helps if it's a even number ( 5' or 6 works well'). Now place the 2x4 or have
a friend stand at the base of the object. Walk away a reasonable distance. Once again, it
really doesn't matter how far away you are, just whatever is practical.
Now hold up the ruler in front of you at arms length, close one eye and measure both the
height of the 2x4 (or person) and the height of the tree.
Site Selection
In the example above the 2x4 is 5' feet tall and measures 1" on the ruler. The top of the
tree measures 7" on the ruler. Since every 1" on the ruler equals 5' on the tree you can
multiply 5 times how many inches there are to the top of the tree. This tree would measure
about 35ft tall. This method will give you a good indication of how tall trees and objects are
surrounding the area.
Why Avoid Turbulence?

Trees, buildings or any other obstruction will cause turbulence as wind passes over and around them. Many
Site Selection
people have experienced turbulence while riding in an airplane and most would agree it is a rather jolting.
Turbulence to a wind turbine isn't as dramatic as it is in an airplane that is traveling at several hundred
miles per hour, but it can still be very damaging to the turbine. The gusting eddies of wind can place an
abrupt load on the tail, bearings and the blades. Metal fatigue is sure to occur at some point if the forces are
strong and repetitive.
Simply put, it shortens the life of the turbine.
Turbulence also decreases power output. Forces rapidly hitting the blades from varying angles will cause
inefficiencies and create added stress. If the unit is rapidly turning to seek the prevailing wind, the full
power production potential is not realized.
Gusting wind also is not fully utilized. By the time the gust of wind overcomes the inertia of the generator,
the wind speed has typically begun to slow. A word picture would better describe this. Imagine the wind
"spilling" through the blades before they can capture it.
The best thing to do for siting the turbine is to avoid as much turbulence as possible. Using the 500ft/30ft
rule will help minimize the damaging effects of turbulent air and increase effeciency.
The Bottom Line on Site Selection

Site selection is a mix of art and common sense. Artistically speaking, you may be able to partially conceal
the tower or place it where it will blend into the surroundings by using creative wood and brush clearing.
Each location is unique as is everyones individual tastes. Where as one person may not be bothered if that
thang is right out their front door, another may go to great lengths to place it where it is not visible from
even the bathroom window.
We chose our site for a several of reasons.
Site Selection
The turbine is downwind of the house. This way, less trees needed to be
cleared.
It is not in any major view shed.
The location placed the most distance between the turbine and the tallest
obstacle in the direction from which the prevailing wind comes.
It is best to not rush the site selection process. Make every effort to get the site to everyones liking, within
reason. While not impossible, relocating a tower is not as simple as remodeling the kids room.
Will Wind Power Work For You?

First, there are several basic things for you to consider if you are serious about putting several hundred
pounds of metal, fiberglass and plastics high upon a skinny pole that will be subjected to a potentially
devastating force of nature.
Consider the following to see if small wind power will work for you:
There is sufficient wind in the area where the turbine would go.
You have enough land to accommodate the required size turbine and
tower.
Zoning and community covenants will not immediately shut you down.
You understand there is a risk/reward factor and are willing to live with
it.
We will briefly cover some of these topics but most of the above four items will require you to do the
analysis and footwork.
If you decide you can get past these initial areas of concern the next phase to consider will include things
such as, site selection, tower height, turbine and tower type, and needed components. These items are
where we will help you discern the cold, hard facts of energy production blowing in the wind. Almost as
important, you will get our real life input of what wind power is all about. That is because we are living it!
Is There Enough Wind?

You can find a lot of generic information on just how much average wind is needed for a successful site.
There is an often quoted rule of thumb figure that you need an average wind speed of 12 mph or greater.
While this number is fairly accurate and something to shoot for, there is more to it than just that.
First you have to go through the process of asking yourself why you want to attempt the wind harvest. If
you have convinced yourself you are going to do it because it is the right thing to do, then some rough
reasoning and observation can tell you if your site is wind-able. The idea of using a data recording system is
best left to someone putting up a larger turbine. The term "larger turbine" will mean different sizes to
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/...r-one/Will%20Wind%20Power%20Work%20For%20You.html (1 of 12) [7/14/2013 5:48:38 PM]
different people. Let's just say if you are going to spend a lot of dough, you may want to take the scientific
route. That would mean getting the average monthly wind speed for your site over the course of a year.
The other reason for taking the more precise route of gathering wind data can be a cause for contemplation.
Limited resources. On one hand you may want to know if you are getting a good return on your investment
because the wind system may be taking a large chunk of your overall budget. On the other hand, installing
and monitoring the data has two drawbacks. First the cost of installing a tower, anemometer and data
logging equipment isn't going to be cheap unless you have access to free equipment (duh!). Second, if you
are living on the site, you loose a years worth of potential power. These are all reasons to take time to put
some figures on paper that will help you weigh out the pros and cons of each approach. With a little
thought and calculator work, the answer should lean decidedly in one direction.
Power Point
For a grid tie system, the cost analysis is much more critical than for one
that is off the grid. If the wind is marginal, the cost to benefit ratio may
not add up because of the relatively low cost of commercial power. In
other words the payback may be rather long so your turbine is more of a
conversation piece than something useful. Where the off grid system
differs is that power from a gas or diesel generator is several times more
expensive per kwh than from a commercial source. The value of getting a
couple of kwh's a day for battery charging is much more valuable than
putting the same back into the grid.
What Resources Are Available?

Let's start with the information found online. You can click on the following links to view wind maps. The
Department of Energy wind map. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory wind map. There are
probably additional sites with wind data if you need more specific information but these should get you
started. By viewing these maps you might get a good idea of what your average wind speed will be, in your
general area.
Chatting with your neighbors is another source to consider. Keep in mind that what one person considers a
strong wind may be a gentle breeze for others. Before we moved to our current off grid location, we came
from a windy hillside in Anchorage, Alaska. The city dwellers were mostly sheltered from the strong
seasonal winds. Their definition of strong wind would be getting their hair ruffled while ours would mean
keeping children and small animals inside for fear of them blowing away. Just remember to get a little
specific with locals and find out what wind really means to them. If you have lived in the area more than a
year and you have been thinking about something as progressively as generating your own power, then you
probably have been observant of past conditions, right?
The two following charts may be helpful in estimating wind speed.
One option to consider would be to purchase one of the home weather stations with an anemometer to
assist in determining wind speeds. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to install. Your local department
store should carry them or you can shop around online. If you do buy one, remember that the wind at
ground level will be considerably less than what it is at 60, 80 or 100 feet in the air. This is something that
we discuss in the section about selecting towers. For now you just need to know if you have adequate wind.
The wind speed you will be looking for is in the 12-25 mph range. This is a reasonable speed for the
typical wind turbines we will be discussing. Unless you live on the plains, the wind will probably not blow
any one speed constantly. It can vary greatly just over the course of one minute. We have observed very
few times when our wind held any one speed consistently for more than 10 to 15 seconds while producing
considerable power. It can have a 5 mph variation over a few minutes or swing wildly from the low teens
up into the upper twenties in the course of seconds. That is why looking at an instantaneous wind speed
chart for a turbine is nice but it's nothing you can use to accurately forecast your monthly production.
Do You Have Enough Land?

Well, if you live in a city subdivision you may want to consider whether installing a wind turbine is really
practical. Neighbors taking shots at your house, with rotten vegetables of course, when the wind gets to
blowing may not be worth the rewards that follow a successful tower raising. Yes, these things do generate
a small amount of noise and can be viewed as unsightly by anyone not directly reaping the benefits.
The Neighbors
Look at it from the neighbors point of view. Say you are sitting inside your house on a breezy day with
lights on, using a computer, watching TV or in the kitchen running a food processor but your electric meter
is turning backward. The person next door watching you through the living room window is doing the same
thing but is shelling out the dough to do it. The next time you stop for a chat across the fence, you tell them
how your electric bill is little to nothing.
Well, they will either buy a turbine also or figure out how to make your life miserable. Why make them
view or hear something that isn't earning them a dime while you can sit around in your pajamas and
essentially make money. You may not actually be making money but at least you can avoid all or part of
an electric bill.
If you think this line of thought is way out in left field, consider this. An article by Jane Kruse published in
the Danish newspaper Politiken in 2006 titled The End of One Danish Windmill Co-operative echoes this
very sentiment. The Danish government is making efforts to take co-op owned turbines, replace them with
larger machines and place them in the hands of private investors. Normally the people that surround a
turbine site are involved with its ownership, allowing them to receive income from selling the energy. With
this new move by the government, the neighbors no longer receive any profits but have to put up with its
presence. This is no small issue and is causing some hard feelings in Denmark.
How about this. Are you guaranteed support from environmentally thoughtful neighbors? They drive a
hybrid car, recycle their trash and they are even Sierra Club members. You think you are safe if your land is
flanked by these green folks. After all you are not polluting the environment and consuming fossil fuels.
Think again. In their eyes you may be destroying the land and the natural habitat for some insect or
creature. The concrete you use in the anchoring system can create some horrible runoff problem and you
will be slaughtering birds by the thousands. Many folks want to have their cake and eat it too. They
want power at their own convenience and even complain about alternative energy. Unfortunately in our
country this is what you may have to deal with. It would be prudent to chat with neighbors and get a feel
for their level of tolerance so you can judge the amount of resistance that may be encountered.
Consider the change to the landscape with the presence of a wind system. The aesthetics of the tower are
very subjective. This will vary widely from person to person. Some may think they grace the sky and others
will abhor the thought of a steel pipe in their view shed. Looking for the least visible location would be a
help. If you have an idea where the turbine will go and know the tower height, that may determine the
extent of its visibility from the road and nearby houses. The fact is, wind turbines are not yet a very
common sight in most residential areas so they stand out like a sore thumb. Hiding it may be the best
course of action when dealing with a prickly neighbor.
The noise from turbines can vary between manufacturers. The new designs are quieter than some older
models but you will need to look at the specific make and model you are considering. A downwind turbine
may make a distinctively different sound than the upwind design. Furling versus blade pitch will also have
different characteristics in the sound department. For most turbines the sound generated in a low to
moderate breeze is a swishing sound that is noticeable but not usually disruptive. A higher RPM turbine
might make a whirring sound in moderate to high winds.
The amount of background noise from the area such as the road and the wind blowing through trees
conceal a lot of the turbine noise. If your neighbors are not convinced that noise won't be an issue, maybe
you can help them out. To demonstrate, just run through the yard rustling up leaves and shuffling your feet
while making a gentle swishing sound. If you receive a thumbs up from that, then you're in.
Dealing With the Danger Area
There may be some controversy over how much distance you need from the tower base to the neighbors
property line. That's just in case the thing falls over. It is said that towers do not just tip and fall but usually
will crumple or collapse. Even so, I would certainly want to place the tower away from any building or
property line equal to the height of the tower with the turbine on it. If your tower is 100 feet, turbine rotor
diameter is 10 feet and the turbine body sits on a stinger with 2 feet of clearance, then your total height is
112 feet.
Just to be safe, give yourself extra room in case the tower does fall straight over and on impact parts go
flying everywhere. I am not sure if there is a formula for 'parts go flying everywhere' that is easy to
calculate.
So now we can see that a city lot may not work too well. Let's get a rough idea of a sample layout. You
consider your property setback distance, your house and your neighbors house and kids. Lets put your
square 40 by 40 foot house on your lot and consider it a one story, hmmm, about 16 feet to the roof peak
and a couple of 25 foot shade trees. The rule of thumb for minimizing turbulence is to have the bottom of
the rotor 30 feet above anything within 500 feet (more about this later). In this example we have 25 foot
trees and use the 30 foot rule of thumb for a total required height of 55 feet. Tower sections usually come in
either 10 or 20 foot lengths so we will round up to 60 feet.
Power Point
A stinger is a pole that raises the turbine high enough so that the blades
clear the tower and the guy wires. On a lattice tower this is usually
required. However, some turbines have a long nacelle which eliminates
the need for a stinger
Turbine without stinger.
Now we decide on the distance from the house. Calculate the distance from the base of the tower to the top
of the rotor. Now add a "parts go flying everywhere" buffer. This can range from nothing up to 2 times the
tower height. Let's say we are comfortable with the turbine landing 30 feet from the house in the event it
simply tips over one day. Lets say the combined height of the tower and turbine is 70 feet. that puts us
roughly 100 feet from the house. Since your house is 40 foot square, no matter where you put the tower,
front, side or back yard, the lot size from the far side of the house to the tower base is 140 feet. And that
only clears your house. The neighbors may have something to say about a tower sitting right on the
property line.
If it is important that the turbine not fall over your property line then you have just added about another 70
feet. As you can see, it will require a lot of land if these buffers are used.
This is what a turbine installation
looks like that basically has no buffer.
There is another way to look at this space problem and

the fall zone or danger area. In reality there are plenty of
tall things that surround occupied buildings. Do you have
a tree that could fall on your house? How about power
lines, a flag pole, the TV antennae on your roof?
These are just a few objects that exist in our lives that we
do not create a buffer for simply because they could fall.
I guess you have to decide the buffer that you are
comfortable with as long as you don't put others
unnecessarily at risk. The insurance and zoning folks may
have something to say about it too. The zoning and
planning people may have never dealt with a turbine
installation so you may have to be the one to provide any
resources or data to back up your position.
The Investment Risk And Reward

The economic factors in wind power can vary from
person to person. You will hear it said that wind power is
something to consider if you pay more that $0.10 per
kilowatt. This figure, while possibly useful to an accountant, does not begin to address economic and social
issues that are unique to your situation. For example, if you plan to build on property that has no utilities,
the cost to bring in electricity might be rather shocking. In more vague terms, it is hard to factor the cost per
kilowatt if you want to be free of the grid to seek a simpler lifestyle.
You just need to decide why you want to have a wind turbine. It is real simple for us. We live off-grid and
are in a windy location. There is not much to think about. Some may want to reduce their monthly electric
bill while others see wind as a way to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources and centralized
power.
The Risk.
The largest risk is on the economic side of the equation. You think you have done your homework and have
plenty of wind but when you put up your turbine you find out you grossly overestimated your average wind
speed. Your turbine is like a cloud without water, threatening but not producing much. If you are off-grid
and relying on this to charge your batteries, you will now have to plan on reducing the electrical load or
increasing generator runtime. If you are on the grid you will just continue feeding the meter and have a nice
toy to show your friends. On the upside, if the blades hardly spin you will have very little maintenance cost!
The Reward.
The reward is something you lie in bed at night dreaming about. Taking the energy from the wind and
turning it into useful electricity may be a dream for some but when you raise your wind turbine into the air
and the meter shows power coming in, not going out, you know it is not a dream but reality! That is why we
want to help you understand what wind power is about and how to successfully get you up and running. The
goal is to mitigate risk and maximize the reward.
The Cost Factor of Wind Turbines

If you are off-grid you will probably have a budget for power and will have to decide how to divide it
between solar, wind and possibly hydro. Once you have your budget for the wind system, keep these
thoughts in mind.
The turbine may not be the largest expense, there is a lot more hidden
cost to a wind system.
How much tower is needed?
How far will the turbine site be from the batteries?
Will you do the excavation work?
Will you raise the tower?
Let's look at whether you will do the excavation and raising of the tower yourself or hire it out. If you pay
someone, the labor alone can be almost as much as the cost of a small turbine and tower.
Here is a real life example of what it cost us to install our wind system in 2005. The prices are approximate.
Whisper 200 - $2500

100 ft Lattice tilt-up tower - $5000
concrete, wiring and miscellaneous - $1500
So our approximate cost for the turbine and tower was about $9000. We used our own excavating
equipment so the cost of digging the holes for the anchor and base was negligible. If you need to rent a
backhoe you would probably use it for one day which might cost about $200 -$300.
Can You Do It?

The company which we bought our turbine and tower from gave us a quote of $7000 to dig the holes, run the
wires 300 feet and assemble and raise the tower. If you don't feel comfortable working with electricity and
operating heavy equipment this might be a good deal. However, if you can dig holes and follow basic
instructions for constructing the tower you can do most of the work yourself.
One thing that might motivate you to do your own installation is the fact that you will be getting a working
knowledge of how your system operates in the event of a problem. Knowing how everything works from
the ground up can be comforting if a problem arises and the nearest help is hundreds of miles away. Just
simple things such as a burned bridge rectifier or loose guy wire can quickly turn into a major problem if
not corrected. By knowing the mechanics of the system you can avoid a service call for something rather
simple.
Power Point
This happened to us after installing our Whisper 200 on a 100 foot tower.
The eye bolt on a preformed anchor block we purchased broke a month
after we had raised the tower.
Anemometer readings were showing winds gusting up to 70 miles per

hour. The company that would have raised our tower is about 7 hours away
from us. Since we had installed the anchor blocks ourselves we were able
to visualize what was happening underground and make an immediate fix.
There are other things you'll learn if you install your own turbine and tower. The tower is subject to
vibrations and over time the bolts and nuts can loosen up. Since you put all these fasteners together during
the initial installation you'll know what to check when you pull the tower down for maintenance. Knowing
what the tower looks like when properly put together can help you quickly notice when something is not
right during a visual inspection. This would include not only loose nuts and bolts but also chafed wires,
missing fasteners etc.
Just the act of you raising and lowering your tower will help build confidence. If you did not raise it in the
first place, bringing it down after the fact may be a little intimidating. If you decide to have someone else
install your tower, however, all is not lost. Simply look at it as a learning experience. This will mean you
will want to select an installer that is willing to work with you and explain what he is doing. If you are
working along side him then you will likely feel comfortable lowering the tower yourself.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Do you want to dig the holes?
Do you want to assemble and raise the tower?
Do you want to make sure the electrical connections are completed and
the turbine is properly attached to the tower?
Do you have friends and family members that can assist during the
raising and lowering of the tower?
Disclaimer and warning

You should always use a licensed electrician to do the wiring and you
should never try to raise a tower yourself. If you want to do it just because
we did and many other also have done, we are not responsible for your
actions. Everything we discuss or show is for informational purposes only.
(There, we said it)
The Next Step
The Next Step

Alright, you are ready for the next step since you have considered the following.
Determined that you have ample wind.
You have a good site to place a turbine.
You understand there is a risk/reward factor.
If you answer yes to those questions, then let's move to the next step.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/The%20Next%20Step.html [7/14/2013 5:48:39 PM]
Wind Turbine Designs
Turbine Design Intro

The complexities surrounding wind turbines are worth much discussion and consideration. If you're just
starting to research wind power it can be down right intimidating. You could easily get confused by the
various designs. We will discuss the following factors to consider while shopping for a turbine.
Upwind or Downwind Turbine
2 Blade Vs. 3 Blades
Blade material.
High or Low RPM
Over speed Protection
Swept Area
Rated Output
Turbine Weight
These design characteristics affect how a wind turbine will operate. This will also affect their performance,
longevity and cost.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Wind%20Turbine%20Designs.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:04 PM]
Wind Turbine Designs
footer for aa page
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Wind%20Turbine%20Designs.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:04 PM]
Upwind Vs. Downwind
ind Turbines
Upwind or Downwind Turbine

Upwind Turbines
The rotor on an upwind turbine is placed upwind or in front of of the tower. This is the most common type
of small turbines operating in the U.S. To keep it oriented into the wind, a yaw mechanism such as a tail is
needed.
Advantage
Reduced tower shading. A simple explanation for tower shading; What occurs when the airflow in the
vicinity of the tower is disrupted by the tower itself. The air will start to compress in front of the tower. This
causes its straight-line movement to be deflected before it can pass around it. The rotor of the upwind
turbine moves through this area of turbulence. Each time a blade passes in front of the tower, though
minimal for the upwind design,there is a power loss. This is not an area of concern for us but something to
be aware of.
Disadvantage
The nacelle must be long enough to position the rotor far enough away from the tower to avoid any
problems with a blade strike. Additionally, the blades themselves must be somewhat stiff to avoid bending
back into the tower. This will mean the point where the blade attaches to the rotor hub will be stressed
during high, gusty wind conditions.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Upwind%20Vs.%20Downwind.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:49:23 PM]
Upwind Vs. Downwind
Downwind Turbines
A downwind turbine has blades that are trailing downwind of the tower.
The nacelle typically is designed to seek the wind, thus negating the need for a separate yaw mechanism.
Advantage
The rotor blades can be flexible since there is no danger of a tower strike. A flexible blade has two
advantages.
(1) They can be less expensive to make.
(2) They can relieve stress on the tower during high or gusty wind conditions since the flexing allows some
wind load to be transferred directly to the blades instead of the tower. The Proven has a hinged design that
allows the blades to flex back to dissipate energy for speed control.
Disadvantage
Tower shadowing is a problem with downwind machines since the rotor blades actually pass behind the
tower. This can cause turbulence and increased fatigue on the unit.
Summary
Upwind Vs. Downwind
The upwind turbine will be the most common in the residential scale, renewable energy scene. The two
largest manufacturers of turbines, Bergey and Southwest Wind Power, produce upwind machines. The
exception is Southwest Wind Power who sells a downwind model, the Skystream, which is aimed at the
grid-tie market. The predominant downwind machine is the Proven brand, produced in Scotland.
For residential size turbines there is no clear winner between the two designs. You can't really say that one
turbine will last longer or produce more power just because it's an upwind or downwind turbine. Although
this is an important factor to consider, it's not the end all be all.
2 Blades vs. 3 Blades
2 Blades Vs. 3 Blades

This subject is one that gets a lot of attention but in the small turbine market it is almost a moot point. There
just aren't that many two blade machines for sale in the size range that you will be installing.
World Power who was bought by Southwest Windpower did make 2 blade turbines. Of the current
machines being sold in the U.S. there are only two that are significant. The Whisper 500 and the Eoltec
Sirocco. Unless you are considering one of these, all the other choices will have three or more blades.
The argument of two versus three blades is one that you can say each side has their own reasonable
arguments. Instead of wading in too deep let's just cover the basics.
The Issues
When a turbine has two blades there are issues of stability. The most
obvious one is the tower shadow issue. This problem
occurs when the lower blade is at the bottom of the arc and the other is at the
uppermost point of travel. While the upper blade is in the area where it is
absorbing the most energy from the wind and being pushed back, the lower blade
is receiving less wind.
Evidently this causes a lot of stress, so much so that on large turbines a teeter hub
is used.
This allows a few degrees of front to back travel so
the rotor can actually tilt to avoid some of the shock. This teetering hub is not used
on either of the two small turbines mentioned above.
With an odd number of blades the dynamic properties are similar to a disc. A
three blade turbine is symmetrical whereas two blades are asymmetric.
This causes problems for the two blade design in an area where the wind shifts
rapidly. There is a greater gyroscopic imbalance when it yaws with a wind
direction change. This imbalance causes a load on the turbine that can result in
rapid wear on the bearings.
A two blade wind turbine can't capture as much
energy from the wind. They capture approx. 5%
less energy than a three blade turbine.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/2%20Blade%20Vs.%203%20Blade.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:33 PM]
2 Blades vs. 3 Blades
There is one positive side to a two blade turbine

and that is the reduced cost in not having to make an extra blade. When it
comes to small wind, This cost savings is negligible.
The Bottom Line

The fact is, most turbines built today do have three blades and they work just fine. There are more three
blade turbines on the market, due to the fact that they are easier to design and have higher reliability.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/2%20Blade%20Vs.%203%20Blade.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:33 PM]
Blade Material
Blade Material
The blades are designed to catch the energy in the wind. The fluctuating force of the wind will tend to put
the blades under considerable bending stress.
Aluminum
Aluminum is low in weight but suffers from low fatigue levels. They just do not stand up to the repeated
bending over time. Because of this, aluminum is not a suitable material to use.
Wood
Wood has been used for wind machine blades and is still a good material for small turbine applications. It
is relatively inexpensive and requires basic tools to shape. This currently makes it a material of choice in the
homebuilt market.
Moisture can be a problem. Wood blades need to be sealed with a finishes. Nicks and scratches in the
surface coating will allow moisture to penetrate the wood. Various areas of the wood blade will have
differing rates of moisture retention thereby possibly causing blade imbalance. To keep the turbine
operating properly, the blades need to be maintained regularly.
That being said, there are a lot of turbines in use, new and old that use wood for blades. There is no reason
to shy away from them if you are making a homebuilt or want to buy a turbine kit, such as the otherpower
machine.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is another material that is found in blade construction. Different variations in the matrix can be
used such as vinyl ester, polyester and epoxy. Fiberglass is reasonably stiff with good strength. The Bergey
XL.1 blades are made of pultruded fiberglass.
Carbon Fiber / Polypropylene

Polypropylene is found in blades from companies such as Southwest Wind Power and Proven. SWWP list
their's as Polypro/Carbon glass reinforced. Proven blades are shown as polypropylene composite. The
carbon and the glass fibers are for reinforcement to provide a stiff blade with good fatigue levels. Carbon
fiber is also lighter and stronger than fiberglass.
Summary
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Blade%20Material.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:34 PM]
Blade Material
The bottom line on blade material is a tough one to use solely as selection criteria. Some types of material
will just need more care than others. The more important issue in the blade department is the rotor diameter
or swept area which is covered later in this chapter.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Blade%20Material.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:34 PM]
Turbine Weight
Turbine Weight
Why Heavier is Better
Discussing the weight of a turbine may seem a little odd. Why would a buyer care how heavy it is as long as
it will go up into the air and generate electricity? Well, the average buyer may not really care but this
obviously doesn't describe you.
Weight plays a couple of roles in the life of a turbine.
(1) Turbines vibrate. Whether through rotor imbalances or slightly worn

bearings. More mass in the turbine body has the ability to absorb more
vibration.
(2) The increased weight usually means a beefier alternator and heavier
bearing assemblies and cases.
First a Little Story

A few years back there were some issues with our Northern Lights diesel
generator. We were having some problems when heavy, nonlinear loads
were applied while the it was running. The lights would very visibly flicker
when the battery charger, a nonlinear load, was at a high charge rate and
there was not enough linear (resistive) load for balance. The nonlinear load
evidently causes a harmonic distortion when it is the major demand.
The good part, doing something as simple as turning on a small heater
will smooth things out. The NL mechanics indicated the root cause was
related to the size of the generator itself. The situation gets worse when the
linear / nonlinear imbalance occurs at the upper end of the generator
output. The solution, add a linear load when the charger is operating or get
a bigger generator. If the generator had been constructed a little heavier
we would not have this problem but it would also cost more.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Turbine%20Weight.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:36 PM]
Turbine Weight
Well, there you have it. It comes down to cost. In the world of gas/diesel generators cost is important for
the manufacturer due to competition. If purchasing a generator to take camping or use as an emergency
power source, the odds are you don't want to spend a lot of money. And you don't have to. Since you only
need the little generator to work occasionally, you can balance the cost verses the benefit and go with an
inexpensive one. If it is your primary source of electrical production you will probably want to go with a
heavy duty unit. Heavy duty in this case actually will translate into heavy weight.
In a way, we actually do the same thing with a wind turbine. If you select a lightweight machine over a
heavyweight, this may indicate your tolerance of having a machine prone to a short life span. Though most
evidence would indicate heavy is better, more weight does not automatically mean increased reliability.
What's Our Take On Machine Weight?

We see this as a very important consideration, especially in the long run, since a heavier turbine will absorb
vibrations and has a more substantial generator. If you live in a high wind area the extra weight is well
worth it. However, a heavier turbine will typically cost more.
As we have said before, if the wind doesn't blow very much at your place then you can get along with most
any turbine on the market.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Turbine%20Weight.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:49:36 PM]
Wind Turbine Rpm
Wind Turbine Rpm

Wind turbine RPM (revolutions per minute) will play a large part in its longevity. You wouldn't drive your
car 100 miles to the store if a closer one was only 5 miles away. The same goes with wind turbine speed.
Why put unnecessary "mileage" on your turbine when you don't have to.
Most small turbines on the market today are direct drive units. They are called direct drive because they
have no gearbox. The gearbox lets the rotor shaft spin at a speed much slower than the alternator. This is
usually needed on the large commercial machines where it is impractical for the rotor to turn fast enough for
the alternator to generate meaningful power. A gearbox on a small turbine is not desirable because it would
be an unnecessarily complication and the direct drive design is adequate.
Most wind turbines marketed today will list an RPM. This is the speed the rotor is turning when the
machine is operating at the rated output. While some of the machines specifications are of little value, we
view this one as a top item to understand and consider.
Why Is This So Important?

Why is wind turbine speed so important to know? Look at an engine, whether petroleum or electric. If you
compare two similar engines, the one that rotates slower and produces equal results will usually have more
longevity. Things just don't wear as fast at slower speeds.
What is a Bearing?
A bearing is a device that supports, guides, and reduces the friction of
motion between fixed and moving machine parts. The rollers are separated
from the walls by a thin layer of oil.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Turbine%20RPM.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:49:54 PM]
Wind Turbine Rpm
Bearings provide support and allow the rotor shaft to rotate easily.
In the case of a wind turbine the thing to consider would be the bearings. The lubricant does a good job of
keeping the parts from touching but as time goes by, the grease will start to thin and get contaminated.
Destructive Forces At Work

In a small wind turbine, the most critical moving parts are the shaft bearings. A properly designed and
maintained bearing will give good service over a long period of use. One thing that is important to know
about a bearing is that either vibrations or side loads will shorten its service life. These two things will
invariably happen to a wind turbine.
The side load. Turbulent air that acts unevenly on the rotor can impose these side loads on the shaft and
bearing. Also, the gyroscopic force of the rotor resisting directional change during high, gusty wind
conditions will do the same.
The vibrations. Vibrations can come from a couple of sources. One is the free vibration that can result
from wind hitting the tower and guy wires. The other is forced vibration caused by rotor imbalance. The
vibrations from a rotor imbalance may increase over time from nicks and abrasions on the blades.
To understand why these forces reduce the life of a bearing, let's take a brief look at what keeps the
bearing from not wearing out. Lubrication. The moving metal parts are separated by a very thin layer of
lubricant, typically grease. This grease layer can withstand substantial pressure. However, with enough
force, the metal surfaces can come into contact with each other. This causes the bearings to wear. To
compound this problem, the fine metal particals that result from metal to metal contact are now suspended
in the grease which causes even further abrasion. That is why either vibrations or imposed loads have such a
detrimental effect on the machine. They have the ability to cause the two metal surfaces to repeatedly
breach the lubricant layer in the bearing.
Along with contamination of the grease from either metal particles or the introduction of dirt and dust, the
lubricating properties of petroleum products degrade over time. High heat is also a large factor in this
breaking down process. As you could imagine, the higher the rpm, the more heat is generated.
By looking at some of the forces at work in a wind turbine, we can see how the rpm of the rotor is very
important. The faster the rotor turns, the more likely there will be vibrational and gyroscopic load issues. If
we can get the same work done at a slower speed, less wear occurs.
High Speed and Blade Efficiency

High speed can also be an issue with airfoil efficiencies. A blade operates similar to an aircraft wing. The air
moves faster across the longer (more rounded) section and creates a low pressure area in this region. This
produces lift. Since the blade is attached to the turbine, the lift causes the blade to move in the direction of
Wind Turbine Rpm
low pressure. This is the rotating action we observe in a spinning rotor.

Drag is also created. An objective in the design of an airfoil is to have a high lift to drag ratio. The problem
encountered is that the faster the blade moves through the air, the more difficult it is to manage the lift/drag
ratio. For this discussion, suffice it to say that the lower the rotor speed is, the better off it will be. Hugh
Piggott has very good information on his website regarding this issue. His information is excellent and goes
into further detail. www.scoraigwind.com
Power-Point
The drawback of an advanced, high efficiency airfoil is that a perfect
surface is critical to performance. This is no different than in an aircraft
that operates at high speeds.
A DC-3 or Super Cub will not object much when there are lumps or dents
in the wing because they move slowly through the air. On the other hand,
something such as the Concord SST is severely penalized in fuel economy
and performance when small imperfections exist.
The same may apply to an airfoil labeled with terms such as "advanced",
"state of the art", "high technology" or "space age". It is not to say they
aren't better, they just need to be kept in a like new condition to take full
advantage of their claims.
Conclusion
The problems related to RPM can exist in any turbine, high or low. An out of balance condition will be
more exaggerated with a higher speed turbine which usually leads to premature failure.
Saying that high RPM's is directly related to increased failure may be a broad and unfair accusation. You
may not be convinced from a very brief discussion on bearings and lubrication that RPM is a critical matter.
In areas where the wind does not blow, that just might be true.
However, there is still the matter of practicality. It may be that we should employ our instincts in this case.
Take a field trip. Go out on a windy day, a strong windy day, and look at various turbines. Observe a
machine that operates at 300 RPM and one that operates at 1000 RPM. You just might conclude that the
bumper sticker Speed Kills could possibly apply here.
Image courtesy of PlusMinus
Chapter Two
Over Speed Protection

Why Is Over Speed Protection So Important?
The alternator in your turbine will give an increase in energy production with an increase in rotational
speed. In other words, spin the alternator faster and you get more juice at the business end of the wires. One
issue to contend with is that alternators are built with a maximum power production rating. When this
output is exceeded, the alternator will eventually overheat and burn up.
Another issue from high speed is the stress placed on the rotor. As we know from calculating power in the
wind, as wind speed increases the energy increases by a cube factor. For example, if the wind speed is
doubled, the energy increases by a factor of eight. These exponential increases can lead to significant
trouble if not kept in check.
Power Point
A turbine needs to find a happy range of operation. Most are designed to
produce power in a wind speed range that is from 8 mph to 30 mph. Higher
wind speed can be present in many locations and it would be nice to get it
all, but that comes at a price. As the maximum power production rating for
an alternator increases, so does weight and cost. On top of that, it would
require an increasingly large conductor to carry the power to the charge
controller.
In other words, a turbine could be built to operate freely in any kind of
wind, converting every bit of available energy but it would be cost
prohibitive.
To balance the cost versus power production, most turbines will only try to harvest the energy found in
winds under approximately 30 mph. Since the wind in most locations will exceed this at some point, a way
is needed to keep the machines components operating within their design parameters. The answer is a
practical way to govern the RPM's. This is done primarily through furling or blade pitch. Some machines
use blade stalling and dynamic braking. We will be examining blade pitch and furling since they are the
primary methods of speed control in small turbines.
As discussed in the section on Wind Turbine RPM, there are limits to how fast motors and rotors can
operate. A turbine is built to safely operate up to a specific speed. Anything from mechanical damage to
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Over%20Speed%20Protection.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:50:27 PM]
catastrophic failure can occur when this limit is exceeded.

Therefore, limiting the revolutions per minute is a very critical aspect of machine function. Without this
protection, your wind turbine could meet its demise at the first big gust of wind. Consider the over speed
control mechanism as your first line of defense in keeping the machine within safe operating parameters.
Furling
This is where the front part of the nacelle containing the rotor and generator fold about a hinge while the tail
continues to track the wind. The desired effect is to turn the blades at an angle to the wind so the rotor will
slow down.
Furling happens without motors or special devices. It works because the rotor axis is offset from the
furling axis. When the wind exceeds a predetermined force on the rotor, it rotates around the furling hinge
or pin, either vertically or horizontally. As the wind speed slows, the rotor turns back into the wind.
Photo courtesy of NREL - Dean Davis.

Springs or a shock absorbing piston may be utilized to provide dampening. Furling is a reliable governing
method but has a few disadvantages. When the rotor is turned out of the wind, power production is reduced.
Also, the wind hitting the blades at an angle can cause stress on the rotor assembly and bearings.
Blade Pitch
A bit more complex method is to use blade pitching. As the rotor speed increases, the blades move to a less
efficient angle. This decreases lift and limits the rotor speed. Changing the angle of attack of the blade is
typically accomplished with weights or springs that react to centrifugal force.
Photo courtesy of Prove Energy

The blade pitch design has drawbacks as far as complexity and increased cost. More parts are in motion
when the regulating is taking place. On the positive side, this method is more effective than furling in
protecting the machine. It also allows the machine to continue producing maximum power in high winds
where the furling machine will actually drop in output.
Photo courtesy of Ventera Energy

Blade tip pitch is another variation that is used on one small turbine made in the U.S. It is the machine
built by the Ventera Energy Corporation. The outer tip of the blade responds to centrifugal force instead of
the whole blade.
Bottom Line On Over Speed

We want to take over speed protection very seriously and understand how it works but at the same time
your options are limited. A wind turbine can't be ordered like a Burger King Whopper. So which one's
better?
The blade pitch design is going to provide the best over speed protection. The downside; there are more
moving parts involved. Also, turbines that utilize this design typically cost more than a furling unit. If your
budget allows, we feel this is a very good way to go especially if you live in a high wind area.
Furling turbines offer an inexpensive entry into wind power. If low cost and availability are a priority, a
furling machine is going to be your best bet. These are good for areas that don't receive strong winds (< 30
mph) since they are not as efficient at higher speeds.
One Last Note

Before we conclude this section we need to mention one thing about dynamic braking as an over speed
control. The Skystream 3.7 depends solely on this method to prevent turbine damage and destruction.
While this may not unsettle some, in our opinion this is not an efficient or reliable way and should never
be used solely to protect from over speed (this is why we did not write about it above). The product
brochure mentions redundancy so there is no need for mechanical overrides. I don't know about that. Call it
old fashioned but I would guess that most people would feel safer if in the event something failed there was
a big red STOP lever to throw.
Survival Wind Speed
Survival Wind Speed

Survival wind speed is not an actual feature to consider but rather a deceptive figure that needs to be
addressed.
Some turbines boast a very high survival wind speed in an effort to reflect lifespan. However, this is not a
reliable indicator since most turbines can not actually be tested in these forceful conditions continuously.
Here is a good example. The SWWP Whisper line up all boast a survival wind speed of 120 mph. That
sounds pretty amazing... But what are the facts? The fact is that our Whisper 200 ended up breaking apart
in a 30-40 mph breeze!
This doesn't mean that every turbine will fail below it's rated survival speed. Just don't get wrapped up in
irrelevant, meaningless numbers. The other designs features you just read about are more important factors
to consider in regard to overall life expectancy.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Survival%20Wind%20Speed.html [7/14/2013 5:50:28 PM]
Swept Area
Swept Area
Rotor Diameter This number is listed on most wind turbine spec sheets.
It is simply the diameter of the blades.
Swept areaThis refers to the area of the rotor in square feet. It is also
called the 'capture area'.
pi x Radius = Area Swept by the Blades.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Swept%20Area.html (1 of 4) [7/14/2013 5:50:40 PM]
Swept Area
The power output of a wind turbine is directly related to the swept area of its blades. The larger the
diameter of its blades, the more energy it is capable of extracting from the wind.
Let's go over the basic relational facts surrounding wind power and what they mean to you, the consumer.
Some of these things have been mentioned before but we will look at them as a package.
Remember, energy in the wind is not linear. If you double the wind speed, the energy doe not double but
increases by a factor of 8. As speed increases the power is increased by a cube factor. The cube factor
concept is important to remember.
Calculate wind energy at 10 mph vs 20 mph

10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000
20 x 20 x 20 = 8,000
On the other hand, energy captured by the rotor is linear. This means if we want to compare similar turbines
with different size rotor diameters, we need to use the formula pi x radius to get the swept area. Let's do
some calculations to see how rotor diameter affects swept area. First we will double the rotor diameter and
see what happens.
Calculate a 10 foot vs a 20 foot rotor diameter

10 foot diameter = 5 foot radius
20 foot diameter = 10 foot radius
Using the formula
pi x Radius
3.14 x 25 = 78.5 square feet
3.14 x 100 = 314 square feet
Swept Area
The rotor diameter doubled in size but the swept area increased by four times. This is important to
understand.
Now lets see what it takes to double the swept area.

To double the collection potential of a turbine with a 10 foot diameter rotor, we need to find out what
diameter will double the swept area of 78.5 square feet.
Swept area 78.5 x 2 = 157 sq ft

157 3.14 = 50 (50 is the radius squared)
50 = 7.07 (this is the radius)
7.07 x 2 = 14.14 foot diameter
Thus a 14.14 foot diameter rotor will double the energy capturing capability over that of a turbine with a
10 foot diameter.
Just for fun let's look at the difference that just one foot in rotor diameter makes. Calculate the difference in
a 9 foot vs 10 foot diameter.
pi x Radius = Area Swept by the Blades

9 foot Diameter 3.14 x 20.25 = 63.6 Square Feet
10 foot Diameter 3.14 x 25 = 78.5 Square Feet
A one foot increase in diameter yields a 23% increase in swept area. As you can see a small increase in
rotor diameter means a lot more capturing potential. If you double the swept area, you double the amount
of energy it can capture.
A wind turbine is all about harnessing wind energy and the most common way is to increase the area of
collection. The swept area is simply a way to measure the energy capturing potential of a wind turbine. Now
we have a starting point for how to compare turbines.
Swept Area
Rated Output
Rated Output
Start-up Speed The speed when the rotor starts to turn. This number is
not relevant to power production.
Cut-in Speed - The speed when the turbine starts to produce power. There
is really no reason to get excited if a turbine has a low cut-in speed since
there is not much power in low winds.
Rated Power - This is typically how much power is being produced at a
turbines rated wind speed or the governing speed.
The power rating for a wind turbine has to be one of the most misunderstood and over quoted aspects
of a wind turbine. The rated output or rated power is a maximum that is typically achieved by the turbine.
The power output can be more or it can be less than the stated rating.
Air density affects output

There are several factors that can result in a variation of power production. One is the density of the air.
Think of the air in relation to water. Water is denser than air, it has more molecules packed closer together.
Anyone who has stood in a river understands the power that is in the flow of water. A strong current can
make standing very difficult if not impossible. Keep in mind that a current of water that is strong enough to
cause considerable force against your body may only be moving at 3 or 4 miles per hour. You may not even
be able to stand in a river that is flowing at 6mph without being swept away! However, a 6 mph wind is
typically below a turbines start-up speed. This is how drastic a difference density can make.
The air is most dense at sea level and thins with increased altitude. Temperature also affects density.
Colder temperature means denser air. Denser air means more molecules and more molecules mean more
push on the blades for a given air speed.
During the winter, the turbine should produce more power than in the summer at any given wind speed.
Most likely the published output for a turbine is going to be shown for a standard day at sea level and 68 F.
Wind Turbine Altitude Output Adjustment
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Rated%20Output.html (1 of 8) [7/14/2013 5:50:46 PM]
Rated Output
Output Correction For Altitude Above Sea

Level
0------------100%
2500 ft---------91%
5000 ft---------83%
7500 ft---------76%
Altitude and temperature is something you will have no control over. It is just good to be aware that at a
high altitude in the summer, a turbine is simply not going to meet factory specifications for power
production.
Rated Output Ripoff

We too often look at what the turbine is rated to produce and base a lot of assumptions on that one number.
Some salesmen in the wind industry can confuse matters even worse because they have never lived with
one. I can envision a slick salesman leaning back in his chair saying yep, this baby can really produce. It's
our 2 K model, ya wont have any trouble keepn' them batteries all charged up. To really understand how
one works, it is best to chat with someone that lives off grid with a turbine as a power source. That is why
we can explain the facts to you.
The first and foremost question on the mind of a new buyer is usually, What size is it?. That question is
always referring to the rated power output. It seems we always want to know the maximum amount of
power in watts or kilowatts a machine will crank out. That was the first question we remember wanting
answered when we were new to the world of wind power. Looking back, we feel silly how we placed such
emphasis on needing to know that number. It is good to know the specs on what you're buying but it is
nothing to loose sleep over. Don't worry if the rated power is something that keeps you up late at night,
because you are about to get over it.
The slight misconception with a wind turbine is that we are not buying a generator in the traditional
concept but one that ebbs and flows with the wind currents. A turbine rated at 2 KW is not going to fire up
and start producing 2000 watts of power as soon as the wind hits the blades. Rather we wait for the wind to
blow and take what we can from it. The power production can be anywhere between 1 watt and up to or
even exceeding 2,000 watts. The turbine may occasionally produce the rated power output but will
typically produce power in considerably smaller quantities. Some places, especially areas next to large
bodies of water, may have somewhat predictable wind patterns. Even so we still have no control over how
fast it blows.
Rated Output
Power Point
What adds to the perception that rated power is so important is the way
that the number is used prominently in advertising. The rated output may
also be the turbines model number. Some manufacturers are starting to
refer instead to the rotor diameter, a much more useful thing.
OK, why can we not rely on the kilowatt rating stamped on the turbine for anything useful? If it is able to
produce a particular power output, why is that not important? The important word in the last sentence is
able. If you car is able to go zero to 60 mph in 10 seconds but you just use it to drive around the block to
get to the library, who cares. If your truck is able to haul 10,000 pounds but you use it to get the weekly
groceries, so what? If your speed-o-matic can opener is able to open 4 cans of soup a minute but you never
open more that one a day, why bother. If your wind turbine is able to produce 4 kilowatts in a 32 mph wind
but rarely gets to that speed, what difference does it really make? You would have a problem if you were
counting on your machine to pump out 4,000 watts continuously. For most of us it just ain't gonna happen
very often. So what good is rated output?
The previous paragraphs are written to say one thing, rated output has little to do with what you can
expect your wind turbine to churn out in electrical power. To achieve the rated output over an extended
period of time, the wind would have to blow in a consistent, undisturbed fashion with no interruptions or
surges. This is possible in some locations but for most of us, realistically, that is not going to happen. Wind
speed is going to wax and wane. We live in an area that can be brutal in terms of extended (as in weeks)
wind speeds mostly staying over 30 mph. Even during these times there are lulls.
We once owned a unit that had a rated output of 1 kilowatt but the most amount of power ever produced in
one of these breezy 24 hour periods was about 14 kilowatt hours. That is because there are very brief lulls
that cause production to drop, even if for a few seconds. During these times the output may read only a few
hundred watts, but it affects the average. The unit also used side furling to control the speed. Power
production decreases significantly while the machine was coming out of the furl mode. So much for pulling
24 kilowatt hours out of thin air!
Rated Output
Power Point
Before we tackle how to read a wind turbine for power production, let's hit
one issue. It was just mentioned that we may get 14 kWh's during a 24
hour period. If you are on the grid, you can sell back your excess power. If
your are off grid, what are you going to do with the excess?
That is right, excess power. Without going into the philosophy of living off
the grid, we can say that here at the ranch, we don't even know what to do
with 14 kilowatt hours in a 24 hour period. You will find your lifestyle will
change when the power company has your name on it! Our excess power
typically goes to heating water.
Let's refer back to the section on Over Speed Protection for a moment. If our turbine had a lower
governing speed and produced only 75% of the 1,000 watts of rated output we would still have plenty of
power to meet our electrical needs. We know this through practical experience. On days when the wind
speed hovers in the high teens to low 20's, there is ample electricity for our needs. When the speed picks up,
we simply increase our household chores or end up burning off the excess.
It sounds like we could have saved some money by going with a smaller turbine. However, we wouldn't
gain much since a smaller turbine can't gather as much energy from the wind. Thus power production drops
all across the scale. This is a no brainer situation, now we may not meet our daily electrical needs because
of lower overall production. The ideal situation is simply to have the wind turbine govern sooner.
There would be less wear on the unit if the over speed control, furling in this case, started sooner. Using
the excess for something useful is nice but I would rather have a few years added to the life of the machine
than the occasional warm water.
So what do we look for in a turbine as far as power production? We know that a turbine does not click on
(just don't tell the salesman that little secret) and produce the rated output stamped on the name plate. We
know that wind is intermittent for many locations. The actual nuts and bolts of what we need to consider in
the overall scheme of power production is actually quite simple. Let's try to cut through the spec's and get
the information that will be of value to us.
Cutting Through the Spinning Rotor Deception

You have probably heard someone say at one time or the other don't just sit there, do something!. This
implies that action, good or bad, is better than nothing at all. We know that this statement in general can
certainly be flawed.
Rated Output
Well, the same holds true when applied to a wind turbine. Just because the rotor is doing something does
not mean it is doing anything worthwhile. A low Cut-in or Start-up speed is nothing to get excited about.
The wind has so little energy at the speed most rotors start to move that it hardly seems worth their effort.
Occasionally from across the room we can see the green light on our display that indicates the turbine is
sending power to the batteries. Good! we like to see electrons flowing to the batteries. However, upon
closer examination the charge rate is a whopping 1, 2 or maybe even 4 watts because the wind speed is
between 6 and 8 mph. Guess you have to start somewhere though. As we like to say, a spinning rotor does
not always a watt produce.
The Power Curve Confusion

Next let's look at the Power Curve Chart, also called an Instantaneous Output Chart. This is a tool that
shows what a machine might generate at various wind speeds. If an anemometer is located near the rotor
height, the power output can be estimated at a specific wind speed. If the wind is fairly steady, the two
numbers can be matched up and put on a graph.
The problem that occurs in the field is the ability to get the exact amount of wind passing through the rotor
at the given moment the power reading is taken. Since the anemometer has to be located away from the
turbine rotor, this is going to lead to some variations since the anemometer and blades may be receiving a
slightly different wind velocity at the same given moment. For the readings to have consistency, the wind is
going to have to be very steady and coming from one direction, not driving in from various angles.
To further explain this point, remember how wind and a rotor works. The rotor is not a solid surface and is
not able to capture all the energy in the wind. Some of this energy slips past the blades. Inertia has to be
overcome in the rotor assembly and alternator. As the wind speed rapidly increases, the unit has to respond
by spooling up. If the wind speed increases momentarily, there could be enough rotor lag so that not all the
energy is completely captured. In other words the potential is there but it is gone before the turbine can
respond. If the wind speed increase is a lasting one, the initial surge of wind will be lost as it spills through
the blades while the unit gets up to speed. This thought may seem a little drawn out and unnecessary but it is
simply to explain one thing. It is hard get concerned over exact numbers in predicting and measuring the
performance of a wind turbine.
For the most accurate results the measurements would have to be done in a wind tunnel. This would be
great to produce a chart, but the odds of such consistency happening in real life is very slim. Complex
terrain features and turbulence will certainly produce less favorable results from that of a wind tunnel.
So, while a power curve chart is interesting to look at, it will be giving you data that may be estimated,
extrapolated or produced under optimal conditions.
In the real world of making your own power, energy potential is going to come and go. Some of it is going
to fly right past your turbine and never be captured. Some of it will be captured but wasted because you or
your batteries have no need for it. The problem of where to put the excess energy applies to off grid
Rated Output
situations only. If you are hooked up to the grid, as long as it is operational, there will be somewhere to push
the surplus.
Just for fun, let's look at the power curve for a turbine.
The power curve chart is a good visual reference to see the production in watts relative to the wind speed.
As we can see for this turbine, not much is happening at the lower end of the chart. Even between 12 and
15 mph, what might seem to be a nice breeze correlates to relatively little power output. This makes it easy
to see that a fairly strong wind is needed to produce anything near that published rated output number that
we can so easily get fixated on.
Annual Energy Output

The Annual Energy Output (AEO) may be a better indicator of what a wind turbine will do in terms of
estimating power production. Most manufacturers will have this information available for annual or
monthly production. Can you trust the published energy output numbers? That is a question that does not
have a clear answer. Hugh Piggott, a turbine builder and Jim Green from the National Renewable Energy
Lab (NREL) both have a similar formula that is useful if you want to make sure a claim is not totally
unrealistic.
Annual energy output in kwh = 0.01328 x rotor diameter (in feet) squared
x average wind speed (in mph) cubed.
Rated Output
What can you do with the Annual Energy Output in practical terms? First something needs explaining. If
we could shout at you we would! This is important to understand while browsing the nice sanitized figures
that sometime accompany sales brochures. Here it is: It does not matter what the output is if it comes at
the wrong time and you do not have the capacity to store it!
Let's go through a likely scenario. The wind is blowing and keeping your
batteries charged just fine for days. Then it stops. You can make an attempt
to forecast the weather and say that the wind will start blowing the next
morning but there is no guarantee that will happen. So you wait it out and
rely on battery power. The next morning the wind has not started blowing.
It still has not done so by that night so you go to bed with batteries that are
marginal. The next morning there is still no wind so you have to start the
generator to charge your poor batteries.
Well, here at the ranch, we have a saying that if you want the wind to
blow, just start the generator. So you get the batteries all charged up.
Shutting down the generator, you head for the indoors. Just as your hand
hits the door knob, ah, there it goes, the blades start moving and the juice
starts flowing.
You have paid to charge the batteries thanks to your non-renewable
source and now you're going to have to figure out what to do with the free
power starting to flow in.
This can also play out in a number of other ways. The monthly supply of wind power can come in surges
Rated Output
once or twice a month. Blowing for days on end and them calm for days on end. I know this sounds
discouraging but it happens and it is best to not get a false sense of security that the numbers on a sheet of
paper will play out in a nice, even supply of electricity. Also, the AEO broken down into monthly averages,
does not account for seasonal changes. Again, if you are off grid this is very important to understand. Being
on the grid is easier because the grid is your battery and you can put your excess in and draw it out later
much easier than the off grid system.
The Wrap Up
Nice numbers in the production game may not always translate into you being a winner. Rated output does
affect the overall energy production scheme just by the fact that it indicates the overall size of the generator.
If rated output is something in a sales pitch, walk away from the seller. It doesn't mean the turbine is bad
but it does mean the person selling it is misinformed or uncaring. Their emphasis should be on rotor
diameter or swept area which will provide a more consistent estimate of what you can expect out of a
turbine.
The numbers game isn't a problem to the informed buyer, that's you, but can mislead the uninformed or
someone new to renewable energy production. We talk about monthly energy output and even put it in the
charts associated with specific wind turbines. These numbers give you somewhere to start. Just keep in
mind that they are averages, not necessarily what you will see month after month. Renewable energy
sources like wind and solar are not likely to produce consistent daily averages. Only hydro power is capable
of that.
We have covered a lot of information for one topic but it is important to hammer away at expectations so
you will not be disappointed but realistic.
Graphs Courtesy of True North Power Systems NG inc.
Design Efficiencies
Design Efficiencies
You will occasionally come across claims by a wind turbine manufacturer that their design or blade is more
efficient than the competitors. While some are valid others will take you for a ride in the hype mobile.
Efficiencies in a wind turbine, while something to strive for by the builder, may possibly mean little at the
end of an ordinary day.
A few percent here and there can add up to more power available for your use. However, real life
experiences show that these efficiencies may end up getting burned off in a diversion load. Take a hard
look at paying a premium for higher efficiencies in something like an advanced blade design. The
advantage in the airfoil can be lost if it is nicked or abraded, causing a disrupted airflow. What we are
emphasizing here is to carefully consider new, flashy technology that offers a vague claim of more power
production. Reliability is more important than high efficiency that can rapidly degrade with age.
Also, before we get excited about a few extra percentages of increase in efficiency at the turbine, look at
the big picture of energy robbers. There are several places where losses are possible in a wind system. By
starting with Betz law that says the most efficient a turbine can be is 59%, to the energy lost from internal
friction from bearings and moving parts to the loss in resistance from the wiring, to the wild AC to DC
rectification, to the loss in battery inefficiencies, Peukerts Theory, DC to AC conversion at the inverter, you
can see that your extra power from the turbine is substantially reduced through these power losses.
By the time the energy is transferred from the wind until it gets to where it is used, a lot has been lost in
the transmission. What may be as much if not more important is how you manage what you get. This is why
making your house efficient is very important. The less your daily needs are, the less you will have to
produce.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/Design%20Efficiencies.html [7/14/2013 5:50:48 PM]
The Cost
The Cost
The cost of a small scale wind system is more than just the initial purchase price of the turbine. The tower
and anchoring components can add up to a major percentage of the overall cost, especially if an inexpensive
turbine is selected. The wiring is going to be variable according to the height of the tower and the distance
of the tower to the charge controller and batteries.
Power Point
It is easy to think of the wire run as being only from the base of the tower
to the battery location but don't forget to include the wire running from the
base of the tower up to the turbine. This is critical in figuring line voltage
loss. The acceptable sizing for the wire is usually addressed in the turbine
owners manual and it is advisable to follow these guidelines.
Take note that some machines include the charge controller while others may cost extra. Don't forget any
consulting and installation fees that you may have. Paying someone to assist you in determining an
appropriate system can be money well spent if you are new to renewable energy. We say this only if you
have the right person helping. Someone that does not live with a similar system that they are promoting will
possibly be giving you a canned deal that may or may not work for you. We will emphasis that if you are
going off the grid, find someone that lives off the grid for the consulting.
Expense Breakdown
Planning and consultation (optional)
Site Preparation (leveling, clearing trees etc)
Wind Turbine
Tower and components (support wires, concrete, anchors, excavation)
Wiring from Turbine to Charge Controller
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/The%20Cost.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:50:49 PM]
The Cost
Electrician (if used)
Installer (if used)
The hidden costs reside in long term maintenance and repairs. How much you are willing to do yourself
and how you plan to access the turbine means a lot in this calculation. If you have a fixed tower that needs
to be climbed each time by a hired person, be sure to add that cost. The cheapest option, over the long term,
is a tilt up tower that you raise and lower yourself. All the work can be safely done on the ground, though
there is some risk involved during the tower transition. Most turbine manufacturers suggest either annual or
bi-annual inspections.
The other side of this issue are the repairs. If you buy a cheap machine and you live where there are
occasional storms, you may be surprised how quickly things can break. We think the term for this is false
economy. That cheap turbine may end up costing a lot in repairs and lost energy production.
However, there is nothing wrong with installing an inexpensive machine to get the feel for what wind
power is all about. This may even be a wise step if you are not sure what you want or can expect from the
wind. Look at a cheap machine as an expensive anemometer but one that will give you something while you
wade in and test the waters, or in this case, the wind.
This is no different from the concept of installing a set of training batteries. "Training" batteries allow
the new off grid person to get the hang of how much storage they really need and how to care for batteries,
one of the most fragile components in a renewable energy system.
This concept also holds in a wind system. Let's say you buy one big whopping wind turbine then find out
the wind really doesn't blow, or the site has too much turbulence, or during the windy season you end up
dumping most of the energy into a diversion load. You may wish you had tried something a little less
expensive. We are not advocating a training machine for everyone but it does work. It is just something to
consider according to your budget and comfort level in the assessment you have already done.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-two/The%20Cost.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:50:49 PM]
wind-turbine-manufacturers
Chapter Three
Wind Turbine Manufacturers

Anytime we purchase a service or goods, we are a consumer. Some of us consumers
seek the highest quality product regardless of price while others pay little attention to the
low cost, routine purchases, but tend to dig deep on anything perceived as a big expense.
No matter what type of shopper you are, we are confident that a wind turbine will fit into
a category that will compel at least some research to take place.
The Importance of Choosing The Right Wind Turbine

The turbine will quite likely be the most contemplated component in your wind system.
And there is good reason for it. Something like gasoline is a product with a measurable
quantity. We put a gallon of it into our vehicle and it will result in propelling it an
approximate number of miles. The results are predictable and highly reliable. You can
purchase it from a number of locations and get similar results, time after time.
The wind turbine, being a machine, is much different from something such as gasoline or
a carton of milk. It is also much different from other machines we use daily.
One example which we are familiar with is the automobile. A car is a complex machine
and is subject to failure. Some failures are a major issue such as an inoperative engine.
Others can occur that do not immobilize the car, such as a window that is inoperative, but
they are still a failure. As such, the difference between a bad engine and a stuck window
can determine whether the car will be able to achieve its mission. That is transporting you
from one place to another. A car can be subject to many minor failures such as a broken
cup holder or inoperative radio and still accomplish the purpose for which it is designed.
Why Quality is Crucial

The turbine generally does not have the ability to suffer even a minor component failure
and still operate. For this reason, reliability is a number one issue. We will once more use
the automobile as an example. Typically with a car you would not buy the next model
down from what you really want and also pay more for it. This would not seem to be a
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Wind%20Turbine%20Manufacturers.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:50:51 PM]
good move. Again the wind turbine differs. Why would you pay as much or more for a
1K model over another companies 3K machine? Why pay more money for Less
production? Reliability perhaps. What good is a flimsy 3K turbine if it burns out or flies
apart every time a big wind event takes place?
This is why you want to do your homework and know what the machine is made of. With
a car, you can find all types of reports that indicate fuel economy, repair history, handling,
ride comfort, worthwhile options to consider and predicted reliability. With a wind turbine
you typically get the manufacturers promises and little more. Solely relying on the dealer
to choose the best machine for you may be a huge mistake. Some dealers and installers
are knowledgeable and reputable but others may lead you in the wrong direction. The
better you are armed with information about wind power systems, the more likely you will
get one that will work for your situation. Besides, you wouldn't walk onto a car lot and ask
the salesman to pick the vehicle best suited for you.
What You Can Expect From This Chapter

This chapter is a discussion of specific companies and their products. It will give you a
good starting point for shopping. The information provided is somewhat different from
most of the information found on the websites and brochures of wind turbine
manufacturers, dealers and distributors. The information found there is meant to sell you
on a specific product, not point out flaws and failures.
We certainly understand that everyone, including ourselves, would like to see a wind
turbine that will take care of all their power needs 365 days a year. It should also require
no maintenance and have the ability to stand up to hurricane force winds with no damage.
We would call that the dream machine on a stick. Unfortunately this is the perception you
walk away with when viewing biased material used to sell a product. This is nothing
unusual or uncommon in any marketplace.
In reality we realize that most systems involve some sort of compromise. Hopefully the
following information and reviews we provide will help you sort through advertising and
provide you with reasonable questions and ideas so you can make an informed decision in
purchasing a wind energy system..
In this review section, we have included the dominate companies in the industry as well
as some that are lesser known and new to the market. A few of the newcomers have
machines that look to be of a higher quality than the than some from the older, more
established companies. The seeming lack of progress in the well know brands may likely
be due to lack of company ambition which is a result of weak competition in the past
years.
Fortunately the complacent attitude is changing. Newer names such as Kestrel and
XZERES are coming to market with investment money attached. This means a serious
change is taking place in the wind energy industry. The new wave of competition is mostly
coming from countries where electrical and fuel costs are much higher than in the U.S.
which means they are much more serious about their products.
Hopefully the weak companies will grow or be weeded out. This makes it even more
imperative to do thorough research on perspective turbine manufacturers. You certainly

want to pick a company that will be around to honor warranty issues and provide both
technical and hardware support.
In the reviews we have include important points to consider for each turbine. When doing
internet research you will occasionally find discrepancies in specifications or charts and
outdated turbines. Many times this comes from the very people who are selling the
equipment! We make our best effort to have the latest data available when updating our
reviews but things can change quickly. As always be sure to verify all data and
specifications before making a purchase.
Note
Once again, our opinions are unbiased since Power-Talk is not
affiliated with any of the listed companies. We also don't "sugar
coat" any of the following manufacturers or turbines. We do,
however, try to highlight the good and the bad so you can
make the best decision based on facts and not fancy marketing.
Abundante Renewable Energy
Abundant Renewable Energy

The company formerly know as Abundant Renewable Energy (ARE) was permanently shuttered March
2010. The Newburg, Oregon company that had been struggling due to a lack of working capital filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy early in 2009. Helix, a VAWT manufacturer attempted to acquire the company but
the courts dismissed the case and Helix terminated the acquisition. Ironically XZERES ended up with the
ARE assets after an unsuccessful bid to buy the company in 2008.
ARE was a distributor for African Wind Power (AWP) turbines until poor quality control issues lead ARE's
Robert Preus to begin manufacturing their own turbine based on the design of the AWP 3.6. This turbine
formerly sold as the ARE 110 is now the XZERES 110. The larger ARE 442 is now labeled and sold as the
XZERES 442.
Go to XZERES to follow the developments of the original Abundant Renewable Energy turbines.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Abundant%20Renewable%20Energy.html [7/14/2013 5:50:53 PM]
African Wind Power
African Wind Power

When we first started our search for a wind turbine, the African Wind Power (AWP) 3.6 was at the top of
the list. However, as we began to inquire about one, we quickly found there were no more AWP turbines for
purchase in the U.S.
There was one encouraging rumor circulating in the wind energy community. The whispers were saying that
Abundant Renewable Energy, the distributor for the African Wind Power products, was planning to
redesign the AWP 3.6 and release a Made in the USA machine. This eventually became what was the ARE
110, now the XZERES 110.
In the meantime African Wind Power fell of the radar of most people and it was assumed that they had met
their demise. Interestingly this was not to be the case. AWP is still in business today. They are making a
turbine that looks like the old AWP 3.6 but with very different specs. To this date, they do not have a
distributor or marketing presence in the U.S.
AWP 3.7
African Wind Power is currently producing the AWP 3.7 (3.7 referring to the rotor diameter
in meters). They are located in Johannesburg, South Africa. There was always a cloud of
poor quality assurance following the AWP 3.6 but they were good energy producers. Even
with the problems, many comments you find about them are still relatively positive. Some
owners seem content to make the necessary repairs and upgrades to keep their machine in
operation. The AWP 3.7 model is simply described as an improved 3.6. We would hope that
improved means better construction.
The information presented by the company is a bit unremarkable and rather sketchy in some areas. The
specification chart for the turbine is a good example. The construction and dimensional aspects for the 3.7
differ from the old AWP 3.6 but the energy output charts for the AWP 3.6 are still being referenced.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/African%20Wind%20Power.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:51:05 PM]
African Wind Power
While the 3.7 turbine is similar in looks to the 3.6, there are notable differences. The 3.6 sported a much
lower 350 rpm rotor speed while the 3.7 lists 500 rpm. The 3.6 weighted in at 250 pounds while a diet took
the new model down to 220 pounds.
Turbines with rotor diameters of 2.4, 5.4 and 7.2 meters are under development also. We will post updated
information on Power-Talk.net if they actually become available.
These are several items listed as improvements.
Glass Reinforced Plastic Composite

Blades.
Higher output alternator
Improved blade profile and finish for

higher efficiency.
Heavy duty slip ring equipped yaw

head.
Marine version Hot Dip Galvanized.
Maintenance free sealed yaw

bearings, nylon tail bushings.
New controller design.
Improved shipping crate design.
African Wind Power
It would be hard to get excited about a fairly basic wind turbine if the company producing it
was new and produced a fairly basic machine. Though it may seem that way with African
Wind Power they are not a new company. Indeed, we do not know of any installations of a
new AWP 3.7 in the U.S., but the company does have a history.
The African Wind Power company has a mixed history laced with diverse opinions. It is also
one where not all ends well. The AWP 3.6 being manufactured in Zimbabwe seemed to have
all the traits of a tough, reliable wind turbine. And so it did, if you happened to get one built
on the right day. It was heavy, slow turning, quiet and had a reputation for reliability in
tough climate conditions.
However, the sad fact for the U.S. market was that product availability, warranty and quality
control issues plagued the popular African machine. This lead the distributor to eventually
discontinue sales. Though there were many issues, mainly as a result of sloppy construction,
the overall design made the AWP 3.6 a solid turbine once repaired.
The re-made African Wind Power company is now located in Johannesburg, South Africa. We
really hope they have improved the manufacturing process and can supply a machine that
will work properly right out of the box. The only drawback we have seen so far is that they
are having to spin the alternator much faster to get the same power out of it. The new AWP
3.7 may end up not being the old and slow 3.6 in a new and improved body.
Although it doesn't really seem to be a step in the right direction we will reserve our final
judgment until a turbine becomes available for study. But, if the pricing is comparable to the
AWP 3.6 and they have a handle on quality control, it should be a far better value over the
highly marketed, lightweight machines produced and sold in the U.S.
AWP is going to have to get off of the bench if they want to stay in the game. Currently
there doesn't seem to have been anything new out of the company over the last year. This
does not bode well for them in light of the current crop of new turbines showing up. Kestrel
is doing a good job of establishing its presence and other companies such as Raum are
attempting to roll into the marketplace with force. We can only wonder if the day of the
African has come to an end.
African Wind Power
AWP 3.7
Pros
Price
Simple design
Neutral
Furling* (In our opinion furling
is a justified by the low price)
Cons
Company located over seas
African Wind Power
bergey Windpower
Bergey Windpower
The Norman, Oklahoma based Bergey Windpower has been in the wind energy business since 1977
under the watchful eye of co-founder Karl Bergey. The more visible co-founder and president,Mike Bergey
is typically seen as the voice of the company and gets most of the press.
The Bergey product line has varied over the years with past achievement such as the BWC 850, BWC
1000 and BWC 1500 which are now laying in the discontinued pile. Of these, we have personally witnessed
a neighbors BWC 1500 hold up for years under some very adverse wind conditions. When it
became apparent that it was in need an overhaul, our friend switched to a Kestrel. Though the Kestrel
is working fine, he laments the passing of the BWC 1500 occasionally remarking about the years of
fine service the BWC 1500 provided.
We do notice that things are quieter around here since his BWC 1500 came down. During our whipping 3050 mph winds that can last for weeks, we don't hear the Kestrel like we could the Bergey. In these
conditions the Bergey "helicopter" could be heard at our house almost a half a mile away.
Currently there are two products on the assembly table, the XL.1 and the Excel. The XL.1
essentially replaced the BWC 1500 which was discontinued in 2002. The Excel has been going strong
since its release over 20 years ago and will probably be going nowhere near the junk heap anytime soon.
In the field, Bergey has a reputation of being a reliable performer with widespread name recognition.
They are not advanced, state of the art or based on cutting edge technology. Rather they are actually
what could be considered rather old school when compared to the new machines currently finding their
way into the wind energy marketplace. Old school or cutting edge, the Bergey turbines have one thing
going for them, they work. They currently have numerous installations operating both on and off
the commercial power grid and boast installations in the U.S. and over 50 countries.
Excel
The Excel which appeared in 1983 is based on the original BWC 1000, the first production model
Bergey offered in 1980. Currently over 1,600 Excel turbines have been sent to the field. It is available
in either a grid tie or battery charging model. The Excel sports some serious weight, low RPM and
simplicity. That is a good combination if you need some serious power but don't care to step into the
mid-range utility turbines such as a Vestas or Northwind. The Excel also offers a less complicated design
and a lower maintenance load than the venerable Jacobs.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Bergey%20Windpower.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:51:22 PM]
bergey Windpower
The Excel has one major drawback, as we see it. For all its simplicity, the Excel is rather large for a
machine that protects itself by the furling method. Further, its furling speed is rather high at 35 MPH. A
lower furling speed would provide less power but it would subject the turbine to less stress. We
would assume that lower stress would lead to a longer life expectancy and fewer interim problems.
Evidently Bergey has made allowances for this by building a tough machine since there are not
widespread reports of repeated early structural failures.
XL.1
The XL.1 is a side furling machine that fits rather nicely in the small turbine market. Available since 2004,
it only comes in a 24 volt battery charging model. The rotor diameter is 8.2 feet with pultruded
fiberglass blades. The rated output is 1000 watts at 24.6 mph and a rotor speed of 490 rpm, however the
full furling wind speed is a bit higher at 29 mph. Due to the difference in the rated wind speed and the
furled speed, it is not uncommon to hear of outputs up to 1,300 watts during high wind conditions.
The rectification of AC to DC takes place in the nacelle. Two wire DC runs down the tower to the
charge controller. The Bergey charge controller features such things as low-end boost and slow mode.
The low-end boost is said to give superior low wind speed performance. The slow mode is for idling the
rotor when the batteries are full. The controller also comes with a 30 amp solar control unit built in. The
XL.1 turbine is made in China.
Bergey - The Company

The most noteworthy comment we have about Bergey is that they finally updated their website! It is
actually easy to navigate and pleasant to visit. And interestingly I first thought that I had somehow
landed on the Lowes homepage. That is Lowes, the home improvement company. The soft blue
background and Lowes banner at the top must have caused the momentary confusion.
While the new website design is a welcomed relief, it is basically the old site in new clothes. There
doesn't seem to be anything really new in the technical department concerning wind power. On the
other hand, it does have a nice, fluffy feel to it.
So, what we find in the new website re-design may be of no small coincidence. You can actually buy an
Excel through Lowes Home Improvement Centers in California, Hawaii and North Carolina. This move
will likely be a boon to Bergey. Getting your product out in front of the number of people that visit a
store like Lowes is no small event.
Of course information regarding the turbines specifically says "Bergey 10 kW wind turbines". Oddly, there
is absolutely no mention of the XL.1. Also, does this exclude the Excel-R 7.5 kW battery charging model?
If the Excel-R is excluded that would actually reinforce the perception that off the grid people are
bergey Windpower
wild, lawless renegades that are best avoided. It would be better to deal with such people in a quiet office
far removed from the public eye. Plus, what kind of decent outlaw would shop at a home improvement
store anyway?
So, while the company website and marketing momentum has taken a step forward, one thing that
hasn't changed much are the turbines themselves. Or their attitude to the "little guys" turbine market.
We get the drift that there isn't much time for us off grid people who would be well served by an XL.1. Or
at least something a bit smaller than the behemoth Excel-R.
The XL.1 is a descent product that would benefit from expansion but Bergey has expressed that will not
be the case. The availability of a 48 volt model, from which many of us off-grid users could benefit,
appears to be a phantom. As early as 2005 it was listed as In development, inquire about availability.
This remark has now vanished from their 2010 website update.
Instead of making a current favorite into a more versatile machine, the company apparently has a 5
kW model in the works. This may be an effort to compete in the 5 to 6 kW peak power market
currently dominated by Iskra, Kestrel and Proven. For this, they should be applauded.
On the positive side we always hear good things about the company's quick response to problems.
This feeling is common among owners and dealers/installers. We have had similar experiences when
asking for information. While responses are usually not immediate, at least they do eventually
acknowledge our questions. This is not always the case with other companies.
Combine the attention to their existing customers with the 5 year (10 year for the Excel) warranty and
you should have at least a half a decade with little or no expense in material and workmanship claims.
Though we complain that their product line seems to be rather narrow and old, they are a solid company
that should not be brushed aside. Now we wonder which company is going to join up with Home Depot.
The XL.1
Interestingly, the XL.1 is only available in a 24 volt unit. In contrast, the SWWP Whisper units have
user adjustable voltages. As we have said previously, there is no indication that any changes are
coming down the line. Unless you want to try the approach offered by Kansas Wind Power (http://
www.kansaswindpower.net/bergey_wind_generators.htm) for 48 volt battery charging, there are no other options.
For us, an area of technical concern is the rectification of AC to DC in the nacelle. We are puzzled as to
why they chose to make the rectifiers somewhat inaccessible by having them at the top of the tower.
The Bergey people explained to us that they have tried several ways of getting the power to the
batteries and this one proved to work the best. It still does little to ease our concern in this area. Our
main wind power generation comes in the winter. Typically the winter is cold and dark and windy. This is
not the ideal time to drop the tower just to replace a part that could be located on the ground. We see
this as a point to be aware of.
There were early reports relating to problems with the alternator. It seems that continuous high winds
would eventually cause it to fail. This was a problem with the magnet wire vendor which has long since
been resolved. Occasionally this will pop up a reason to avoid the XL.1 but you can count it as
ancient history. It's sort of like a small wind urban legend.
The XL.1 is a complete turbine/charge control unit for a reasonable price. As with the trend among
many turbine suppliers, there were some substantial price increases in 2010. The XL.1 did not escape a
price markup. It is now pushing just over $3,000. Though it is not a heavyweight machine by any means,
it is reasonable for its size and price. We still feel the XL.1 is a decent buy and would not object to
owning one.
The Excel
Bergey's flagship Excel is still going strong after 27 years. And if you live in California, Hawaii or
bergey Windpower
North Carolina you can pick one up at Lowes while browsing for lumber, power tools or nails. Imagine
turning the corner of the light bulb aisle and running into that yellow nosed giant. Unfortunately, if you
didn't bring your deuce and a half flat bed truck forget about toting one home and surprising your family.
Two distinct versions are available. The Excel-S is the grid tie unit with a rated output of 10 kW. The ExcelR is the battery charging version with a rated output of 7.5 kW. Like their smaller XL.1, they use the side
furl governing method to keep rotor speed under control. We feel that such a large machine swinging in
and out of furl seems a little harsh but evidently it works for the Excel.
The Excel sends it current down the line exactly the opposite of the smaller XL.1. While the XL.1 rectifies
the current in the turbine nacelle, the Excel runs three phase AC (wild AC or variable voltage) current
down the pole and to the charge controller before it is rectified to DC.
Here is what we don't like. The wind speed at rated output is 27 mph. The furling speed is 35 mph. It
seems that furling at such a high speed would cause unnecessary wear. Also, during a storm or highwind period the off grid system will quickly end up with a full battery bank and the excess is burned off
in some sort of diversion load. Though the hot water or warm air is nice, we would settle for less
energy output and a longer turbine life.
On the other hand, if you are grid tied there is an advantage to the energy harvest at high speeds since
you can continue to feed it into the ever accepting commercial grid. While this sound really good, there
have been problems reported in some grid tie installations. When the Excel is operating for long periods
at peak output, the high voltage being produced is shutting down the inverter. This can cause a loss
of production at high wind speeds.
The problem in this case is not the turbine but rather the inverter. The occasionally troublesome GridTek
10 inverter has been replaced with the new Powersync II. So far the Powersync II has been reported to
not have the same problems. To keep the power flowing down the line and into the grid should prove to be
a production boon in high wind locations.
Overall we see the Excel as a solid performer. Weighing in at 1050 pounds, you do get your moneys worth
in metal. The Excel certainly has the service and reliability history which should let you sleep well at
night. On the other hand if you want to live a little closer to the edge of technology or design, Eoltec,
Iskra, Proven and Ventera all have turbines that approach or match the annual output of the Excel.
XL.1
Excel
Pros
Pros
Price
Price
Relatively
low rpm
Proven
Reliability
Neutral
Neutral
Furling*
(In our
opinion
furling is
justified by
Furling* (In
our opinion
furling is
justified by
the price)
bergey Windpower
the price)
Cons
Cons
High
furling speed
Only 24
volt model
available
Photos Courtesy of DOE/NREL.
Eoltec
Eoltec Wind Turbines

Eoltec is yet another European company that has jumped into the small wind market fray.
Their Scirocco is an able turbine certain to be comfortable in a wide range of climate
conditions. The company opened its doors in 2001 in "Nice, France. They describe
themselves as an "experienced engineers owned" company.
Their drive is to supply turbines with current and efficient technology. The Scirocco certainly
fits that bill. It is a nice package with:
Hollow Blades with aluminum root inserts

Variable Blade Pitch Speed Control
MPPT Power Management
Low Rotational Speed
The 18.4 foot diameter rotor swings at a modest 245 rpm and is fully governed at 26 mph.
The governing is provided by the passive, centrifugal blade pitch system.
The hollow blades are fiberglass with aluminum root inserts. Eoltec maintains that this
design is more efficient since they are lighter and can respond quicker to wind gusts. Since
there is less inertia to overcome the rotor can spool up faster.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Eoltec.html (1 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:51:39 PM]
Eoltec
Eoltec Scirocco centrifugal blade pitch mechanism

The company captures our attention with its statement regarding how they allocate their
money. They maintain that they do not spend a lot on advertising and marketing rather
invest in R&D and manufacturing.
When looking at many established companies that have been in the turbine making business
for a number of years, it seems that little significant improvement has been made for some
time now. We find two possibilities that may offer an explanation: One, the market was
stagnant during the 80's and 90's, giving little cause to make exciting advances with wind
power technology. Or two, it's called profit. If you have limited competition and your
product is selling well, little or no money and effort needs to be spent in research and
development. This works for things that have a purpose and serve it well. Instead what we
find are wind turbines that are far from being bullet proof and in need of modifications and
refinement. Weak turbines continue to plague the consumer with issues related to service,
reliability and energy output.
If you are interested in a fresh, new machine then check out the Eoltec Scirocco. The
Scirocco, Eoltec's smaller turbine, fits right into our residential category but sports big
Eoltec
turbine features. Though the company is just over seven years old, the Scirocco's hardware
certainly gives the appearance of a refined machine.
Eoltec says their target is to provide customers with an up-to-date and cost effective
solution for getting the maximum power out of the wind. In doing this, a shot has been fired
across the bow at any in the wind turbine establishment who want to continue business as
usual. People who have some experience with wind power would most likely agree to their
assessment that the market suffers from a lack of efficient, reliable and industrial products.
Futher, they say that the current technology is lagging 20 to 30 years behind that of the
modern, large turbines.
So why do they say the Scirocco is a better machine? The most prominent feature on the
Scirocco is the blade pitch over speed control. While not new, it is also not a common
feature in small wind products. Eoltec's position on the use of the less expensive furling
technique is that it is a marketing approach trend used by the companies that hold onto
this method. They can manufacture and sell many more turbines due to lower cost.
However, this doesn't necessarily make a more cost effective system for the consumer due
to issues associated with furling that result in lower energy output. Eoltec maintains that
furling has never been used for industrial applications because of low intrinsic performance,
reliability issues and other weaknesses.
Eoltec turbines also have features such as a 100% sealed direct drive generator, hollow
technology epoxy blades with aluminum root inserts and MPPT control. Some of the meaning
and importance of these features can get lost in the world of advertising. Most every wind
turbine manufacturer will make it a point to describe the unique features of their product. In
doing this they hope we will get excited enough to choose their turbine. Eoltec may very well
be boasting about what sets their machine apart from the rest as they describe the Scirocco.
Actually they just may have something to boast about. The parts appear to be well designed
and have purpose rather than made to fit a gimmicky sales pitch. It also seems there is
nothing cheap about the nicely built Scirocco. This applies equally as well to the substantial
price tag.
There are a couple of downside notes to make: One, the foreign factor. Parts and end
service will be from a country that is far away from our shores. As you know, there are
some very good turbines such as the Proven that are in this category. It certainly doesn't
make them bad machines but things like replacement parts and technical support may come
at a slower pace and higher price than we are used to. Two, it is a two blade turbine and as
such, will have the unfavorable character trait of gyroscopic imbalance. The fact that it has a
slow rotor speed helps but this issue will still be present.
So what do we think of all this? We put it on our Recommended list. The Scirocco has been
Eoltec
tested on Orkney Island which has a reputation of being quite windy. Under these tough
conditions, it runs right with the Proven which is one of the best harsh weather machine
around. You do pay for this kind of durability. At $25-$26K it is not one that most of us
would install just to see if wind works. If the budget allows and you are into long term
solutions, this one should make the short list.
Eoltec Scirocco
Pros
Blade Pitch
Low rpm
Hollow light weight blades
MPPT charge controller
Cons
Two blade design
Eoltec
Eoltec
Evance Wind Turbines
The former Iskra Wind Turbines company has been renamed and is now know as Evance. They are a small
wind turbine maker located in the U.K. that was originally founded in 1998. This engineer-owned company
has previous experience with larger power generation as they were involved with the development of the
Carter Mk II 300 kw turbine. Development of a marketable residential size turbine was kicked off in 1999
when they won a Department of Trade and Industry award. After encouraging results from the testing of
one of their machines, they received further funding to develop a production turbine. The AT5-1 made its
appearance in 2004.
The company lists consumeroriented product development

goals such as reducing:
Cost
Complexity
Weight
and improving:
PMA.
Reliability
Corrosion Protection
The previously named AT5-1 now carries the nomenclature Evance

R9000. The R9000 is touted as an improved machine over the AT51 but there is no specific mention of just what those improvements
happen to be. Either way we felt the Iskra AT5-1 was a solid
product and our opinion has not changed for the re-branded Evance
Iskra R9000.
This turbine is an upwind design with a 17' 7 rotor diameter. The
three blades are a solid core, fiberglass reinforced composite
complete with UV and anti-erosion coatings.
The R9000 is distinctly different in appearance from many turbine
on the market today. This is due to the axial flux permanent
magnet alternator instead of the more commonly used radial flux
The rotor speed is controlled by using a blade pitch scheme rather than furling. The pitch control is
accomplished through a proprietary system called Reactive Pitch Control. This is designed to keep the
rotor shaft speed below 200 rpm. As a backup to the blade pitch control if things really get out of hand a
type of dynamic braking stops the rotor. This is another Evance patented design called ElectroBrake. I
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Evance%20Wind%20Turbines.html (1 of 4) [7/14/2013 5:53:05 PM]
Tipping the scales at 715 lbs, the R9000 is currently available for either on or off grid applications.
New in 2010 is the R9000's Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certification. The MSC is
essentially a scheme that operates in conjunction with but independently from the Department of Energy
and Climate Change (DECC). The DECC is a UK organization that reviews microgeneration technologies.
MCS certifies microgeneration products and installers through trial testing.
The MSC requires that a Class II turbine, the R9000, be operational for at least 6 months and log at least
25 hours in winds greater than 15.3 m/s (34.2 mph). Evance says its R9000 exceeded this minimum by
operating over 200 hours in wind conditions exceeding 15.3 m/s.
Iskra, meaning spark in Czech, has brought a spark of life into the wheezing small wind industry. True
enough, there are plenty of Chinese made knock-offs and strange looking machines lurking in dark corners
tempting unwary buyers. The problem is, these unknown turbine brands do little more than offer
amusement for you and your guests on a windy day. Evance on the other hand has something to offer
with its Iskra R9000 turbine.
While Evance has had very limited exposure in the North American market, they have been making
marked progress in the UK where there are approximately 500 installations. With the new tax credit being
offered in the US for wind turbine installations, oversea companies like Evance are beginning to step up
marketing efforts. We can expect to see more competitive pressure put on U.S. companies. Bergey has
already responded by teaming up with Lowes Home Improvement stores in selected areas.
The company has set some aggressive, buyer friendly, goals as far as reducing costs and complexity while
improving reliability. These are things a shopper should be looking for when considering a purchase. The
price tag, while not a giveaway, is lower than comparable European turbines such as the Proven and
Eoltec. As far as complexity is concerned, the passive blade pitch control is going to be bit more complex
than a furling machine but it is a welcomed complexity. We feel that a properly designed pitch control unit
is in a class ahead of the furlers. As for the goal of increased reliability, only time will tell. The first
production turbines were deployed about 2005 we would expect to see more reports on their performance
and reliability.
The power conversion equipment is located safely on the ground. This would most likely be a Windy Bow
inverter or a Magnetek MWI. With the Magnetek you can have the option of a grid tie or battery charging
system.
To back it up, there is a 5 year warranty but you will want to carefully read the conditions and follow the
prescribed maintenance to keep it intact. This mainly consists of an inspection and greasing every 12
months.
We like the R9000. It is what you might consider a "fresh" turbine. Hasn't been around very long but looks
like the design team was thinking. Currently reliability and performance data is fairly sparse but we hope
that change with more US installations. There are starting to be more dealers listed, even a company with
a main business line of selling outdoor wood boilers for home heating. If you are considering a Proven 11
or Eoltec Scirocco, the R9000 would be a good alternative.
Evance R9000
Pros
Blade Pitch
Weight
Low RPM
Cons
Manufactured over seas
iskra energy yield
Fortis
FORTIS
The Fortis brand is yet another company that is migrating across the Atlantic to join the North
American marketplace. Although their first turbines were installed in 1981 they have, for the most
part, stayed out of the U.S. wind currents. Though strangers to us in America, they are obviously
not so to others with 6,000 installations worldwide.
The company says that one foundational focus is to get better
performance at a lower price. With the Dutch history of windmills and
the increasing reliance of European countries on alternative energy,
especially wind, this is an admirable goal.
Looking closer at he Fortis background we find that Fortis itself hasn't
been around since 1981 but rather the current founder has been in
the wind power business since that time. Johan Kuikman was running
a company called LMW Wind Energy that went under in the mid 90's.
Kuikman started the present company called Fortis in 1997.
The Turbines
Fortis currently has three turbine on the market, the Passaat,
Montana and the Alize' which all seem to share a common design. All
three turbines feature fixed pitch blades connected to a radial flux permanent magnet alternator
with passive furling. You can get each model set up for a grid-tie connection or battery charging.
On the scales, at 165 pounds the Passaat weighs in closely to the Kestrel e300. The Montana at 440
pounds is comparable to the Eoltec Scirroco but comes in 220 pounds lighter than the Evance
R9000. The Alize', at 847 pounds looks fairly skinny compared to the Bergey Excel or the XZERES
442.
The rotor speed for all three turbines fall within a reasonable range. The Passaat dials in at 750 rpm
while the Montana at 350 rpm and the Alize' at 300 rpm are in line with similar sized machines.
Passaat 750 rpm

Montana 350 rpm
Alize' 300 rpm
What is rather spectacular is the high wind speed where their rated power output is recorded.
Currently, only the Raum 3.5 is rated at wind speeds in excess of 30 mph.
Paasaat 36 mph
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Fortis.html (1 of 4) [7/14/2013 5:53:31 PM]
Fortis
Montana 38 mph
Alize 34 mph
All turbines carry a 5 year warranty.
The price on the Paasaat looks to be on the high side. We would certainly opt for a Kestrel e300 as
a first choice and take a serious look at the Sonkyo Windspot as a runner up. As we see it, the only
thing going for the Paasaat over these two is the more historical company with Fortis.
The Montana has more competition. The Eoltec is a top notch machine but carries a top dollar price.
The Proven 11, though slightly larger, is still in the comparison range. The Proven would certainly
be a contender but Proven seems to in a redefining period that we haven't yet figured out. Though
a formidable competitor, we wouldn't give the win to them, just yet. However, without hesitation
we would give the nod to the Evance R9000 over the Fortis Montana.
The Alize' is a closer call when looking at the Bergey Excel and XZERES 442. They all operate as furl
protected machines and have a similar sized swept area. However, company history and the
forward looking prospect of each manufacturer may be what would seal the deal. Bergey certainly
has the history but XZERES has the motivation and momentum of new investor money. We would
give a slight edge to the XZERES 442 in this case.
The Fortis Wind Energy turbines, while they are likely to be fine machines, get the "just okay"
rating from us. We would like to see the company mature a bit in the U.S. market and prove out
the serviceability of their product.
Fortis
Pros
Company History
Fortis
Cons
Price
Furling for overspeed protection
Fortis
Kestrel Wind Turbines

The South African company, Kestrel Wind Turbines, formed in 1999 is located in Port Elizabeth. In 2006 the company
became a subsidiary of the well known Eveready Battery Company.
Kestrel e160.
Kestrel currently carries four different wind turbines models, each available in a wide range of voltage options.
For identification they use a nomenclature that is different from the traditionally used rated output value that is
normally expressed in either watts or kilowatts. Their model numbers refer to the metric measurement of the rotor
diameter. For example the e160 is 1.6 meters across while the e400 swings a rotor that is 4 meters in diameter.
The Kestrel turbines use an axial flux permanent magnet alternator producing a polyphase, high frequency output. This setup
is said to give a cleaner waveform. The available output voltages vary slightly between the different models. The e160
is offered in 12, 24, 48 and 200 VDC. The e230 and e300 both have 12, 24, 48, 110 and 200 VDC availability. The e400
is available in 48, 110, 200 and 300 VDC.
You will find no furling machines here. The e160 turning six blades relies on electronic loading for active control and
uses blade stalling as a passive backup. The e230, e300 and e400 all use blade pitch to control maximum rotor speed.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Kestrel%20Wind%20Turbines.html (1 of 14) [7/14/2013 5:55:01 PM]
Kestrel e300.
All the Kestrel turbines have a similar outer construction and look. While the nacelle of a radial flux
alternator style turbine is an integral part of the structure and typically steel or aluminum, the Kestrels
are not. The nacelle is mainly just a cover, a fiberglass shell actually. This is due to the design of the
axial flux versus a radial flux alternator.
The e160 and e230 are updated models from previous e150 and e220. The e230 not only has a
slightly larger swept area but now operates at a lower rpm. The rated rpm dropped from 1000 to 950
while the governing speed went from 1100 to 1000 rpm. The e230 now has a much improved hub and
pitch control.
As for availability, a distributor told us there are about 3,000 dealers in the U.S. but would not supply a
list of them. Curious. We haven't been able to dig up 3,000 different dealerships selling the Kestrel
but...well... that's okay. You really don't have to look too far to find one.
During our search for what we considered worthwhile wind turbines, the Kestrel machines were viewed
with great suspicion. We left them at the bottom of the stack mainly because the South African
origination was a major strike against them. The old Zimbabwe built African Wind Power 3.6 always came
to mind when looking at Kestrel. What a great machine the AWP 3.6 was, when it was built right. What
a wreck otherwise. Was this going to be an obscure new start-up operation planning to peddle
incapable wind turbines?
What we found was that Kestrel had actually been around for a few years. While they didn't really have
any exposure in the U.S., their turbines carried a reasonable reputation in other parts of the world. The
buy-in by Eveready was just what they needed to kick off a campaign to get their product visible.
Digging into the Kestrels, we liked what we saw, a reasonably priced machine that had the blade
pitch control over side furling. The smallest turbine, at the time the e150 model, was even being used by
the Alaska Railroad to power remote locations. We reasoned that if they were depending on one of
these turbines to function in the harsh Alaskan weather, maybe we should check them out.
On close inspection of all four Kestrel models you will find an axial flux polyphase alternator. The
rectification of AC to DC occurs in the nacelle. Therefore the current traveling from the turbine to the
battery is 2 wire DC rather than the more commonly used 3 wire wild AC.
If you want a clear cut answer to the AC versus DC running down the pole, you will be disappointed.
There are varying opinions as to which way is the best way to transmit the energy from the turbine to
the ground-based load.
You will also find varying cost when comparing the economics of using either 2 large wires or 3 smaller
ones. Because of this, we suggest that the best action is to price the actual cost of the copper
wire recommended for the systems you are considering.
We will throw out a couple of ideas that you may find useful. First let's look at a real life, black and
white, example. We will comparing the 24 volt Bergey XL.1, Kestrel e300 and SWWP Whisper 200 turbines.
Watts Rated Output
Distance (ft)
Wire Size
Cost per Foot*
Bergey XL.1
1000
117 - 183
(2) 6 AWG
$1.38
Kestrel e300
1000
165
(2) 3/0 AWG
$7.40
Whisper 200
1000
170
(3) 6 AWG
$2.07
*Though copper prices fluctuate, these figures are based on Dec 2009 estimates. THHN #6 is $0.69 per
foot and THNN 3/0 is $3.70.
The Bergey actually has the potential for developing the most power according to their own data (1300
watt) but calls for the least amount of copper, two 6 AWG. By comparison the Kestrel requires a
gigantic outlay in the two strands of 3/0.
This wide range of wire specifications may likely exist due to the different companies ideas about line
loss and how their turbine produces power. You could draw a conclusion that Bergey is figuring on the
typical wind distribution where the higher speeds occur a low percentage of the time and doesn't feel
the justification of the extra wire expense. On the other hand, Kestrel notes their recommendations
are calculated for a 3% power loss.
They fortunately offer a high voltage option for all four models. We like this but there are two points
to consider. One, you will have the added hazards of working around high voltage at ground level. Two,
a voltage limiter is required which amounts to another expense and possible point of failure.
The other feature that we are not excited about is the DC output. Making the change from AC to DC in
the turbine nacelle means that the rectifiers are at the top of the tower. A rectifier problem would
require getting to the turbine for any repairs. When you have 3 phase AC coming down the tower, the AC
to DC rectification occurs safely on the ground. If a rectifier fails, which they do, the Kestrel will be
more trouble to repair.
There is a counter point to the DC power output. With the increased number of phases in the
Kestrel alternator there is a need to rectify the power in the turbine nacelle. The e160 and e230 are 6
phase while the e300 and e400 are 12 phase. The US distributor for Kestrel has ensured that the
rectifiers are over spec'd by 400% so a failure would be a remote occurrence.
What really sets the e230, e300 and e400 apart is the use of blade pitch for passive rotor control.
Currently there is little competition for them except for the newly minted Sonkyo machines.
Though the Kestrels may have a higher initial costs, we would expect to see the e230 and e300 as
stiff competition for the Whisper 100/200 and the Bergey XL.1. The same goes for the e400 in comparison
to the Whisper 500, Proven 7 and XZERES 110.
Overall, we expect the Kestrel turbines will get some traction in the North American market as they
gain visibility. The market represented by the e230 and e300 is rather limited if you want something at
a reasonable cost that will last long enough to pay back your investment. The e400 is already in
tough company with the Proven and XZERES so the choice here will not be as clear cut.
We also appreciate the fact that you can install you own turbine and have a valid warranty, unlike the
Proven policy of requiring a certified installer. That is a plus to be able to do your own work.
As for the U.S. representatives, we are slightly less positive. The U.S. distributor, DC Power-Systems
is typically more responsive but usually it is them contacting us about what they view as
incorrect information on our website. Over the years the actual emails from DC-Power-Systems have
been rather confrontational and arrogant in tone which we find rather interesting from a
company perspective. Especially when the information we were referencing was straight out of the
turbine manual, black and white. Interesting. We find no excuse for a company, in general, that
treats people poorly, customer or not.
Regardless, we give our unbiased opinion whether the distributor of the product likes it or not. Fluffy
sales pages are their goal, sorting out the information is ours.
The Kestrel corporate headquarters has, however, been quick to reply to our emails. Not only have
they been fast to respond but they are actually helpful.
Ongoing Improvements to Kestrel Products

It would be hard to find many end users of wind energy products who would argue against the need for improvements in
the micro and small turbines currently in the marketplace. So far, we have not run into one turbine that is bulletproof.
There will always be one or two turbines with a legendary story behind them that we find being waved around like
a testimonial banner . The first such story that comes to mind is the Jacobs that was found intact after decades of
being abandoned at the South Pole. Even so, you can typically find an opposing story to cast a shadow on perceived
reliability. For the Jacob it could be the Beech Mountain testing carried out by the Appalachian State University in 2004
where less than stellar results were recorded.
As such, when a turbine manufacturer improves or upgrades a machine we see that as not so much as a past failure but a
desire to build future reliability. This could be just the case with the Kestrel e220.
Our neighbor had been living with a Bergey 1500 for years and was very happy with its performance. Unfortunately the
power output began dropping and after several failed attempts to fix it, decided to replace it. In 2009, a brand new Kestrel
e220 went up as the replacement turbine.
The e220 worked fine but there were touchy issues with the Outback MX60 interface which was stepping 110 volts down to
the 12 volt battery bank. After a period of trial and testing, the MX60 received the correct programming and began to
play nicely with the e220. Unfortunately this came to an end when the e220 shed a blade during a winter storm.
Though a major failure had occurred the story ends well. The parts were not only replaced under warranty but our
friend received a new blade pitch system and blades. The original e220 had a hub which required careful adjustments
during installation. This meant the installer must properly measure and space the blades to have a balanced rotor.
The new design, which is the currently offered e230, has a vastly improved hub and blade system. The new hub resembles
the one from the larger e300 which looks much more substantial than the original e220 hub. Attaching the blades is a
much friendlier process. They install in a snug collar and do not need to be field adjusted.
Even though there was a major problem with the turbine, we felt the company responded properly. They made a
major improvement to the product for future buyers and treated a past customer well by supplying the new design as
a replacement.
Old Blade Pitch Mechanism
New Blade Pitch Mechanism
New Blade Assembly
Old Nosecone
New Nosecone
How do we rate these four machines?

The e160 looks to be in more of a specialty turbine, similar to an Air-X/Air Breeze. It would fit into a
very small battery charging system that receives light duty usage.
The e230 and e300 are both machines that we would recommend. These Kestrel turbines should
put competitive pressure on SWWP and Bergey. The e230e and 300 have a reasonable price and
substantial construction. While their rotor rpm is higher than we would like to see, it's a compromise that
we can live with.
The e400 is a fine machine however with the current pricing, we see no clear advantage over the
XZERES 110. The Proven 7 is not being viewed as an option if you are planning to install it yourself due
to their invalid warranty issue.
Kestrel e160
Kestrel e220
Pros
Pros
Heavy weight
Good for remote locations or

sailboats
Heavy weight
Blade pitch
compatible with MX series mppt

charge controllers
Compatible with MX series mppt

charge controllers
Neutral
Neutral
DC current from turbine to batteries
Cons
Cons
High rpm
Kestrel e300 & e400

Pros
Heavy weight
Blade pitch
compatible with MX series mppt charge controllers
Neutral
Cons
Otherpower
Otherpower Turbine Kits

Otherpower.com is a website that we came across when we were just starting to investigate
the world of alternative energy. They offer loads of good information and DIY projects
pertaining to alternative energy, especially wind turbines. Theses DIY'ers are quite
adventuresome in their explorations. They bill themselves as the cutting edge of low
technology and the blunt edge of high technology.
Forcefieldmagnets.com is a small company located in Fort Collins CO. They are basically the
online store for Otherpower.com
ForceField offers all the parts to actually build either a 7 or 10 foot diameter wind turbine.
You can buy many of the parts individually or purchase a kit.
Magnet Rotor
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Otherpower.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:55:27 PM]
Otherpower
Otherpower
Along with the kit, you to assemble the rectifiers and diversion regulator as well as supply a
dump load. It should be noted that this is not a low maintenance turbine because the
blades, blade hub and the tail are wood and require at least annual inspection. They are
careful to explain that you need to read the manual before purchasing one of these wind
turbine kits. The manual is a glance at what you are about to get yourself into.
This warning alone is an interesting concept for marketing. That is, making sure the person
knows what they are about to spend their hard-earned money on before making the cash
outlay. In the manual, they actually go to lengths to explain the pitfalls and complications
involved in the whole process. How refreshing for the consumer when they are wading in a
sea of slick brochures and hyped spec's.
The design offered has the axial flux alternator which is most common to home built wind
turbines. The machines seem to be right in line with what makes a good wind turbine.
Otherpower
Simple, slow and sturdy. They regulate at moderate wind speeds, not attempting to harvest
the high winds that can cause the most damage to the turbine.
In this time of greenness which is so prevalent today, here is a company that makes a
bold statement as to why they build wind turbines. It has nothing to do with saving the
environment. They say they do it because commercial power is miles away and they don't
want to move to the city. Even though Otherpower doesn't have a large manufacturing
facility or national sales force, we thought they should be included in the list of wind turbines
to consider. They have made turbines for personal use for a number of years and recently
started offering these kits that you can assemble yourself.
We find there are two reasons why you would want to think about owning one of
these machines.
(1) It's very affordable. With that, you will have to do a lot of work that others would not
require. This will include applying a finish to the wooden parts, assemble the turbine and
balance the blades. The parts for a 3 phase rectifier unit will also have to be purchased and
assembled as well as a diversion load and controller. If you have a question as to the
complexity and whether your skills match what will be required, you can either purchase or
download the manual. This will show you exactly what you are getting yourself into.
(2) These guys aren't out to dazzle the public

with inflated energy output numbers. The
turbine is designed to furl at a moderate wind
speed and produce less than what it is
capable of putting out. If publishing high
energy output numbers was the priority, they
could delay the furl and push the alternator to
its limit. Fortunately the more conservative
approach is taken to lengthen the lifespan.
(3) If you are looking for a turbine to jump
out of the box, climb up the tower and start
generating electricity, the Otherpower turbine
is not really for you. On the other hand if you
have the time for a wind power learning
Otherpower Turbine
Kits
Pros
Low RPM
Very affordable
Simple, nothing fancy
Otherpower
experience in your own backyard, it couldn't

get any easier than with one of these kits.
Cons
Wood blades, hub and tail require
frequent maintenance
No warranty
Proven Energy
Proven Energy Wind Turbines

Proven Energy got its start in Scotland in 1982 with the first installation of a functioning turbine.
They currently claim to have over 3,000 installations worldwide. A prominent claim by Proven is the ability of their turbines
to operate reliably in harsh climates. We would not deny them this proclamation.
To highlight their climate diversity they currently have several turbines operating in the frigid winds of the Princess
Elisabeth Antarctic research station and others in the hot sands of Saudi Arabia. You will find no argument from us
regarding opposing climate conditions. If they can hold up in blowing dust as well as blowing snow, that's probably a
good indication that they have met the goal of being robust in diverse climates.
Since all the Proven turbines are the downwind design and there is no risk of a tower strike, they can make use of flexing
rotor blades. In high wind the rotor can effectively shed the wind for speed control. Additionally this blade coning
technique takes stress off of the tower during gusty conditions. A drawback is the possibility of added fatigue on the
blades themselves. The company has patented the design called the Proven Flexible Blade System.
All Proven turbines have a manual braking system to stop the rotor. The old WT 0.6 was the exception with its
dynamic braking scheme. This manual system is essentially a disc brake that can be engaged from the ground. This is a
positive method for stopping the rotor.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Proven%20Energy.html (1 of 8) [7/14/2013 5:56:05 PM]
Proven Energy
The turbines are advertised as having marine quality build using galvanized, stainless steel and plastic components.
Some other manufacturers offer marine grade at additional costs. There is one other fact about the Proven that most of us
will not have to worry about, they are listed as being explosion proof.
Proven Energy
While the turbines themselves have not changed substantially, the identifying names have. We now have the Proven 7,
Proven 11 and the Proven 35-2. The previously labeled WT 0.6 later know as the Proven 600 is no where to be found.
We covered it in the past and will leave any mention of it just for reference. Over the last few years it wasn't
prominently advertised and was rather expensive for what you got but did appear to have a niche in specialized
applications such as powering remote sites in extreme weather conditions.
The old Proven WT 2.5 has been replaced by the Proven 7. The Proven 7 was released mid-2009 as a 3.2 kW turbine. The
rated output remained listed as 2500 watts but this is at 25 mph versus the old WT 2.5 rated at a slightly higher wind speed
of 27 mph. The specifications have been revised recently and now simply list the rated and peak power as 2.5 kW. The
overall result is a 20% higher yield in annual energy output for the new model over the WT 2.5.
As for the old WT 6, it is officially called the Proven 11. There appear to be no new changes to the 11 model. As it is,
anecdotal customer comments seem to continue to be rather positive.
The previously designated WT 15 carries the new label, Proven 35-2. Originally the Proven 35 was just a renamed WT 15
but has now been dropped in favor of a derated model. Both the WT 15 and the Proven35 were originally rated at 15 kW
but this has changed with the introduction of the 35-2. It has a smaller rotor diameter, lower rated power and annual
energy output.
Proven Energy
If you want a machine that will see you through some rough weather, a Proven wind turbine is a likely candidate. They hold
the reputation for durability under extremely tough conditions. In the wind industry it is generally understood that if you
want the most rugged machine available, install a Proven.
Could there be any factor that would backup this reputation? We discussed in the chapter on Turbine Weight that mass may
be related to the overall life expectancy of a turbine. If you agree with this type of reasoning, your top picks would possibly
fall within the Proven family line. With the exception of the Wind Turbine Industries (WTIC) machines, any one of the
four Proven models will outweigh most any other turbine on the market with a comparable swept area. For example,
their smallest model, the recently discontinued Proven 600 weighs within one pound of the SWWP Whisper 500 but with
a swept area of less than a third in size. The bottom line is that they carry some substantial mass. While you
shouldn't necessarily judge a machine strictly on this criteria, it should weigh in as a factor.
Another factor to throw into the mix is the downwind design. The Proven is one of the few downwind turbines on the
market but it is also one of the more substantial (heavy-duty) ones at the same time. Though they are not bullet proof by
any means, maybe there is something to this downwind turbine. Possible the coning blade feature? Or the fact that the
turbine body pulls against the tower instead of pushing into it? I don't think we could come up with an answer that
would everyone would agree to but that seems to be the nature of wind power at large. Obviously the fact that the Proven is
a downwind machine certainly doesn't seem to hurt it in any way.
The only negative aspect to a downwind turbine is the orientation problems. If you live in an are where the wind shift
often then this could affect you. Without a tail to drive the turbine into the wind, a downwind turbine has a harder time
getting re-oriented at times. Take an example where the wind dies down, then shifts 180 degrees. It may take a substantial
gust of wind to spin it around. This is a problem that owners occasionally bring up. We don't think that it is one that should be
a large influencing factor, just one to be aware of.
The Proven 7, 11 and 35 have a feature that we really like. The manual brake. It's a disc brake you activate at the bottom of
the tower, If you don't live in an area where the wind can get lively it may seem hard to understand why someone can
get excited about this particular braking method over dynamic braking. In many cases dynamic braking to stop the rotor
is sufficient. It's also easy to do. You simply flip a switch and the job is done. With some turbine that have weak or
marginal alternators the rotor may not always completely stop in anything but a low wind. Of course this defeats the purpose
of the STOP switch. You want it to work in high winds! There is a downside however. It seems that this type if brake
Proven Energy
doesn't always work as advertised due to mechanical issues. Something else to consider is that a mechanical brake is that it
is one more piece of equipment to maintain. (The WT.06 relied on dynamic braking only)
So we know that a Proven turbine is a solid workhorse but as with all wind turbines, at some point there will most likely
be some sort of problem. In this case, consider the question of owning a turbine where everything must be imported. Even
with a well intentioned company, shipping heavy parts across the ocean will require some time and expense. To have a
good service and repair experience, this will fall to the Proven dealer. Make sure they have some experience in working
with the company. Check up on their reputation for following up on post-installation problems. This is a serious turbine
that cost serious money and you don't necessarily not want to be left on your own to sort out any problem that may arise.
Unfortunately, as of this writing in late 2010, there seems to be an overall feeling of discontent from some owners in regard
to support. The trend we see in comments indicate that Proven wants everything to go through a local dealer instead of
getting involved at the corporate level. This applies to parts also. Proven supplies no parts to the end user so you have to use
the dealer/middle man for everything. This works, if not slowly, as long as the dealers are knowledgeable and helpful.
We would attributed the prevailing attitude to a company undergoing growing changes as it tries to reinvent itself.
As with any turbine, be sure to carefully read the warranty. Proven now has a 5 year warranty but you need to understand
what is expected. There are two really important points to follow, along with all the others of course. First, whoever is
doing the installations must attend a Proven training course for the specific turbine. Second. if you use anything other than
a Proven tower, you have to prove that the non-Proven tower was not the cause of the fault. The DIY'er, which we
most certainly are, would have a problem getting past the first requirement. If you are going to own a Proven turbine and
want to have a valid warranty, it won't be cheap.
Overall, the Proven warrants serious consideration. Installing one of these behemoths isn't necessarily recommended for
a DIY'er with no previous tower/turbine experience. In light of the requirements necessary to secure a valid warranty,
this actually could be a roadblock for many of us that prefer to do our own work. However once a Proven is installed,
they should have the ability to chug out kilowatt after kilowatt through adverse conditions with routine maintenance.
We will give them a negative check mark on their new website. It is flashy enough and has more than enough
Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Youtube links to satisfy most information power-users. However, some useful
information has been either discontinued or buried so deep that it may as well be discontinued. Also we have neither a
positive or negative comment on the U.S. distributor, Talco Electronics, as they do not seem to want to return our emails
for information verification on the Proven products.
Though Proven turbines have a lot going for them the negative aspects remain. As such we have downgraded our opinion
and have put a "Cautious Recommend on them. Good product but with questionable continuing service and
Proven Energy
corporate direction.
Regard this recommendation in light of our bias against the full service companies who want you to be entirely at their mercy
if a problem arises. Unfortunately this seems to be the way Proven is choosing to go. If you can afford and want this level
of service, then forget Cautious and go for it. We simply prefer to be more hands-on with regard to our renewable
energy devices.
The Proven brand slowly seems to be gaining traction in North America as people are looking for a substantial alternative
to the mostly anemic offerings put before the residential and small business market. With the weight of global
distribution behind their turbines, Proven could be one of the emerging outside companies to provide meaningful
competition in our marketplace.
All Proven Turbines

Pros
Low RPM
Heavy
Blade Pitch
Mechanical brake (excluding WT.06)
Neutral
Downwind tower shading
Cons
Proven Energy
Proven Energy
Raum Energy
Raum Energy
We first took notice of this company in 2009 and have decided to begin coverage on the
Canadian based Raum Energy Inc. located in Saskatoon, Canada. Over the last year Raum
turbines have migrated south in a big way. It seems that the previously unknown Raum
machines are starting to show up in dealer showrooms all across the USA.
Raum Energy got its start in 2005 with Darryl Jessie at the helm and a 1.3 kW wind turbine.
His ambition is to be a global player in the wind energy market, starting in Canada and the
U.S. While the Raum turbines have yet to be a proven machine, we do like his attitude
toward wind energy. Essentially, put up numerous small machines across a wide area served
by the electrical grid and the wind will be blowing somewhere to add some energy from a
renewable source back into the power lines.
Currently Raum offers 2 turbines simply named the 1.5 kW Wind Turbine and 3.5 kW Wind
Turbine. They also have compatible towers, 47 foot monopole for the 3.5 kW, 48 foot lattice
for the 1.5 kW and a 67 foot guyed tower that is suitable for either turbine. They also carry
two inverters, a 2 kW and a 4 kW model, for grid-tie applications. These are CSA, UL and EN
certified.
The 1.5 kW
The 1.5 kW is a standard looking
HAWT that furls. Except that it furls
vertically, reminiscent of the old World
Power Technologies turbines. We can
only surmise that Elliot Bayly
apparently could not overcome the
problems that came with the tilt-up
speed control since this method was
abandoned for the side furl. For a
small turbine such as the 1.5 kW
Raum, the vertical furl requires
springs, hydraulic cylinders or both.
Otherwise the Raum 1.5 kW looks and
performs comparable to other turbines in its class. It has a radial flux, permanent magnet
alternator driven by a 9.5 foot diameter rotor with three fiberglass reinforced plastic blades.
The rated 1.5 kW output comes at 11 m/s (24.5 mph) with the rotor turning at 800 rpm.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Raum%20Energy.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:56:32 PM]
Raum Energy
The tower top mass is 39 kg (86 pounds).

Specification wise, it doesn't look too different from the SWWP Whisper 200 and Bergey
XL.1. It has no price advantage coming in at $4,875 for turbine and grid-tie inverter and
$3,700 a battery charging version.
The 3.5 kW
The 3.5 kW is a total opposite to its smaller sibling, being a
downwind turbine. It also has the edgy if not questionable 5
blade design. There are certainly questions that surround the
number of blades a turbine should optimally have and each
camp has its own pros and cons to present. We just have to
wonder why Raum chose to go with the less mainstream 5
blade design.
The 3.5 kW turns a permanent magnet alternator at a
respectable 315 rpm in an 11 m/s (24.5 mph) wind to pump
out, well, 3.5 kW's of energy. It has no passive braking but
rather follows in the footsteps of the SWWP Skystream and
relies on electronics to keep things under control. It produces
power up to 29 mph where higher speeds result in a
diminished output until total shutdown at 56 mph. We have
made the point elsewhere that we are not a fan of sole
reliance on electronics to keep a turbine out of a potentially
hazardous overspeed situation so we will not belabor the
point.
Unlike the 1.5 kW, the 3.5 kW seems to have a clear price advantage over similar sized
machines which would include the Kestrel e400 and the SWWP Whisper 500. Since its
introduction to the marketplace only happened in 2009, we will reserve any
recommendation until there is substantial data to make reasonable comments.
With Raum Energy, we have a young company that is motivated to grow but needs some
Raum Energy
exposure. Not necessarily marketing exposure but rather field exposure. It is difficult to find
any comments and feedback on their product but the turbines themselves can certainly be
found on several dealer websites. This doesn't reflect on the quality of the turbine, just its
age.
Both of the turbines seem to be on par specification wise to other similar sized competitors.
What we don't like is the vertical furling aspect of the 1.5 kW and the non-passive
overspeed protection scheme for the 3.5 kW. Overall, we see room for some maturing at
Raum Energy Inc. before they can become a serious player in the small wind marketplace.
Raum 1.5 & 3.5

Cons
3.5 uses electronic braking for overspeed
control
1.5 uses vertical furling for overspeed

control
Raum Energy
Raum Energy
Sonkyo
Sonkyo Energy
Sonkyo Energy is one of the latest serious entrants to join the wind energy marketplace with a
mechanical blade pitch controlled turbine. The company is located in Santander, Spain and has a
connection to the wind turbine manufacturer, Bornay.
Reading the sales and website information about Sonkyo
Energy would lead you think that Sonkyo Energy has been in
business for over thirty years. Actually the 30 years of
experience comes from Bornay. They have been around for a
while and David Bornay is involved with Sonkyo Energy. The
Sonkyo Energy product line was only introduced in 2009.
The Sonkyo Energy turbines go by the name WINDSPOT. There
are currently three models available with a fourth on its way,
due out in 2011. The turbines follow the Bornay pattern of
designation, assigned by the rated output. Bornay references
its turbines by their rated output in watts while the WINDSPOT
gets its nomenclature assigned in kilowatts.
As it stand in 2010, the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable
Energy reports http://www.folkecenter.net/mediafiles/
folkecenter/pdf/preview-2010.pdf that number of units sold
are:
1.5 kW 42
3.5 kW 74
7.5 11
The turbines all have in common:
Voltage output 24, 48, 110, 220
Blade Material RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) Fiberglass and Polyester
Rated Output Speed 11 m/s
Overspeed Protection Passive Centrifugal Variable Pitch
While not common to all four turbines, the rpm at rated output is rather impressive. The 1.5 kW and 3.5
kW turbines spin at 250 rpm while the 7.5 kW and yet to be released 15 kW boasts a very comfortable
200 rpm. A very interesting R & D goal is the development of a permanent magnet system that has a
rated speed of no more than 100 rpm.
The WINDSPOT are all respectable in the weight they heft in tower top mass.
1.5 kW 297 lbs
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Sonkyo.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:56:52 PM]
Sonkyo
3.5 kW 364 lbs
7.5 kW 772 lbs
15 kW 1,433 lbs
The WINDSPOT turbines all carry a 5 year warranty.
Sonkyo Energy, while a new name does have old experience behind it. Interestingly the
background company, Bornay, produces turbines that are fixed pitch, lighter weight and operate at
higher rpm's. Additionally Bornay gave up the variable pitch speed control in 1993 for the "tilt" method.
In spite of their newness, if we had to put one up today it would be difficult to choose between a:
WINDSPOT 1.5 kW and Kestrel e300
WINDSPOT 3.5 kW and Kestrel e400
To consider the WINDSPOT 7.5 kW we would most certainly want to chat with one of the few 7.5 kW
owners. Here, the most direct competition would be the slightly smaller but more field proven Evance R9000.
We really like the potential found in the WINDSPOT turbines. What's not to like? Actually we cannot
answer that question entirely until we can get reports from seasoned installations, firm pricing and
the quality of their after the sale commitment. Though we find the Sonkyo offering most intriguing we
will withhold solid endorsement of the product at this time.
sonkyo
Pros
Blade Pitch
Low rpm
Cons
Unproven reliability
Sonkyo
Southwest Windpower
Southwest Windpower
This Flagstaff, AZ based Southwest Windpower has been producing small wind turbines for the residential market since
1987. In 2000 they acquired the operations of World Power Technologies. Elliot Bayly, the former owner of World Power
is now running his more recent upstart Ventera Energy. Southwest dropped the World Power name but began to improve on
the newly acquired turbine line. The results are seen in the current Whisper 100, 200 and 500 models.
Skystream
The Skystream 3.7 is a radical departure from the stock line of Whisper and Air series turbines. It's a downwind turbine that
is aimed at the residential grid connect market. By having the rectifying and inverting electronics neatly nestled in the
nacelle, it looks like a fully packaged machine that could be called plug-n-play. The power that flows out of the turbine
is household quality electricity. When the Skystream is producing power, you are either offsetting your current energy
demand or feeding surplus back into the grid.
The Skystream has no aerodynamic or passive braking system. It solely relies on dynamic braking as the means to keep
the rotor operating at a safe speed.
A Skystream is most suitable in a grid connect environment. Their output is either 120 or 240 volt AC. For this to work in
a battery based system, it can be done but it is not as easy as one of the many other machines that are designed for
battery systems. If you want to make this type of connection there will be extra expenses involved over a typical grid
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Southwest%20Windpower.html (1 of 13) [7/14/2013 5:57:15 PM]
Southwest Windpower
connect Skystream system.
We find the Skystream 3.7 to be a moderately priced, high tech turbine with an advanced over speed protection. For a grid
tie system it offers the user what looks to be an easy solution since it supplies grid type power right out of the turbine.
This results in a clean interface to the grid with little ground hardware to fuss over. There is also the spiffy
wireless communication system that tracks the various functions of the Skystream and allows you to control it from the
comfort of your home. What's not to like about something as simple as this?
If you have no experience with wind power generation, the Skystream concept sounds real good. Even if you have experience
it still sounds good. Who would be opposed to a simple power generation scheme such as this? Well, we aren't opposed to
the concept but find a couple of drawbacks that are hard to get past.
First, the whole electronic package is located in the nacelle. Putting as much as possible on the pole means there is less
ground-based equipment. Little more than a disconnect switch is need between the turbine and the Main AC service.
Though the installation is neat and tidy, some in the wind energy generation business will see red flags pop up. One
concern will be with the inability to easily access the delicate electronic components needed to keep the turbine
running properly. The other will deal with the know fact that there vibrations are an inevitable product of wind
power production. This ranges from drive train vibrations from the turbine itself to harmonic vibrations as a result of the
wind moving past the tower. The problem with vibrations is that things tend to loosen up and come apart when subjected to
this force over a long period of time. Hopefully a wind turbine will be exposed regularly to these conditions since that is
when energy is most likely to be harvested from the wind, when it is actually blowing.
Second is the lack of aerodynamic governing. If something goes wrong with the onboard dynamic braking system, there are
no mechanical means of passive protection. There's a feature called Redundant Relay Switch Control which is described as
the safety measure to guarantee stopping the turbine in case of a winding fault or lost connection to the alternator. There
are two parts to this feature consisting of extra alternator connections and a means to apply dynamic braking.
The first part addresses the number of connections to the alternator. The manual states that there are seven where only three
are needed. It could prove troublesome if one became disconnected in any way so it looks like there are four
backup connections to reduce this possibility. The second part relies on latching relays to activate electromechanical
braking. These ideas sound good but problems typically arise at the most inconvenient times. In the case of a wind
turbine, overspeed protection is most needed during a storm. A Skystream is just too big of a machine to leave totally in
the hands of relays and switches.
Southwest Windpower
There is another issue that should be mentioned in regard to the turbines heavy reliance on computer control. You may
find your energy harvest greatly reduced on windy days. This is due to the programmed stop parameters. The normal
maximum rotor speed is 330 rpm. If conditions occur that cause it to exceed 360 rpm, the Skystream will shut down for
10 minutes. There is no indication for what wind condition would cause this to happen. We could guess it to be less than 25 m/
s (~56 mph) because at 25 m/s the shutdown is even more dramatic as the turbine stops for 1 hour.
While it is true that energy harvest is not best attempted at high wind speeds, a turbine with aerodynamic speed protection
will have an advantage in strong, gusty winds. A blade pitch control method will respond the quickest and provide the
highest yield in these conditions while a furling machine will have a noticeable drop off in power production. Shutting
down for a period of 10 minutes to 1 hour will have a drastic effect on yield. For our personal wind site, we would most
likely see numerous shutdowns during a typical winter high wind event. This would happen because of the many short
lived gusts that occur when the wind is averaging 20 to 30 mph. Not all sites will face the type of wind extremes we
routinely experience.
There are other issues that have generated numerous complaints. They mainly deal with circuit board and/or software
problems. It seems the turbine can develop a nasty habit of shutting down and not starting back up. This problem tends to
crop up especially in cold climates for some reason. It is unclear whether this problem has been resolved but there appear to
be continued complaints about unexpected shutdowns. Keep in mind one thing, of all the Skystream horror stories where
the turbine stop running, there are others with happy endings.
We will give Southwest this much, the Skystream may very well revolutionize the backyard grid connected wind
turbine market. There may be many thousands of them sold over time and prove out to have a long and useful life. When
you get right down to, the basic spec's aren't bad for the price. And as far as alternative energy production, we are all for
using wind to electrify a neighborhood. We would just prefer that people not get wrapped up in a pretty package when
simple, reliable production is more to be desired. In our opinion the Skystream is a designer turbine. Good looks
with questionable functionality.
Skystream
Pros
Company is located in the U.S
Low RPM
Southwest Windpower
Neutral
Cons
Dynamic Braking For over speed protection
Light Weight
Not really designed for off grid use
Charge controller-inverter is located in nacelle
Air X - Air Breeze
SWWP has been making the Air series micro turbines since 1994. In 1998 the Air 403 was introduced then upgraded in 2002
to the presently available, Air X. The company boosts of having produced approximately 18,000 Air series turbines. The
Air Breeze is the latest addition the the product line.
Southwest Windpower
The energy output of the Air X is listed as 400 watts in a 28 mph wind while the Air Breeze is less than half the output at
160 watts at that same windspeed. Interestingly enough, the specs show them to have the same monthly energy output.
The Air X and Air Breeze turbines have an onboard microprocessor-based regulator with peak power tracking. The
Air Industrial is a similar product but requires an external charge controller.
The Air turbines make use of dynamic braking to limit rotor rpm. This is referred to as electronic torque control where
the regulator loads the alternator to create an electromechanical braking effect much the same as the Skystream. We find
no mention of any type of aerodynamic governing.
There are two possible applications that might be suited for the Air series turbines. The first would be for marine use, such
as on a sailboat. It's light weight and small size makes it ideal for this scenario. The second would be a remote site in a
very windy area where a low powered item such as telecommunication gear is operated.
The early Air 403 suffered from noise problems. Instead of the electronic torque braking that appeared on the Air X, the
403 used a blade flutter method that is reported to be very loud. The Air X was an improvement but still has noise issues
at high rpm. The Air Breeze seems to have addressed this issue to most peoples satisfaction.
Our fun story with the Air X: We have first hand experience with the Air X. There are two located on our property that
were left by the previous owner. They were not wired into the system so we made the final connections and brought
them online. They are located on the roof of a garage so the expectations were not very high. We were not disappointed.
They basically would spin around wildly trying to track the wind, usually unsuccessful. When they did catch a good gust,
the sound they emitted was a haunting one, something like a cartoon ghost. Afraid of scaring animals and small children,
we quickly discontinued the service of the Air X's.
In practical terms the Air series turbines are best suited to situations where energy demand is very low and average wind
speed is very high. Carefully examine the energy output data that is published for the Air turbines if you are thinking
seriously about purchasing one. We think unless you have a specialized need there are more cost effective solutions.
Southwest Windpower
Air Series Turbines

Pros
Cons
High RPM
Light Weight
Small Swept Area
Dynamic braking as over speed protection
Oh, did we mention that these make great lawn ornaments too!
Whisper 100 / 200 / 500

Until recently the Whisper 100 and 200 turbines have only had serious competition from the Bergey XL.1. Though the
African AWP 3.6 was close in price, it was considerably heavier and larger, requiring a more expensive tower than a
Whisper. The African doesn't even have a U.S. distributor at this time so it is really out of the running at the present.
Bergey will not even offer a multi-voltage XL.1 so it is severely handicapped.
The way we it, SWWP may want to spend a little more in R&D and dial up their reliability because a flood is coming in
from the Atlantic. European countries are struggling under high energy costs and the wind energy market is heating up.
The South African Kestrel is currently their most serious competitor. Coming from the north is the recently visible Raum
and the Spanish built Sonkyo WINDSPOT looks fairly threatening.
On the positive side for the Whisper products, they are rather lightweight and easy to assemble so you can have one up
and running in a short time. SWWP is also based in the US giving the advantage of having a strong local presence when
Southwest Windpower
a problem occurs.
The Whisper 100/200/500 turbines are available in the standard 12 through 48 volt configuration. The standard voltage
from the factory is typically set to 24 volts but a 12, 36 or 48 volt setting can be easily made by the end user (12 volt
not available on the 500). The charge controller will also require a slight modification. A high voltage model is available
for long distance transmission at an additional cost.
All 3 turbines are similar in design and operation. The have a radial flux PMA and rotor governing is controlled by side
furling. While the 100/200 have a 3 blade rotor, the 500 is a 2 blade design. They are readily available and the 100 or 200
is easy to ship due to the light weight.
We have noticed that SWWP is not publishing the Whisper 100/200/500 rotor rpm at rated output. Maybe we are just missing
it in their literature or maybe it was an omission of a what they feel consumers don't really care (or need) to know. We
certainly think it is a very important number for consumers to know and are happy to preserve the last known spec's
until SWWP finds it appropriate to publish them one again.
A 5 year warranty comes with all Whisper products.
The Whisper 500

The Whisper 100/200
Southwest Windpower
Southwest Windpower
Whisper 100 / 200

The Whisper 100 and 200 carry a relatively cheap price tag. We did see a hefty price increase in the Whisper lineup for
2010 but since the Bergey XL.1 list moved up with them, it's all relative. But, with the 100 sitting at $2600 and the 200
at $3405, these machines have placed themselves in the range of the Kestrel e230 and e300. In our opinion that is not a
good place for SWWP to be. They must be fairly competent that their marketing can keep there turbines selling. SWWP
does have better marketing that Kestrel so we will not be surprised if sales hold up.
The Whisper 100/200 turbines do have one strong selling point, they are easy to buy and install. The assembly is
not complicated and the installation is straight forward. What's not to like?
On a close examination, the Whisper 100 is one step above a micro turbine such as an Air X. As a matter of fact, if you
have wind that is strong enough to support an Air X, then a serious look at the 100 is warranted unless your needs falls into
one of the specialized applications, marine or remote. The serious drawbacks to the 100 is its light weight and the high
rpm needed to generate electricity. It is recommended for a moderate to high wind location.
If you do live in an area where the wind can linger above 30 mph for long stretches of time we would certainly encourage
a look at the 100 over the 200. The 200 is just not up to the task and that sentiment has been echoed by a dealer who
installs Whispers.
The Whisper 200 is similar in construction to the 100. Actually they have many parts in common. You will even see
the occasional remark that the 200 is just a 100 with larger blades. At first glance you may quickly draw this conclusion
except for the 18 pound weight difference. At 47 pounds for the 100 versus 65 pounds for the 200, It seem hardly likely that
the 200's blade extensions can account for the total difference. It only makes sense that the 200 has a larger alternator since
Southwest Windpower
the extra output does not come from a higher rotor rpm.
The 200 is recommended for low to moderate wind areas and we would agree. Where the 100 has a similar main body
or nacelle casting, it also has a much smaller swept area which will result in overall less force acting on the turbine. This
simply translates into less overall stress on the unit.
This observation is backed up by an dealer in the Arctic region of the U.S. who is hesitant to place a Whisper 200 in
certain regions but will install a Whisper 100 at that location. A very honest and open SWWP tech also gave a little insight
to the failure probability of the Whisper 200. We had one fall from the tower after if cracked at the furling pin. When
I described the failure, he wasn't the least bit surprised and said "that problem isn't unheard of".
In answer to our earlier question of "what's not to like?", there may be plenty to not like. Cheap can have its
disadvantages. These are lightweight machines that you wouldn't want to install in a punishing environment. We have
a challenging wind site but at the same time, not what would be considered overly harsh. From the best we can tell, a
Whisper 200 will not last 2 entire winters in our Matanuska Valley location without some sort of major repair.
This may be tolerable while under the 5 year warranty. So far SWWP has repaired all of our Whisper 200 issues. For this
we give them a gold star. The tech that handled our "tumble from the top of the tower after metal fatigue" episode had
a competent, no-hassle approach. That type of handling goes a long way to keeping customers happy.. On the other hand,
we find reports where their tech support is almost non-existent or unhelpful. During a more recent issue with the Whisper
200, we unfortunately learned that our pro tech is no longer there. Alas, our last contact with SWWP tech support was
just "OK". Negative experience with support personnel will certainly define a customers experience.
So here we stress, know your wind site and learn from others (our) experiences. A cheap turbine may be inexpensive
to purchase but can cost you time and frustration. If you do your own installation work you can avoid the labor charges
for constant replacement of the turbine. If you have all your work done by someone else then carefully consider this
expense. This is where cheap has its price. As long as the warranty repairs are honored, you get at least 5 years of
replacements but still have the frustration of removal, shipping, waiting and installing. Also figure the cost of
alternately producing electricity. Cheap can add up quickly in some cases.
Overall the Whisper 100/200 may be considered an entry level machine. It might be a solution if you want to get into
wind power generation but don't have a large budget or know what to expect from your site. If you live in an area
without stormy conditions and the winds are typically moderate, you may find a Whisper 100 or Whisper 200 suitable.
Southwest Windpower
Whisper 100/200
Pros
Price
Company Located in U.S
User Selectable Voltage
Neutral
Furling* (In our opinion furling is justified by the low price)
Cons
High RPM
Light Weight
Whisper 500
Lightweight, high rpm, has two blades and it furls. Do we really need to go on? I suppose if you live on the prairie where
there is no rapid wind shift or turbulence it may be okay.
The Whisper 500 certainly has a checkered past. It is easier to find negative information than happy customers. Even
more strange is we have talked to two dealers, whom we know, that like them. Wait, maybe the guys selling them have to
like them.
Whatever the case, the wind conditions on the installation probably play a large part in customer satisfaction. With the
500 being a 2 blade turbine, we have a somewhat negative view to begin with. Just say that when you add in the smoking
Southwest Windpower
high 900 rpm rotor speed at the rated output along with the anemic 155 pounds, you better have a good, turbulent-free
wind flow at your site.
With the Whisper 500 fetching just under $9,000, we would look at a Kestrel or Proven.
Whisper 500
Pros
Company located in the U.S
Neutral
Furling* (In our opinion furling is a justified by the low price)
Cons
Two Blade Design
High RPM
Light Weight
Southwest Windpower
photos Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit - Southwest Windpower
True North Power NG
True North Power NG

True North Power NG is a Canadian-based company that has been around for a few years
but has made a recent change in its name and product offering. True North Power Systems
was David Cooke's former company and the North American distributor for the trouble prone
Chinese manufactured Lakota wind turbine. His new company is called True North Power NG
and they have a nice shiny new turbine, the Wind Arrow, sitting on the showroom floor.
Wind Arrow 1KW
In addition to the Wind Arrow and accompanying tower hardware, True North Power NG
offers an assortment of various alternative energy products such as batteries and inverters
along with mounting racks for solar panels. Overall they seem to be fairly well rounded in
the energy basics.
The Wind Arrow itself is a rather normal looking machine but the way it operates more like
the SWWP Air (Air-X, Air Breeze) product line. There is no mechanical way to control an over
speed situation but strictly relies on an electronic process to keep things in check. In
contrast to the SWWP Air X/Breeze, one big difference in the Arrow is the location of the
regulating electronics. The Arrow e-box is located on the ground instead of in the turbine
housing.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/True%20North%20Power.html (1 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:57:32 PM]
True North Power NG
At first glance the concept is one that is hard to argue with. It doesn't furl for protection and
claims to produce power, though at a reduced level in high winds. The power curve shows
the normal output build up until approximately 28-30 mph then it enters into a Soft Stall
Power Mode. At approximately 30 mph the output drops into the 200 watt range and starts
slowly building again with increasing wind speed until 60 mph. At 60 mph it goes into an
SOS (Storm-Otto-Shutdown) Mode and the turbine is stopped. The survival wind speed is
listed as 70 mph +.
AFC charge controller
This is all controlled through the e-box which True North calls the Active Flight Controller
(AFC). The AFC is a microprocessor that measures the available power in the wind and
controls the usable output. For speed control, the AFC starts electronically braking the
alternator when the wind speed get above 28 mph. The way it works is described on their
website as the controller gets more and more aggressive in stopping or holding back the
blades and taking more power.* Though the maximum rotor rpm is not listed on any specs,
we were advised that it is approximately 200 to 600 rpm under various software modes.
The blades are adjustable pitch carbon fiber. The carbon fiber material is not unusual for a
small turbine but most do not have an adjustable blade arrangement. This is to let you
customize the pitch for your wind regime. The rotor diameter is 6 ft 7 inches which give a
swept area of approximately 34.2 square feet.
The 5 year warranty matches others such as the Bergey and SWWP products that we see as
their direct competition here in the U.S. The components are stated to be stainless steel and
anodized aluminum. It is available for either 24 or 48 volt battery charging or 48 volt direct
to heat. This package is all wrapped up in a turbine that weights 38 pounds.
True North Power NG
Wind Arrow 2KW

They also have a 2KW model of the wind arrow in the works.
Right up front we can say that True North Power has been very responsive to any inquires
we have made. They have attempted to answer any questions in a timely and straight
forward manner. We have dealt with companies that never or 2 months later reply to an
email.
As far as the turbine goes, the concept is one that is desirable with no moving parts for
horizontal or vertical furling and controlled output in strong wind. It sounds like it would be
simple and reliable, plug and play. We would hope that someone has come up with a
machine that can prove to give reasonable output at a good price. But....we have concerns
about the e-box controller as well as a need to see some proven history.
True North Power NG
The Active Flight Controller certainly sounds good but there are too many tales about the
woefully inadequate and troublesome SWWP Air products or the failures in their Skystream's
electronic wizardry to give us much comfort. The Arrow may possibly fair well in a low to
moderate wind area but any thought of a storm would be a nightmare. On the positive side
it can be shut down manually from the AFC via dynamic braking. The downside is knowing
when to switch it off if you are going to be gone for any length of time.
The other question is one that comes up often with regard to the low-cost machines, just
how sturdy can the lite weight turbine actually be? Pound per kilowatt of claimed production
the Arrow sports less weight than either the Whisper 100/200 or the Bergey XL.1, its two
closest competitors. Understanding that weight alone isn't necessarily an indication of
quality, it just seems hard to pack a heavy duty alternator and all the associated wind
turbine gear in a 38 pound package. It would make us think that it would have a really high
maximum rpm but the True North people have indicated that the upper limit is 600 rpm. It
would be nice if that specification was published.
On the positive side for True North Power as a company they have made a couple of turbine
modifications and list those improvements on their website. These include an update to the
AFC controller, upgraded yaw component, upgraded slip rings and a more friendly case
sealing system. These are things that would make us think they are working to improve the
Arrow. Posting these comments on the website is a nice touch. The downside of the website
is the lack of technical information or manuals which several other companies give access to
via downloads. This give you a look before hand at what is required to prepare and install a
specific turbine.
Bottom Line:
There was nothing new from True North Power in 2010 in the wind arena. The 2 kW turbine
has been on the drawing board for a while and has a release date of 1st quarter 2011.
Though we cover the company from the wind turbine aspect, we have to remind ourselves
that True North Power actually deals in other energy products such as solar energy systems
so the production of a turbine may not be their number one top priority.
Otherwise, the True North Power people seem like rather nice folks. We previously
considered the 1 kW Arrow price a little high but with the SWWP Whisper and Bergey price
increases in 2010, it isn't so much out of line. The AFC controller is a little more complex
than a furling machine but on the other hand the Arrow turbine itself should be simpler. Also
we wouldn't want to rely strictly on the software based AFC to keep the machine front
running away in a storm (when the most unlikely things are most likely to happen).
Something other than a computer chip would make one tend to sleep better.
Until there is a solid track record established it would be hard to recommend the Arrow for
True North Power NG
anything other than the most calm sites. You might also consider it if you don't depend on
wind power for long periods of time to keep an off the grid system running. At this point we
are neutral on the Wind Arrow.
*http://www.truenorthpower.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23
Wind Arrow 1KW-2KW

Pros
Company Located in Canada
Low RPM
5 year warranty
Cons
No mechanical overspeed control - All electronic
No Track Record
Light Weight
True North Power NG
Ventera Energy
Ventera Energy
Ventera Energy is a company that has potential for the small turbine market. The Ventera
Energy principal, Elliot Bayly, was with the former World Power Technologies company which
was bought by Southwest Windpower. Bayly then started a new company, Ventera Energy
located in Duluth Minnesota, in 2004. The currently offered one downwind designed turbine,
the VT10. Their goal is to design and manufacture an all new wind and solar hybrid system
that is cost effective for moderate wind areas.
The turbine is a downwind design. It uses blade pitch to control rotor speed however it is not
the whole blade that moves. The outer portion of the blade actually moves instead of the
whole blade twisting. This happens due to centrifugal force as rotor speed increases.
The rotor diameter is 22 feet and the whole unit weighs 500 pounds. Its governing wind
speed is 29 mph with a modest rotor speed of 280 rpm.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Ventera%20Energy.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:58:24 PM]
Ventera Energy
Ventera Blade Tip Pitch.

The VT10 is currently the sole turbine offered by Ventera and comes only in a grid tie
configuration. Normally we would not be very interested in a unit that did not have battery
charging capability however we decided to at least give them a spot in our review list for
now. First, we have been told by the company that they are indeed working on a battery
charging version. Second, Eliot Bayly has been around in the wind energy field for a while.
We figured it would be interesting to see what he has been up to since the World Power
days.
Overall, the VT10 looks like a solid contender in the small wind market. The price versus
possible power output is very attractive for a system of this size.
Ventera Energy
It doesn't appear that Ventera has strayed outside the box with a wild and exotic
contraption but has kept a rather simple, practical design. That's what the small wind
industry needs right now, competitively priced, simple and durable turbines that are
available sooner rather than later. Size-wise the Ventera is in the same category as the
Bergey Excel and XZERES 442 but the price tag is considerably less.
The VT10 has one feature that sets it apart from the other turbines being offered today. The
rotor speed is governed differently than any of the other small machines. There is no furling,
coning or whole-blade pitching. The VT10 uses blade tip pitching. The blade is actually two
separate pieces. When the outer part of the blade is centrifugally separated away from the
main blade section, it twists in the process. On an operational turbine, as the rotor is
approaching its design maximum speed, centrifugal force is used to cause the separation.
This destroys lift and creates drag to limit rotational speed. The main cause for concern
would be for uneven deployment of all three blades at the same time to avoid unequal blade
loading and excessive vibrations.
The inverter that is offered is the VI12-60 Synchronous Inverter made by Novalek
Technologies. It is capable of handling 10 kilowatts of 3 phase variable voltage and
frequency input from the wind turbine and up to 2 kilowatts of direct current from a solar
array. Both of the inputs will have peak power tracking hardware and software.
The compatible tower that is offered is the Rohn SSV self-supporting series. They also offer
hinged, fold over feet so the tower can be raised and lowered with a gin pole setup. This
particular tower is the only one listed to use with the VT10. If you feel you need a lower cost
alternative it may be a good idea to check with the company or your dealer to see what
alternatives exists.
Of all the positives aspects of Ventera Energy, we found one issue that we feel is lacking.
The manual. This may seem like a small thing but feel it is also very important. While
informative, it lacks adequate pictures to go along with all the words. If an installer is doing
all the work it should not be a problem. If you are like us and do your own work, you want
detailed pictures explaining everything. Most of us don't work with turbines everyday and we
need illustrations with arrows pointing to objects like the pigtail or brush springs. We feel
a good manual will allow the owner to do a better job of performing routine maintenance
and service on the machine.
Ventera Energy
Our overall feeling toward the VT10 is positive. Being one of the only two serious downwind
designed turbines, with Proven being the other, it is nice to have the option to purchase
from a USA based company. This should provide a quicker response if problems arise. It will
also be easier to keep up with any development in the Ventera products and to get feedback
from owners (over 100 of them as of late 2010) who have an operational turbine.
We will look for continued improvement from Ventera Energy products. As long as they can
keep pricing at an attractive level, there should be customers willing to take a chance on this
fairly recent entry into the wind energy market.
Now all they have to do is make it charge batteries!
Ventera VT10
Pros
Low RPM
Blade pitch
Price
Neutral
Ventera Energy
Photos Courtesy of Ventera Energy.

wind-turbine-industries
Wind Turbine Industries

Jacobs wind turbine. Sound familiar? Many folks may remember these machines from days long
past. Though is had simple beginnings with 2 northwestern farm boys, the history to this date
has had several twists and turns. Since the beginning of the story, there have been several
hands involved in the Jacobs business in some form or fashion.
Marcellus Jacobs and his brother Joe formed in the original Jacobs Company in Montana during
the 1920s. They moved the operation to Minneapolis in 1931 and built turbines for the
numerous farms and ranches that were far removed from the reach of the commercial power
grid.
As the rural electrification sprawl intensified, wind turbine sales declined to the point where
Jacobs closed shop in 1960. With the resurgence of interest in renewable energy Marcellus and
his son Paul opened Jacobs Wind Electric in 1972.
The original Jacobs had a variable pitch blade system and direct drive generation. This was the
type associated with the famous South Pole story. In contrast to these early turbines, the
Jacobs of the 1970's era incorporated a gear driven alternator. This added complexity doesn't
seem to have added much to the positive image of the Jacobs brand as all the positive praise is
always directed toward the older direct-drive models.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Wind%20Turbine%20Industries%20Corp..html (1 of 7) [7/14/2013 5:58:39 PM]
Today the fate of the Jacobs machines lays in the hands of Wind Turbine Industries Corp
( WTIC ). They acquired the Jacobs wind energy products in 1986 and continues to market
updated and modified versions of the Jacobs out of their Prior Lake, Minnesota location.
Jacobs
Pros
Low RPM
Heavy weight
Blade pitch
Mechanical brake
Cons
Complex design
It would be reasonable to assume that a company with a strong product could remain standing
through turbulent economic ups and downs. This would certainly describe what the wind
industry has gone through over the last several decades. In that regard, the Jacobs wind
turbine is the winner. Though the company changed hands in 1986, numerous Jacobs machines
are still alive and well and additionally new turbines are being built and sold today.
Jacobs may not necessarily be able to claim its old title as the Cadillac of th wind turbine
industry but they are well regarded. One thing apparent in the Jacobs turbine is the designer
obviously had survival in mind. It is as heavy as a small car and has a dual over speed
protection mechanism. While not without its share of problems, it is certainly a big machine
intended to put out big power.
Of all the stories that build the legend around a Jacobs ability to survive harsh conditions, you
will find one that often pops up. There was a Jacobs installed to power a South Pole expedition
camp back in the 1930's. When the camp was shut down, the turbine was left behind. Twentytwo years later, the turbine was found still spinning and capable of power production. This
certainly lends well to its tough turbine image. This was the old style direct-drive turbine with
Sitka Spruce blades.
On the other hand, let's contrast that to a modern Jacobs 31-20. There was one installed on a
test site at Beech Mountain N.C. during 2004-2005. The turbine was available to produce power
only 50% of the time over a 535 day period. Some of the problems were not with the turbine
itself but failures associated with charge controller issues and grid voltage problems.
The issues we are most interested in though, are the ones related directly with the turbine. In
spite of its rough and rugged perception, the 31-20 seemed to have trouble in strong wind
conditions. First, Hurricane Ivan damaged the tail and caused a brake failure. Subsequently
during two winter storm episodes, the tail broke and at least one blade was damaged in each
event. This is not an effort to discredit the machine but it does serve to contrast the image that
they are indestructible.
So what is there to like and dislike about this turbine?

First, we really like the fact that there is a lot of weight behind this machine. Twenty-five
hundred pounds to be exact. But with that kind of weight comes some complexity. The Jacobs is
the only gear driven unit that we are reviewing. For the residential/small business turbines,
complexity is not something to be desired since home owners typically do not have a team of
qualified wind turbine technicians on the payroll to keep the machine well greased. This looks
like a simultaneous pro and con.
Second, the Jacobs is well protected in terms of over speed protection. The blade pitch
operates below 45 mph to allow for full energy output up to that point. Above 45 mph furling
takes place to limit blade exposure. Of course when this occurs the turbine acts like any other
furling unit and power production is reduced. Even with its complexity this could be considered
a positive aspect.
Third, all five models of the Jacobs have a low rotor rpm. The largest one, the 31-20 is also the
slowest at 175 rpm while the other four vary between 195 and 205 rpm. This is certainly a
positive feature.
So how do you compare the five Jacobs models? They are all listed by a model number
that indicates the rotor diameter in feet followed by the rated output in kilowatts.
The 23-10 and 23-12.5 have the same 23 foot diameter rotor. The smaller 23-10 is rated at 25
mph and 195 rpm while the larger 23-12.5 shows 27 mph and 205 rpm.
The 26-15 and 26-17.5 have a 26 foot rotor diameter. The 26-15 is rated at 26 mph and 205
rpm while the larger 26-17.5 is rated at 27 mph faster and 195 rpm.
The 31-20 with its 31 foot rotor diameter is rated at 26 mph and 175 rpm. This might be
considered the base model since all the smaller ones are essentially de-rated versions of the 3120.
Previously all the various model prices were listed online. What we found interesting was that
they were within approximately $2,000 of the 31-20. There is no real price advantage to
purchase one of the smaller turbines. Obviously this is the case since they are all simply derated variations of the 31-20.
The WTIC turbines now carry a 5 year warranty. This is a change over the previously offered 1
year warranty with a 5 year option.
Why consider a Jacobs? It's a big, heavy wind turbine that is made in the U.S. and you get
someone from North America that will help you through any problems and to supply
replacement parts. Close support may be a very important issue over the life of one of these
machines. With a gearbox, there is a lot more to go wrong on a Jacobs when compared to a
direct-drive turbine. If you are a DIY'er, the Jacobs is rather intimidating. Working with a 2,500
pound machine will require more machinery than most homeowners have access to. Overall the
Jacobs has its place in your yard if you have the huge power needs that only a 31 foot machine
can satisfy.
Turbine Systems:
top of page
Models
23-10
23-12.5
26-15
26-17.5
31-20
Kilowatt Output
10
12.5
15
17.5
20
Cut-In Wind Speed (mph)
-------------------------- 8 mph ------------------------------
Rated Wind Speed (mph)
25
27
26
27
26
Rated Rotor Speed (rpm)
195
205
205
195
175
Survival Wind Speed
------------------------- 120 mph ----------------------------
Weight (lbs.)
2500
Height (ft.)
--------------------------- 9 feet ------------------------------
(less Rotor)
2500
2500
2500
2500
Turbine Rotor:
top of page
Number of Blades
Orientation
Upwind
Axis (nominal)
Horizontal
Rotation
Counter Clockwise
Fiberglass
Blade Material
Rotor Diameter (ft.)
23
23
26
26
31
Swept Area (ft.)
415
415
530
530
660
Speed Control
Yaw Control
1. Centrifugal variable pitch governor (Loaded 25 - 30 mph, Unloaded

15 - 20 mph).
2. Automatic furling - hypoid gear drive (40 - 45 mph) .
Passive Tail vane
Generator:
top of page
Type
Brushless, Synchrous, Three phase AC 12 lead reconnectable with

outbound exciter.
Exciter Field
60 ohm, 2 amps. DC
Power Rating (kva)
20
Voltage
40 - 180 VAC
Speed (rpm)
Frequency (hz)
20
20
20
25 (Winco)
450-1230
450-1170
450-1170
450-1230
450-1050
0 - 40
0 - 40
0 - 40
0 - 40
0 - 40
Transmission:
top of page
Type
Offset Hypoid Gear Drive
Ratio
1:6.1
Brake System:
Type
top of page
Manual Disc (service/maintenance)
Support Towers:
top of page
Type & Material
Jacobs Three legged free standing lattice (no welds).
Corrosion Protection
Hot dipped galvanized.
Height & Weight
80 ft. = 4300 lbs.

100 ft. = 6200 lbs.
120 ft. = 8200 lbs.
Base Width
80 ft. = 9 ft.
100 ft. = 11 ft.
120 ft. = 13 ft.
Options
Tilting Hinges
Model No.
Rated Wind Speed (mph)
23-10
25
23-12.5
27
26-15
26
26-17.5
27
31-20
26
Estimated Annual Output (KWH)

Wind Speed (MPH) ---------------------------------------------------------------10
10486
10521
11363
14729
19727
11
13618
13800
14966
19320
25704
12
17044
17486
19065
24479
32297
13
20648
21472
23558
30060
39289
14
24321
25643
28317
35900
46468
15
27969
29887
33217
41841
53646
16
31515
34103
38135
47744
60665
17
34899
38205
42963
53486
67398
18
38073
42119
47609
58966
73743
Wind Turbine Summary

First, a Word About Business Basics
In general, we're consumers which means we want to earn and spend, (though some would
rather just spend). Here's one fact that you may not be aware of or simply refuse to
acknowledge; the main job of any company is to figure out how to capture our hard earned
dollars. That is how marketing works, plain and simple. A successful business will be able to
move money from your pocket to the corporate bank account. In return for our money,
sometimes we get what we perceive to be a good value while other times it's fodder destined
for an early retirement to the landfill. What does this means to us? Shopping for a turbine
should be approached with the same savvy as we would use with any other big dollar
expenditure.
So where do wind turbine manufacturers fall in the mix of consumerism,
commercialization and marketing? What we want to believe is that they are in the same
fight as we shoppers are engaged in. Arm in arm, marching across the battle field of carbon
footprint reduction and reduced dependence on foreign oil. Or it could be the wave of us
radical people who have chosen to experience the off grid way of life.
Whatever it is, we want to think of the people busy at work running the company, carefully
assembling the turbine or creating the sales literature, as our good buddy. One that would
not mislead us with inflated or skewed information, even if it is basically sound. The thought
is, that if the buyer and the seller have the same goals and ambitions, the seller would want
to provide the best product and service at the lowest possible cost. This is true in some areas
of life and we want to believe it is also true in the wind industry.
While the builders and sellers may be passionate about what they produce, they also need to
make a profit. This is understandable and we will not fault a company for trying to pay
salaries, bills and investors. It would be unwise for them to not pursue a profitable situation.
That is neither a good thing or bad thing in the world of buying and selling, it is just
necessary capitalism. A product is offered and we have the choice to buy it or not. So the
reality is, these companies are not benevolent organizations that are giving away a product
for some noble cause.
With this in mind, any of our comments you read about the products we review are meant to
be fair but frank. There are plenty of distributors, dealers, installers and written articles that
sing the praises of their offerings but few who will urge caution and point out deficiencies.
That is our job, tip the scales in what we view as a lopsided balance of information. Keep in
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter%20Three/Wind%20Turbine%20Summary.html (1 of 18) [7/14/2013 6:00:08 PM]
mind we are not trying to disparage the above mentioned professionals, as there are some
very reliable and knowledgeable people in any of these fields of service.
General Summary Of Turbines

So what can we summarize about specific wind turbines? There are several factors involved.
Budget
Specific Factors dealing with your site such as, turbulence, wind force, voltage selection
due to length of cable run to batteries
Availability
BUDGET
The budget is one where we have to tread carefully. Our instinct is to get the largest turbine
for our money. A machine that we only use from time to time may allow us the luxury of
choosing a larger, more powerful tool that has a lower quality and cost. This happens
because we do not necessarily depend on the tool for basic, everyday needs such as with
electricity.
We can view this as the difference between needing a residential or an industrial quality tool.
The professional is better served by a reliable piece of equipment because his livelihood
depends on it where as it may only be used a few times over its life in the hands of a
homeowner. In regard to a wind turbine, it is best to remember that we typically depend on
our source of electricity daily. Taking shortcuts or following the cheap route may be costly
over time.
SPECIFIC FACTORS
Finding a machine that is within your budget, can meet your projected energy needs and also
hold up to the conditions at your site may prove to be a challenge. This issue will be most
prominent in the turbines with a rotor diameter of 15 feet or less. There is a wider range of
price and predicted reliability within this category. The reviewed turbines with a rotor
diameter over 15 feet generally exhibit characteristics that indicate suitability for a wider
range of sites.
AVAILABILITY
For most consumers unfamiliar with a particular product, it is easier to shop at a local store
where you can see the merchandise or at least speak to someone in person. Unfortunately
there are few businesses that have the ability to stock and displays a wide variety of wind
turbines.
Also, not all dealers have access to every available product so ordering from a distant source
may be necessary. Importantly to note; if you are doing the installation work yourself, you
have an advantage of purchasing almost any turbines available and having it shipped
straight to your doorstep. When depending on a professional installer, it may be necessary to
stick with products they are familiar with.
What is the purpose of the following comparison reviews? By equipping you with researched
and thought-out information, you can make a better informed decision. Also, purchasing
from a reputable and well though of company will be lending support to an industry that is
currently undergoing large changes.
Reviews For The Consumer

What is the purpose of the following comparison reviews?
By equipping you with researched and thought-out information, you can make a better
informed decision. Also, purchasing from a reputable and well though of company will be
lending support to an industry that is currently undergoing large changes
Neutral
Recommended
Best Buy
Micro Turbines
Air series turbines
Kestrel e160
e160
If you have a small electrical demand and a very windy site, one of these two micro turbines
will possibly fill the need. Just be sure that your power need is small. There are many remote
sites with plenty of wind that may be suitable for one of these machines. However, the
typical location we refer to will only be powering something such as telecommunication
equipment, not the loads usually encountered in residential use. It just may be possible that
a small cabin with few electrical appliances could benefit.
In comparing the Air X/Air Industrial / Air Breeze and the Kestrel e160, though in a similar
class, might be considered a world apart. While the swept area of the e160 is not quite twice
that of the Air turbines, the e160 is over 5 times heavier. If you have figured out one thing
by now, you will know that weight may have a bearing on longevity. There is also a big
difference in rotor rpm with the e160 turning over 25% slower at the rated output.
The one difference that stands out between the two brands is the Air turbines have no
passive governing method. The e160 uses active electronic loading as the primary means
with blade stalling as a passive backup. The older Air products used blade stall as a primary
control but beginning with the Air X models they went to electronic torque control with no
mention of any type of passive control. The recently released Air Breeze has an improved
stall control method over that used by the Air X. This is said to be the reason the Breeze can
have one half the rated output of an Air X but still provide the same energy output.
The Air X and Air Breeze turbines are less than one half the price of a Kestrel e150 and do
not require an external charge control unit. The Air Industrial does need an external charge
controller and diversion load. Comparing the Air Industrial and e160, without the required
charge controller for either unit, the e160 will set you back an additional $600 to $700. On
the other hand, the price does seem to translate into energy output since the e160 provides
approximately twice the estimated monthly energy output.
Although any of these turbines will supply limited amounts of electrical demand, if you have
the need for a small turbine, we feel that the Kestrel product would be of greater value.
Little Turbines from the Big Players
Bergey XL.1
Whisper 100/200
Both Bergey and SWWP have been around since the 80's so we would certainly expect a lot
from these two big players. However, right now our flagship U.S. turbine makers are playing
like a grade B sci-fi movie.
They have a product to sell but there are much better machines to be found. Made in
America normally is a big deal to consumers but it seems in the case of wind turbines we
have to import to get quality. However, they do have a market niche, though just barley, so
lets look at what they have to offer the consumer.
The Bergey XL.1, incredibly, only comes in one voltage, 24. Until recently they were touting
that a 48 volt unit was in the works. In 2010 they finally dropped this mention and informed
up that there was currently no plans for additional expansion of the XL.1.
The Bergey machine does undoubtedly best the Whisper products in two areas. One, the
XL.1 has more weight per square foot of swept area. Two, the rotor rpm is half that of the
Whisper 100/200. Other than a 5 year warranty there is nothing else to get excited about
with the XL.1
The Whisper 100/200 line up will tend to elicit blank stares and yawns. There is not much to
see. These underweight turbines speak for themselves. Literally, in a strong wind. At 47 and
65 pounds respectively, there must not be much of an alternator since it takes 1100 -1200
rpm to get it excited enough to produce the rated output. Like the Bergey they also carry a 5
year warranty.
Even with these deficiencies they have their place. While they are not necessarily
inexpensive for their output, they do carry a price tag that makes them available to people
who are unable to afford a $10-20,000 machine. Though they have both the Bergey and
SWWP turbines have suffered recent price increases they are still available for under $3,500
(tower not included).
For a small home or cabin setup any of these 3 turbines can be charging batteries that would
otherwise be needing a gas or diesel generator to get the job done. Petroleum generator
charging is no small expense when fuel and maintenance is considered. Taking into account a
tower and associated costs, a modest owner-installed wind system could possibly come close
to paying for itself during it's 5 year warranty period. To make the installation user friendly,
the owner manuals of both Bergey and SWWP come with detailed instructions making it
possible to assemble for anyone with reasonable electrical and mechanical skills.
The bottom line is that we just aren't feeling the good old sturdy, innovative, proudly Made in
the USA quality in either company. Actually, both Bergey and SWWP use components
outsourced to China in their products. On the other hand both companies are standing
behind their advertised 5 year warranty.
While SWWP hasn't achieved the name recognition status as Bergey, they have certainly far
exceeded them in sales volume with their aggressive marketing and product variety. If the
choice were ours, the Bergey XL.1 would be in our back yard.
But, first let's look at some of the newer alternatives currently available.
On an interesting note, the light weight nature of these turbines make them less intimidating to
install if you are inexperienced and doing the work yourself.
Small Turbine Alternatives
There are some alternatives to the lightweight offerings from Bergey and SWWP. These wind
turbines are certainly welcomed in the U.S. market to provide some fresh competition in a
stuffy market.
Note: we are leaving this reference to the Proven 600 in for the 2011 reviews. Though
Proven no longer carries this model, there may still be a few left on the shelf in some dealers
back room.
For most of us looking for a small battery charging turbine, the Proven 600 will be out of
reach due to its high cost relative to the energy output. It is definitely built in the typical
Proven way, weighing 154 pounds with an 8.4 foot diameter rotor span but carries a price
tag of over $7,600. While the machine itself is probably the most durable one in this
category, the cost factors will probably relegate it to sites with conditions tougher than most
of us would care to live in. However if you are living in a place similar to Antarctica, the
Proven 600 may be just the turbine for you.
One turbine that could be a serious contender in this class is the African Wind Power AWP
3.7. Although at the time of this writing there are no known North American distributors we
felt compelled to give it a review for two reasons. First, you can actually order an AWP 3.7
right from the company in Johannesburg, South Africa if you are adventurous. Second, the
original 3.6 model has a history that's not all bad. What is too bad is the fact that a
distributor hasn't picked up the AWP product line. We think it would give the Bergey and
SWWP turbines a run for their money. As a caution, it is possible that the previous problems
associated with turbine and support issues may persist. That is yet to be determined.
Let's look at the most serious contenders in the battle with Bergey and SWWP Whisper
100/200 product offering. There have been several new entrants as well as the continued
appearance of Kestrel.
First, if you haven't noticed we are a fan of turbine rotors that are controlled with a blade
pitch method. The Kestrel e230 and e300 are the cheapest turbines we are aware of that use
this blade pitch control. Just for that reason we would be tempted to say Kestrel all the way
but let's look a little closer.
The Canadian company Raum has also entered the competition with its 1.5 kW turbine. We
are sitting on the sidelines with the Raum considering it is new. We also look suspiciously at
the vertical furling or tilt up furling as it may be called. World Power tried this years ago and
never perfected it which is probably why SWWP dropped it after taking over the company.
That doesn't mean it won't work, we just wouldn't recommend it. Besides they need some
seasoning to even be a serious contender.
The Spanish Sonkyo Energy is also new on the scene. We are excited about the Sonkyo
WINDSPOT. You have a heavy, slow turbine that uses blade pitch control. How can you go
wrong, we ask. Well, first we need the pricing to get established and second, they are brand
new in the world of wind turbines.
Though we would be tempted to rush out and push the buy button for a WINDSPOT, we need
to watch from the sidelines first.
The Dutch company Fortis, though established has entered the North American fray. They
come up a little short with our way of thinking. The Passaat side furls, no problem because
so do a lot of others. It has a decent poundage at 165 pounds and you can dig up middle of
the road opinions, not extremely negative but also not overwhelmingly positive.
Add this to the large price tag and we will pass on the Fortis Passaat for the time.
Kestrel e230, Bergey XL.1 or Whisper 100
While the previous years e220 matched the fast turning Whispers at 1100 rpm, the new
e230 has been given a new hub, larger swept area and a lower 950 rpm rotor speed. Though
950 rpm is definitely on the high side we would pick that handicap with its blade pitch control
over the Whisper 100 with no question.

The Bergey XL.1 has a little wiggle room since it is considerably tamer at 490 rpm. However
we do like the ability of the e230 to remain facing the wind and producing power with its
blade pitch scheme over either the XL.1 or the Whisper 100.
We find no reason to own a Whisper 100 now that the Kestrel e230 is on the scene.
Previously you had no real choice if the 24 volt XL.1 wasn't an option but the toss up now
goes to the XL.1 and the e230 in this case. If you have any other voltage requirement you
can now go to the e230.
Kestrel e300, Whisper 200
The e300 is available in any reasonable voltage configuration. It is has decent tower top mass at 165 pounds.
It sports a blade pitch control system. The price is reasonable.
There is no competition here. We find no reason to own a Whisper 200.
Actually the e300 is the recommended turbine, if it is affordable to your pocketbook, over any Whisper, the
Bergey XL.1 or the smaller e230. This even extends to the newcomers Raun, Sonkyo and Fortis. The price to
output and weight seems to be the best deal. If the price of the Sonkyo WINDSPOT is not outrageous then
the e300 will have some possible competition.
Even though we side heavily with the Kestrel e300 and strongly favor the e230, we still approach the issue
of in the nacelle rectification with caution. Our preference is to run three phase AC down the pole and
have the bridge rectifiers within reach.
The U.S. distributor of Kestrel products has said that this isn't possible with the polyphase alternator. We
would not necessarily stay away from the give the Kestrel products but it is something to be aware of.
Concerning this aspect of the Kestrel, keep in mind that the power running from the turbine to the battery is
DC versus the more common three phase AC. For long runs you must either use a heavier wiring conductor
or get one of the high voltage units. Check the wiring requirements carefully to see if your application is
acceptable. The high voltage unit will incur the addition expense of a voltage limiter.
We now have Fortis, Raum and Sonkyo turbines appearing on the scene. Some of these companies may be
introducing some formidable competeion into this category nest year. They will all carry a Neutral
recommendation this year. Hopefully this coming year will provide us with enough data to include them in
the next years ratings.
At this time, with all things considered, we are going to give both the Kestrel e230 and e300 a Best Buy for
2011.
The Foreign Factor Explained

We have no problem with overseas companies competing in the U.S. market. As a matter of fact
we feel they are more serious in the wind turbine market at this time and we welcome the
competition. The cost of energy in the European and African countries is much higher that ours,
so there is incentive for them to get down to business.
In the U.S. market , there is too much faddism associated with springing one up as a show of
greenism. This demand compels companies to crank out machines that are marginal in quality
and energy production. However, as we said above, this is business. Choose your turbines wisely.
Our main concern with the saltwater solution to our dearth of sturdy, cost effective machines
comes down to the accessibility of parts and service. A grid tie installation is not affected if the
turbine goes down but it can have a great impact on an off grid system. Off grid users actually
rely on the production for their daily energy supply. If the the North American distributor of one
of the overseas products is not able to acquire warranty reimbursement or parts for service, then
we have a problem. This is why we bring up what we call the Foreign Factor.
Skystream
Skystream
We get the feeling that the Skystream is aimed at people in subdivisions with large lots that
are connected to the commercial grid. The attraction is the possibility of having a hassle free,
unobtrusive machine that will defray electrical cost or even put money into your pocket.
Unfortunately when considering the cost of the total installation package, you may be waiting
a long time to recoup your costs. To get a feel for the costs and issues surrounding the
Skystream, thumb through these two websites as a starter. There are comments from real
people operating the real thing. With some real problems we might add.
Joshua Janes Skystream
Skysteam blog
As with most product, there exists a wide range of opinions on the Skystream. Our feeling is
that it is an over exposed (hyped) and over rated wind machine. We call it a Designer
turbine, best suited for the front yard of someone wanting to make a statement but not
overly concerned if it doesn't works. Think Carhartt versus Calvin Klein. If you are
considering one of these machines, it's advisable to do extensive homework on the realworld energy output and take a hard look at total installation cost. Calculate what kind of
payback you get during the 5 year warranty period because you're footing the repair bill after
that. Until these machines can prove year after year reliability and consistent energy output,
we say to cast a wary glance at the Skystream.
SWWP Note
Some people may wonder why we are so hard on SWWP turbines. The simple reply is this; they
have marketing force behind what we see as a product that needs considerable improvement. In
December 2008, they posted record sales and have aggressive expansion plans in China with the
Air X, and across Europe with the Skystream 3.7. These two turbines are what we view as two
of the most over-rated, over-sold turbines on the market today. The Air X phenomenon is too
incredible to fathom. We see a repeat with the Skystream. As we have said before it is
capitalism at work. Remember, it is not necessarily the best product but the best marketing that
sometimes wins.
The 2.5's and 3's
Penny wise and pound foolish. Let's look at the Whisper 500 as an example of being pound
foolish. It has a 15 foot rotor diameter and touts a rated output of 3000 watts. This model
comes packaged and wrapped up with a charge controller for about $8,800. It sounds nice.
By comparison the Proven 7 and Kestrel e400 will be within $1,000 of the Whisper 500's
package price. The e400 and Proven 7 both require the added expense of charge control
equipment. The XZERES 110 will be the most expensive out of the box but it comes with the
charge control equipment which equalizes the price difference somewhat.
The first strike against the Whisper 500 is the lack of a third blade. Bad deal. Second, it
weighs an anemic 155 pounds. Compare this to the XZERES 110 and the Kestrel e400 both
tipping the scales at over 300 pounds each and the Proven 7 besting them all at 419 pounds.
Third, to produce that rated output requires the rotor to spin at a smoking 900 rpm. So for
your $8,800 you get a machine that imposes harsh gyroscopic trauma on the featherweight
constructed platform each time the wind gets frisky.
Let's Narrow It Down...
Until the takeover of Abundant Renewable Energy by XZERES we could never give the ARE
110 turbine a top pick spot due to their premium price tag and shaky economic future. The
prospect of having the company bought out by Helix was even more scary.
Now, Abundant Renewable Energy is under new management, as XZERES. The price of the
XZERES 110 hasn't gone up and they increased the warranty to 10 years. These are positive
moves on the part of the new company so we are rethinking their products.
As with the ARE/XZERES story, times change and so do prices. Kestrel is now the one we are
throwing a hard look toward. While we positively recommend the e230 and e300, the e400 is
getting a little more dicey. The e400 was a smoking deal when it was listed in the $6,000 to
$7,000 range. Recent price creep has brought into the $10,000 range. Now it is simply priced
with the competition.
Also, while we would the relatively high 625 rpm rotor speed on the Kestrel e400 acceptable
at say, $7,600, we have a different view of it at $9,600. We do like the blade pitch control
method on the e400. This blend of factors weigh against the e400 getting the top pick.
The Proven 7 is a nice turbine but as we said in the Proven review, the company seems to be
reinventing itself and we want to see where they settle down. Seems they don't want to
really deal with the end user, including supplying parts. Some owners may not be put off by
this but as hands-on type users we want to get as close to the source as possible when
problems arise.
What really puts us off is the warranty. The turbine must be installed by a certified installer
to get the warranty. Well, that takes us out of the market as well as many other do-it-yourself types. Though we like the overall reliability, heavy weight and low rpm which go with the
Proven 7, the certified installer and dealer "go through" issues take it out as a top pick.
We will make no call on the new Raum 3.5 kW. As with the smaller Raum 1.5 kW the
company and products need to mature.. Though the WINDSPOT 3.5 kW looks great on paper
and we are snooping around the Sonkyo product, we need to have some real hard data.
It is a tough call but the XZERES 110 is getting our Recommended for 2011. Though the
competitors are right on their heels, XZERES is making the most visible effort to stand
behind its product and keep customers happy. We feel this goes a long way in overall
perception of a company's view of their product. Since this category has no overwhelingly
superior pick, we will not be assiging a Best Buy for 2011.
The 5's and 6's
This category is full of good turbines. Once Bergey releases their 5 kW turbine which is
currently in development, things will be become even more interesting.
First, the Eoltec Scirocco is a tough one to sort out. It certainly has a high quality fit and
finish. The Alxion alternator used is purported by some to be among the highest quality
PMG's available for wind turbine applications. With all the positive aspects of the Scirocco, its
one downfall is the two blade design. Even though it seems to be missing a blade, the
Orkney Island installations seem to be holding up rather nicely.
The Proven 11 is a heavy contender in this category. It's a substantial machine that is built
by a reputable company. If you are in an area that is frequented by high wind, the Proven
turbines will be at home at your site.
The Evance Iskra R9000 is one of the newer turbines to hit the U.S. market. It offers what
appears to be a solid platform for energy production at a very competitive price. With the
increasing number of installations and good reports, the R9000 is building a solid reputation
for itself.
Let's Narrow It Down...
Yes, the Eoltec Scirocco is easily running alongside the reputable Proven in some very
troublesome wind area. This being the case, you can only conclude that they are substantial
machines. While we find this comforting, you pay a high price premium to claim ownership of
one.
The Proven is also a worthwhile turbine but as we have previously noted, Proven is not
getting our recommendation this year as long as there are suitable alternatives. So once
again the Evance R9000 gets our Best Buy in this category.
*We are giving the Fortis Montana a neutral rating due to fact that they are still a new and
unproven company.*
The Producers
If you are in the market for serious small wind energy production, these are the machines to put on your
shopping list. The XZERES 442, Bergey Excel, Ventera VT10 and Fortis Alize' have rotor diameters of
approximately 22-24 feet. The XZERES, Bergey and Fortis are upwind models while Ventera chose to go
with the downwind design.
Last year we rated the old ARE 442 as being way overpriced. Some price reversal for the new XZERES 442
and upward movement for the Bergey has closed the gap considerably. Also the change of management from
ARE to XZERES may be a positive thing for the future of both the XZERES 110 and 442 models. This has
made the competitive comparisons between Bergey and XZERES much closer.
While the XZERES 442 still carries a higher sticker than the Bergey Excel or Ventera VT10, you are getting
a heavy, slow rpm turbine. The XZERES also sports a 10 year limited warranty and various, company
sponsored service options.
The Bergey Excel has been around over 20 years and seems to be a well liked turbine. It is a basic but
reliable machine available for battery charging or a grid connection. To make the installation easier, there are
several compatible tower packages available to select from. Backed by a 10 year warranty the Excel
certainly is a machine worth considering.
The Ventera VT10 is a little light on weight for a turbine swinging 22 feet worth of blade however it does
feature an interesting governing mechanism with a blade tip pitch system. It is currently available only for
grid tie applications. The company indicates that a battery charging unit is in the works but has not given a
time frame for completion.
Overall we like the VT-10 and the fact that it is considerably lighter on the pocketbook compared to both the
Bergey Excel and XZERES 442. With installations rapidly increasing, we expect the VT10 will be making
waves in the market place. In our 2009 review we mentioned the transparency of issues surrounding the
turbine and Novalek inverter. Recently this information has been deleted. However, this is really no different
from any other wind turbine manufacturers web-based information which is mainly designed to sell their
product. The VT10 and inverter is also covered by a 5 year warrant.
Lets Narrow it Down...
The tradeoffs between the three companies are such that a clear winner is difficult to declare. Ventera VT-10
has the price advantage but is less proven. The Bergey Excel has the longest track record to examine. The
XZERES 442 possibly has the most substantial build but less history and the highest price.
There are some additional factors to explore though they probably are not deal makers or breakers. One such
area is customer service. We have made email inquires to both companies at various times. Bergey being the
more established company is also harder to get in touch with. Emails can go months unanswered. In contrast
to our experience, we have talked to dealers who have nothing but good to say about their responsiveness.
On the other hand, Ventera has always been prompt in answering any questions we may have. Additionally,
Ventera seems to be making a solid attempt to correct issues that pop up and we like their statement that
effectively says that one main objective is to keep current customers happy.
XZERES is definitely looking looking to cash in on any market momentum driving the wind energy market.
They have just come out with a Micro-Generation Utility program, similar to solar leasing programs. It
would appear they are not afraid of new marketing approaches. This move alone will most likely boost their
market share and visibility and turn the heat up on the competition. This latest move from XZERES and the
the alliance between Bergey and Lowes will prove to be interesting for the small wind marketplace.
When we consider these factors, we feel that it is fine to give the new guys a chance with the VT10 if you
are in the market for a grid tied system. One roadblock may be their scarce dealer network. The Bergey is
certainly the more established of the three companies. We like the new XZERES company and their fresh
look. For 2011 the Bergey Excel and XZERES 442 are recommended with the Best Buy going to the
Ventera VT-10.
* We are giving the Raum 3.5 a neutral rating due to the fact that they are presently a new and unproven
company.*
The Larger Producers
The two larger machines, the downwind Proven 35-2 and the upwind WTIC 31-20 are fitted
with a 27.9 and 31 foot rotor respectively. There are several WTIC models to choose from
but they are basically de-rated versions of the 31-20 with little price advantage. Both
companies have been in business a number of years but the Proven 35-2 is new to the North
American market.
These are two serious machines with serious price tags. They are also very different
machines. The Proven certainly is a less complex machine with its direct drive alternator and
coning blade system The WTIC 31-20 comes complete with a gearbox, blade pitch and furl
system With their size and complexity these aren't weekend DIY'er projects. If you are in the
market for this kind of power monster, you will want many opinions and comments from
various owners of each turbine. With the recent arrival of the Proven 35-2 this may be a
difficult task. Data from the WTIC 31-20 will be far more abundant.
*We are giving the Fortis Alize a neutral rating due to fact that they are still a new and
unproven company.*
Tower Intro
Towers
The tower is the second most critical element in a wind system. We spend a lot of time selecting the right
turbine but when selecting the tower, we are choosing which platform is going to hold our investment. Any
of the described systems will get your turbine up into the air but you will be choosing between:
Aesthetics
Functionality
Available space
Terrain
Cost
The tower options for your residential or small business turbine are:
Free-standing Lattice
Free-standing Monopole
Guyed Lattice
Guyed Monopole
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Intro%20to%20Towers.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:00:10 PM]
Tower Intro
footer for a page
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Intro%20to%20Towers.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:00:10 PM]
Forces Imposed On the Tower
The Forces Imposed On the Tower

At first glance a tower appears to simply hold the turbine vertical in the air. What is actually taking place is
a little more dramatic. The wind is acting on the tower, turning it into a lever. Essentially the energy in the
wind is trying to push the tower over. It exerts force against the turbine's rotor so the speed of the wind
(amount of energy it contains) and the rotor diameter (swept area) combined with the tower height (distance
from the ground to the rotor) are the main factors involved. As any of these three factors (wind speed, rotor
diameter and tower height) increase there is a corresponding increase in the force that is trying to push the
tower over.
Archimedes said "Give me a lever and I could move the world". This idea is the same but works in reverse
for us because we don't want the work to make our tower fall. If you have ever used a pry bar to remove a
rock from the soil, you understand that the longer the pry bar the easier it is to move the rock. Think of the
tower as a lever with the force being exerted on it at the top where the wind turbine is attached. This makes
it very important to make sure it is firmly anchored into the earth.
The lever concept will work against us as the tower gets taller because the amount of work a lever can do
is defined as " Force x Distance". This shouldn't stop us from putting up a tall tower, we just need to
understand what we're doing at ground level.
So how does the tower go about doing what it does. We can use a camera tripod as an example. If you
have the legs close together there may be problems with stability. It wouldn't take much effort to push the
tripod over and wreck your camera. Spreading the legs out will make the tripod more stable. This is an
important principal to remember when considering guyed towers.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Forces%20Imposed%20on%20the%20Tower.html [7/14/2013 6:00:12 PM]
Taller Tower = More Power

Tower height is one place where it is easy to talk yourself into cutting the cost of your wind system. It's an
area of the job where, if we don't recognize how it helps, the extra cost becomes hard to justify. The
hundreds or thousands of dollars needed just to get the turbine a little further from the ground could leave us
with a vague sense of getting ripped off if we do not understanding some basic wind principles.
Weighing out cost versus benefit is something we will do many times during our life. There are several
good examples where cutting corners result in more expense down the road but let's look at one related to
the energy field. During the 1980's, a few builders were offering upgrades in the form of a
thicker insulation package, typically in the attic. In the neighborhood where I (Rick) grew up, few people
opted for this. Buyers would more often select something like upgraded moulding or bathroom fixtures. A
nice faucet in the shower was immediately visible. A couple inches of insulation was way too vague to
understand much less spend extra money on.
Too often we will lean in the direction of upgrades that lend immediate gratification but little substance. A
nice cosmetic package will soon fade but low quality construction will plague a building for years to come.
As it turned out, most of the houses with the standard insulation had a contractor's truck sitting in the
driveway a few years later. Yes, you guessed it. They were blowing insulation in the attic.
Adding more height to a tower can have this same feel. You know you are spending more money but you
just don't understand how it will be of any added benefit. After all, the wind seems to blow pretty hard at
ground level. This scene plays out daily in many areas of life. Sometimes the fix is inconsequential,
sometimes substantial.
In the case of a tower the cost will prove to be significant if, once installed, the height needs to be
extended. Since extra height can't be added to a free standing tower, we will address the guyed towers.
Just the price of a couple pipe sections and the couplers may not be all that expensive if that were all that
was needed. The cost starts adding up when you consider that any increase in height will also require an
increase in the anchoring radius. If this is not done, we loose some stability. This means anchor relocation
and guy wire replacement.
These are the hard costs associated with reworking a tower. The hidden cost of using too short a tower
will be reduced output and possible damage to the turbine. This happens when it is allowed to operate in
turbulent conditions caused by improper obstacle clearance. Improper obstacle clearance occurs when the
tower is too short.
HOW CAN IT HELP?
Let's look at how a properly sized tower can pay off in another area, power production. When comparing
wind speed at different heights above surface level, higher will be faster and less turbulent. The reason for
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Taller%20Tower%20=%20More%20Power.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 6:00:22 PM]
this is less friction generated from different types of obstructions. Though trees and buildings will be the
worst offenders, even open grassland will cause some slowing due to friction.
Depending on the degree of surface roughness, at 100 feet the wind speed can average somewhere between
3 and 6 mph faster than at ground level. This increase seems small but remember the cube factor increase in
wind energy. This can result in an increase of over 100 percent. The increase at the 100 foot over the 60
foot level will not be that dramatic but it could boost output over 25 percent. In terms of monthly or annual
energy production, this is significant.
Source: United States Department of Energy

Though the upfront cost to get your turbine up in smooth air may seem a little like the "insulation upgrade
package", it will pay nice dividends over the life of a good turbine. While you can't always get everything
right the first time, the tower is one place where you really want to give it your best shot.
Tower Types
Tower Types
The earth anchoring system is what sets apart the free-standing and guyed towers.
freestanding
A Freestanding or self-supporting lattice tower, utilizes the concrete at the base in conjunction with the
distance the 'legs' are spaced for it's stability. The closer together the legs, the more concrete is needed to
keep the tower upright.
Also, as the tower gets taller the more force the wind can impose. This means the structure of the
freestanding tower must also increase in strength to keep from bending and buckling from increased loads.
The free-standing tower will be one of the more expensive types to install. It will also require climbing to
the top if turbine maintenance is required. This is an important thing to remember if you are not skilled at
climbing and working at heights.
The Freestanding monopole is what the newer, large wind farm turbines are mounted on. The large
monopole towers will allow a person to climb the tower from the inside. In our home scale turbine design
we will not have that kind of luxury. Anything we install will have to be climbed out in the open or tilted
down for access.
guyed system
In the guyed system, picture the guy wires as tripod legs. As the guy wires move away from the tower the
load exerted on the tower base shifts away from the tower and increases stability. In the free-standing
design, you must increase the size of the actual tower base for more strength and stability, also raising the
cost. In the guyed system, you gain stability by increasing the guy wire radius. The cost of extra wire rope
for the guy wires is cheaper than adding more steel and concrete to a free-standing unit.
There are two types of guyed towers that are suitable in small wind applications.
The guyed pipe tower used in small scale systems are a thin wall type that is available as a package from a
towers manufacturer such as NRG. Others use schedule 20 or schedule 40 pipe that is usually available
locally. The couplers, guy wires and assorted hardware are available as a kit. The later is probably the
cheapest to use since only the hardware kit needs to be shipped.
The guyed lattice is an alternative to the monopole. This is the three legged type that you commonly see
used for radio or television antennas. The cross bracing that runs the entire length of the tower also allows it
to be climbed.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Tower%20Types.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:00:24 PM]
Tower Types
Now let's look into how this translates into what you will be using in your small turbine, home/small
business system.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Tower%20Types.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:00:24 PM]
Freestanding Towers
Freestanding Towers
The freestanding tower, aka self supporting, will be among the most expensive for the home installation.
First the tower itself will cost more due to the amount of steel involved in the structure. Then there is more
extensive excavation and concrete work to do in a freestanding installation. This tower type is relying on all
this steel and concrete to keep it upright. You can save on labor if you can do the work yourself.
For this type of tower a crane is typically needed. The actual construction of the tower will take place on
the ground in the horizontal position but then needs to be lifted into place. If you are in a remote area, the
cost of getting a crane to the installation site could be considerable.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Freestanding%20Towers.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 6:00:42 PM]
Freestanding Towers
Once a freestanding tower is in place, it is considered semi-permanent. You are not going to be raising it
up and down to check on or maintain your turbine. When your turbine needs maintenance, get out your
climbing gear. If it needs to come down, you will either have to climb the tower, hire someone or bring the
crane back out. Just remember to factor that into the cost equation.
The positive points of a freestanding tower are its durability and low space requirements. It is engineered
to stand on its own, not dependent on wires to hold it up. As long as the concrete base is properly
constructed, it should stand up to whatever wind speed it's rated for. An anchor giving way or line
snapping is not a factor. This makes it simpler than a guyed tower and less susceptible to damage and
failure. The area that the overall freestanding unit occupies is considerably less than a guy wire system. In
some locations, the smaller footprint may be critical if the land needed for a guyed system is simply not
available or the terrain is too uneven to support a tilt-up unit.
Freestanding Towers
Free-standing / Self Support Tower
Pros
Small footprint, less land clearing is necessary
Uneven terrain not a problem
No guy wires
Less vulnerable to damage than a guy tower
Aesthetically preferable by many
Cons
Harder to service/maintain generator
Possible crane cost for installation
Fixed Guyed Towers
Fixed Guyed Towers

A fixed guyed tower is somewhat similar to the freestanding in that it is a lattice style and once it is up, it
stays there. Any wind turbine maintenance will require someone to climb it. The same goes if you have to
remove the turbine for any reason.
The difference in the actual erection of the fixed guyed tower is that a crane may or may not be used. It is
easiest and safest to assemble the tower and attach the turbine while it is laying down then lift it up with a
crane. If a crane is out of the question then a gin pole can be used. This gin pole is different from the one
used for a tilt-up tower. You use it to lift and secure the tower sections one at a time. Once the last section
is bolted on, the gin pole is used to lift the turbine into place. If the tower is very tall, this will be a slow,
labor intensive process.
Gin Pole used to raise individual tower sections.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Fixed%20Guyed%20Towers.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 6:00:52 PM]
Fixed Guyed Towers
Though similar in basic design to a free-standing tower, the differences are noticeable. The lattice sections
are the same size from the bottom to the top, they do not taper. This is because it does not depend entirely
on the framework for support. The lattice sections really do nothing to keep it from falling over. That is the
job of the guy wires and anchors. The common triangular style will have guy wires going out in three
directions at 120 degrees apart. They will extend away from the tower base by approximately 50 to 80
percent of the tower height. For example, on a 100 foot tower installation, the guy wire anchors will be
roughly between 50 to 80 feet from the base. Higher wind areas should utilize a larger radius for stability.
The tower supplier should have this information so you can correctly space the anchors.
The guy wire system, while cheaper than the freestanding, does have some points to consider. For the
tower to stay upright, the guy wires and anchors must remain intact. To maintain the integrity of the
system, the anchors and all the attaching hardware should be checked periodically. This includes all the
nuts and bolts securing the tower sections together, the guy wire attachment points on the tower, the anchor
and the wire rope clamps that secure the guy wires. A single wire that fails can be a serious issue, an anchor
that fails will be a serious issue.
Another consideration is the footprint. Since the anchors must be located up to 80 percent of the tower
height away from the tower base, the site should checked for adequate space. This goes along with site
selection. The height of surrounding obstructions, using the rule of thumb where the turbine is 30 feet above
anything within 500 feet, determines the height of the tower which in turn determines the radius of your
anchor system.
Once you have determined that number, you can visualize the impact the tower and guy wires will have in
terms of aesthetics.
Also, a fixed guyed tower is suitable for installations on uneven terrain.
Fixed Guyed Tower

Pros
Requires less open space than tilt up
Low to medium cost for tower sections
Uneven terrain is not a problem
Cons
Fixed Guyed Towers
Three sets of guy wires to protect
Must climb to service or maintain generator
Crane cost or additional man hour cost if using gin pole method
radius of guy wires 80% of tower height
Tilt Up Towers
Tilt-up Towers
This system is probably the cheapest and easiest for most small turbine installations. You build it on the
ground, raise it up, then bring it back to earth for any maintenance. There will never be a need to climb the
tower. The tilt-up design has one prominent advantage, no need for heavy equipment. If you have the level
space, you have a site for a turbine.
The tilt-up tower comes in heights typically between 30 and 130 feet. The most common tower will be a
tubular steel that is coupled together by collars. Some tower makers ship their own pipe while others sell the
couplings and various hardware as a kit and you purchase the pipe locally. If the tower construction uses a
thick walled pipe, it can be typically be found at a plumbing or local building supply store. Home Depot or
Lowes probably will not carry what you need but we can not say for sure. For a national brand store, Stock
Building Supply or Ferguson would be more likely to have the pipe though they are not located in every
city. A welding supply shop is another place to look. One common type that is used is a schedule 40 pipe
but this will vary with each specific application and the manufacturers recommendation. Other brands of
towers will use thin walled steel tubing instead of pipe. You will typically find this tubing at a company that
sells steel products.
Where each pipe section joins, there will be a coupler with guy wire attachment points. This will mean that
as the tower goes higher, the number of guy wires increase. If you are concerned with aesthetics, this will be
a factor.
Lifting the Tower is Accomplished By Using a Gin Pole

This type of gin pole is attached at a 90 degree angle at the base of the tower. This is what's used to lift the
tower into place. The gin pole height will usually be from 40 to 60 percent of the length of the guy wire
radius. The manufacturer will make that specification.
To raise or lower the tower with the gin pole, a pulling device such as a vehicle or winch is needed. The
vehicle is the least favored as any jerking motion can be damaging. There is also the concern with a vehicle
slipping. This can happen if you are on wet grass or loose dirt. The better option is a winch. With a winch
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Tilt-Up%20Towers.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 6:01:47 PM]
Tilt Up Towers
you have a choice of manual or electric. The other type is a grip hoist which does not use a drum to hold
the wire.
After the tower is fully raised, the guy wires that are attached to the gin pole are then moved, one at a time,
from the gin pole to a permanent anchor.
Tilt-Up Mono Pole Tower
For the tubular steel tower to be raised properly, the two sets of guy wires that are on either side have to be
level with the base. Otherwise one side may become too slack or too tight, causing the tower to twist or
buckle. It is not as critical for the front and rear anchor to be level with the base, since these side guy wire
sets are tensioned to keep the tower from falling sideways during the raising and lowering process. During
the raising process these side wires must be checked frequently to ensure the tension isn't too great or too
slack. Again we stress the importance of having the side anchors level with each other.
You may have guessed it already but for the mono pole tilt-up tower, you have some trade offs. The
turbine can be serviced safely on the ground but you have some risk each time the tower is raised or
lowered. You can not scurry up the tower for a quick check but on the other hand that can be a good thing.
There is another type of tilt-up that is not being used very often in the wind turbine industry, the lattice tiltup. With the lattice you have a tower you can climb, but also raise and lower without using heavy
equipment. Since this system is rare, the components are not commonly available.
Tilt Up Towers
Tilt-up Lattice Tower
Tilt Up Towers
Tilt Up Towers
Tilt- Up Tower
Pros
No Climbing
Maintenance done on the ground
Lowest cost
Pipe may be available locally
Cons
Large Footprint
Four Sets of guy wires
Need relatively level terrain
Cannot climb for minor work or simple inspections
The distance from the tower base to the anchors is 35% 60% of the
total tower height plus an additional 10 to 15 feet for digging the anchors.
Homebuilt Towers
Home Built Towers

The thought of assembling a tower, attaching a wind turbine and raising it up into the air is an appealing
thought to the diy'er. If you are the self-sufficient type, you probably want to know the mechanics of the
system and want to be involved in each step of making it happen. But there is a point where everyone has
their limit.
Most aspects can be managed without much danger to yourself and anyone else as long as you have done
your homework and proceed with caution. However, the one aspect that has serious risk involved is when
you hoist hundreds of pounds of steel up over your head.
We have concocted many gizmo's but when it comes to a tower, safety and economics come into play. You
just normally don't see a lot of people hanging out with their buddies over the weekend designing and
building hundred foot towers. For most, the time spent in the fabrication and testing would outweigh what
would be gained in savings. That and the fact that most of us don't like to experiment with thousands of
dollars worth of equipment will make the home brew tower harder to justify.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Home%20Built%20Towers.html [7/14/2013 6:01:49 PM]
Other Tower Types
Other Towers
This is not all the tower types available for consideration, just what is currently the mainstream. A crank-up
telescoping tower may be an alternative, though on the expensive side.
The company that makes the Ventera wind turbine offers a freestanding lattice tower that is hinged at the
base. If you can design a gin pole, it might make a nice self supporting tower with tilt-up convenience. The
consideration comes down to what is available and what price you can afford.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Other%20Tower%20Types.html [7/14/2013 6:01:51 PM]
Choosing the Tower
Choosing The Right Tower

The first thing to consider when making a selection is, which turbine will go on top of the tower. It must be
capable of supporting the turbine weight and lateral thrust. The wind turbine supplier should be able to
recommend a compatible tower. The site itself may also determine which tower type will have to be used.
Here are some questions to help you choose a tower:
Q: Is there space for a tilt-up? Do you have room for guy wire anchors? If you are using a turbine
with a rotor diameter over 10 feet, you will most likely be burying the anchor rods in concrete. This will
require some excavation. Make sure this does not conflict with something important like the kid's swing set
or your wife's green house. Worse yet, will the anchors be dangerously close to some utility such as a water
or gas line.
Q: Will you climb the tower or will you pay someone to do the work? If your tower is a climbable
lattice, either freestanding or fixed guyed, someone will be scurrying up and down the thing to do
maintenance. Who's it going to be? Scaling a 100 foot tower is different from climbing a ladder up to your
roof. If you decide you are going to do the climbing you will need the proper gear. Maybe you should ask a
neighbor if you can climb their tower just to see if it can be done. Once at the top, you will need to know
how to safely perform any work. This is slightly beyond the scope of most people we know. If you can not
do this, make sure someone in the area can, before you commit money to the project, otherwise go with a
tilt-up. Answering this question alone can narrow down the choices.
Q: What type of look do you want and are you willing to pay for it? Will your spouse and kids leave
you because of the guy wire maze or towering monstrosity you have created in what was once a peaceful
haven of beauty? If you end up being the only one living at you house your power needs will certainly drop.
Now you have no one with whom to enjoy all this free electricity. That's no fun! So, can you deploy this
system without alienating the whole neighborhood? Of course the more land you have to work with, the
easier this will be since you will have more places to tuck away the structure.
Q: How tall will it be? This can influence the system because there are more options if you remain low to
the ground. Though we would not encourage short towers in any but the flattest prairie regions, you may be
able to expand your choice in towers.
Q: What's available locally?
If you have a local supplier of wind turbines and towers, do they routinely supply, stock or install a certain
type?
If they are not in it just for the money then they will offer you options good for your installation, not just
what gives them the highest profit margin. Talking to them may give you a feel for their experience level. If
you plan to turn to them for help and support, this point cannot be over emphasized. Ask for installation
locations where they had a hand in supplying the tower components.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Choosing%20The%20Right%20Tower.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:01:56 PM]
Choosing the Tower
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Choosing%20The%20Right%20Tower.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:01:56 PM]
Bottom Line Considerations

When choosing a tower we have to ask ourself a question. Will it perform as needed and fit into the budget?
If you have to set an Air X on a 120 foot freestanding tower because you run out of money, you just lost the
game. The same would apply to spending twenty grand on a Bergey Excel and mounting it on a 30 foot
tower. Neither of these cases really make a bit of sense.
You need to take into account a combination of site survey, budget and you level of participation in the on
going maintenance over the life of the system. If you want a freestanding tower but no family or friends
will climb it, a crane or hired climber will eat into your savings pretty quick. If you install a tilt-up tower but
do not plan on raising and lowering it yourself, what cost is involved in hiring that operation out? Checking
locally for the going rates will be the only way to get an answer. If you are planning to do your own
climbing, the additional cost will just be a one time purchase of safety gear. Doing your own raising and
lowering of a tilt-up will incur no additional cost.
Power Point
We occasionally make references to price in general terms like "low" and
"high" when talking about a wind system. We have put list prices in our
wind turbine reviews but towers can have a lot of variation due to height,
site preparation, types of anchors, and more. Much of it depends on the
amount of work you will do yourself and the cost of local labor. Since
there are a lot of variables to a specific installation, throwing out a lot of
numbers would look like a nice gesture on our part but end up being a
little misleading.
Where To Start Looking

One place to begin is with the turbine manufacturer. Some U.S. turbine companies such as Abundant
Renewable Energy, Bergey, Southwest Windpower, and Ventera offer a tower that matches their specific
turbines. You can visit their websites to get more info on what is offered. They also have manuals that give
specific information on their tower installations. Equal consideration should be given to what your local
supplier has to offer. They may not only have the parts available but also the experience with what they are
selling.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Bottom%20Line.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:01:58 PM]
If you talk to the different suppliers of towers and turbines, you will get a feel of their knowledge and
abilities. This is where you can begin to figure out who has glossy sales brochures as opposed to actual
experience. For further investigation, see if it is possible to get a look at some actual installations and talk to
the owners. Look at systems that are professionally installed as well as DIY jobs. Determine what level of
input the homeowner had and how much advise the professional gave. If you see a turbine installation
sitting at tree top height, we would advise you to seek wise counsel elsewhere. If the homeowner had to read
the installation manual to the installer (true life story), keep looking. If the local guys check out okay and
they are easy to get along with, that will be your best choice since personal interface is more powerful than
long distance support. This applies not just to towers but to all the components in a wind system.
The situation to avoid is where you end up chatting with a foreign tech support person who insists you
have to reboot the anchor support before they can help you. If you go the long distant route, just be sure to
know who you are dealing with!
If you are leaning toward the fixed guyed lattice tower, the common supplier is Rohn. You can see the
towers, parts and accessories, and the guy wire layout for specific wind speeds and tower heights at the
Radian corp. website. As an example, the tower most likely used for a machine with a rotor diameter under
15 feet will be either the 25g or the 45G. That will give an idea what the space requirements will look like
for a fixed tower.
The tower is a costly component in a wind generation system. Choose carefully because it will be the
bulkiest piece of equipment you will deal with. If you don not like it, it is not something easily tossed out in
the back yard and replaced. Just remember that you get more power as you get higher away from the
ground and obstructions. This is a long term investment so take your time in doing the research.
A note of caution
Assembling and raising a tower is not an everyday occurrence for most
people and can be dangerous. If you have any question to your ability to
complete the job safely, it is best to go ahead and hire out this part of the
project.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Four/Bottom%20Line.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:01:58 PM]
Other System Components
Chapter 5
Other System Components

We have discussed the major components involved in a wind system, the turbine and the tower, but there
are a few other things that are behind the scene which we will briefly cover. These topics are to assist you
in considering options to items such as wiring, hardware components and safety tips involving the tower.
The tips we offer are generic and are intended to simply make you aware of some small things that you can
do that may improve the overall efficiency of you system.
footer for d page
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/Other%20System%20Components.html [7/14/2013 6:02:09 PM]
The Conductor
The Conductor
Conductor (or wiring) cost will be a shop around item if you are interested in saving a few
bucks. Big variations in the pricing for the same gauge copper wire can typically be found
between big box stores and small suppliers. The small suppliers can sometimes be a better
deal so don't immediately rule them out.
In many systems, after the turbine and tower, the wiring will be the next most expensive
item you purchase. For this reason we have a couple of suggestions to consider.
The first point is to make sure you at least follow the manufacturers recommended
minimums for wire size! If you live in an area where the wind keeps the shingles peeled
back all winter, you may want that extra current to be useful to heat water or air instead of
lost forever. To do this you may want to step up a size or two in conductor thickness.
The second point is to consider any upgrades that might be made at some future time in
regard to the actual wind turbine size. However, in doing so, you want to avoid something
called the boat owners mentality. This is where no matter what the size of your present
boat, you are always lurking around the sale ads looking for one just a little bit bigger.
Always looking, never satisfied. Incrementally increasing the size of your turbine because
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/The%20Conductor.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 6:02:36 PM]
The Conductor
you continually fee that you need a little more power is something that most of us simply
cannot afford to do. At some point you will need to live with the means of the systems
energy output.
On the other hand, the possibility always exist where you may need to install a larger
machine. One example is where the machine you have turns out to be a real junker. The
other instance is where you just never seem to have enough power, and by moving up
would save a lot of run time on your back up generator. Either case is not unrealistic. So if
you have the minimum size wire in the ground for the junker model, it may not be enough
for the new machine. Possibly even just one size too small, making it necessary to replace
the entire run from the turbine to the charge controller. For this reason it may be wise to
weigh the cost of a slightly larger wire to give yourself a buffer.
If you plan to deviate from the recommended wire size, be sure to consult the
manufacturer to make sure this won't cause any problems between the turbine
and the charge controller.
Rick: Wow, this is a lot of contingencies, where do

they stop?
Jordan: Don't you like to plan ahead?
The Conductor
Rick: Well, yes but you are planning for a turbine

you may not ever own.
Jordan: Cost of Overkill. What else can I say? So if

you put in one size larger wire it may cost 50% more
but if you right size for the turbine you have in
mind, you may miss out on upper end production
that could do something useful like heating domestic
water. Then if you have to rewire to upsize to even a
slightly larger turbine, you not only have new wire cost at the
future price, there's extra labor to replace it.
Rick: How much are we talking about?
Jordan: Let's go with a sample scenario where the

specs for a 300 foot run call for 6 AWG at say $0.65
a foot and you decide to splurge on 4 AWG at $1.19
per foot. 3 runs at 300 feet for a total of 900 feet is
what we are looking at. That is going to cost about
$486 more. If you really go crazy and put in 2 AWG
at about a buck a foot more it is going to be roughly an extra
$900. Spending that $900 most likely would assure you could
put up a considerably larger turbine but then you have to think
about upgrading the tower also. This could get out of hand if
you are not careful so approach this idea with caution.
The Conductor
Rick: Thinking about this a little deeper, it looks like

the closer the power building to the tower, the more
flexibility you have because you can more easily
afford the extra expense of bigger wire. The further
you go, you really have to count the cost and figure
out what you are trying to accomplish.
Jordan: Right. I'm not saying everyone needs to put

in a 4/0 monster cable. Just put the dollar figures
down on paper and run different scenarios with
different conductor sizes and see how they may fit
with the turbines that you are considering in the
event you get a junker.
Rick: So wire size is not necessarily a cut-n-dried

deal?
Jordan: That depends of you. You won't go wrong,

in most cases, by following the recommended sizing
chart. If you have a long run from the turbine to the
batteries, have any parallel connections in the
battery bank or the batteries are in need of
replacement, the next chapter on System Voltage
will really get you thinking.
The Conductor
System Voltage
System Voltage
Whether you are installing a new off grid system or already live off the grid with a 12 or 24 volts system,
there is something to consider that could apply to the turbine and conductor sizing. A lot of older
installations use the lower voltage setup that was more common a few years back, which might be just
happen to be what you need. A lower system voltage will require all the conductors that supply power from
solar, wind and hydro to be larger. One advantage of having a 12 or 24 volt system is that you have the
ability of running dc lights and appliances without using a step down transformer.
However, it seems that today the 48 volt setup is becoming the direction everyone is moving if they have a
choice. If moving up to 48 volts is something that is appealing to you, then this is the time to think about it.
Not all turbines are user adjustable between different voltages, so it is important to be thinking about future
upgrades. Taking this into consideration now will save you some money on your turbine conductor. The
best way to analyze the potential savings is to check the wire size chart for the particular wind turbine you
are considering.
Rick: So thinking about the story in the "conductor sizing"

section, how can we save by using with a 48 volt system?
Jordan:Well, in that story we used 4-AWG and 6-AWG wire

as an example so lets compare the cost of a 24 volt and 48 volt
system with equal battery capacity. With 24 volts, you need to
use 4-AWG where 48 volts allows you to step down to 6AWG. A 48 volt Outback inverter will cost about $1800.
After pocketing the $486 savings between the 4 AWG and 6
AWG, the inverter is going to cost a little over $1300.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/System%20Voltage.html (1 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:02:42 PM]
System Voltage
Rick: Hey, that's not a bad deal. The longer the wiring run
between the turbine and the batteries, the more you save with
a higher voltage.
Jordan: Right, just remember to keep a balanced approach.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/System%20Voltage.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 6:02:42 PM]
Anchoring System
The Anchoring System

The anchoring system cost can be highly variable for guyed towers. For turbines with a rotor diameter under
10 foot, in the right soil and wind conditions, screw-in earth anchors are a viable option. In most cases this
is the least expensive anchoring method. If you feel the need for a little extra security or your soil has low
holding strength, these can be encased in concrete.
Screw-In Anchor
Some manufacturers such as Rohn offer an anchoring rod for each specific tower. These have either a
bolted or welded equalization plate for attaching guy wires. The equalization plate gives each wire a
separate attachment point. On the screw-in anchor rod, typically all the guy wire connections are made in
the one end-loop.
Anchor Rod With Equalization Plate
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/Anchoring%20System.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 6:03:02 PM]
Anchoring System
Power Point
The soil's holding ability is very important for any tower installation, short
or tall. Be sure to carefully analyze your particular soil composition and
match the earth anchor to the conditions. It may be well worth your time
to check the anchor method used in local tower installations to see what
others are using in similar soil for your area.
No matter what you choose, choose wisely! We can tell you from experience that you should take a
critical view of anchoring. Lets just say here at the ranch the winter winds can get a little...well, how do you
say it in English, breezy. When ordering our tower we made a definite point to mention that we could easily
see wind gust up to 90 mph. The blocks that we received were deemed adequate for the situation. They
were 8" thick, 24" square concrete blocks with an embedded eye bolt and were to be buried at a depth of
four feet. We were a little skeptical. However, with the winter moving in and no time to pour and cure
concrete, we proceeded with the installation using the blocks provided. They were to secure a 100 foot
Rohn tower holding a turbine with a 9 foot rotor diameter.
Less than a month after the tower raising, a storm came through. We were watching the tower one
morning during some strong winds and noticed it seemed to be having a problem. On close examination,
we found an anchor rod pulling out of the ground. The picture below is the block that we dug up. The eye
bolt had broken right where it exited the concrete.
This lead us to dig up the two remaining anchors and replace them with an upgraded system. The new
anchor rod we installed is heavy enough to hold the next larger Rohn tower. This rod was embedded in a 55
gallon drum filled with concrete. (check out the picture gallery for more pictures) This is somewhat more
substantial that the original blocks.
Old Anchor Block
Anchoring System
New Anchor Block
Anchoring System
Overkill? Maybe. This may have been a little extreme but watching an anchor rod inching its way out of
the ground was a little unsettling. At least with this setup, we don't go to bed wondering if we will find the
Anchoring System
tower on the ground the next morning. You will want to factor in your own cost of overkill so you can
sleep at night.
Tower Hardware
Tower Hardware
Wire Rope Clips
The guy wires on a fixed guyed or tilt up tower will use a lot of one item, the wire rope clip. These clips are
used at every point a guy wire terminates at the tower and the ground anchor. 108 of them were required to
assemble our tower. After raising the tower, we went about properly tensioning the cables. In the process
several broke apart while tightening.
Even though there are three clips per cable loop something just didn't feel right, so we promptly researched
what wire rope clips were all about. The clips that came with our tower were the malleable type.
Okay, let us tell you how a malleable clip is described. Right From the spec page of the Kulkoni hardware
site, Malleable rope clips are to be used for light duty, non-critical applications only. Typical uses
include guard lines and fencing. Do not use malleable wire rope clips for critical or lifting
applications. Load may be suddenly released resulting in injury or death.
Drop Forged (left) and Malleable (right) Wire Clips
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/Tower%20Hardware.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 6:04:05 PM]
Tower Hardware
The quoted segment is their emphasis, not ours! And these were holding up our 100 foot lattice tilt up
tower. The drop forged clip, preferably one made in the USA, is the proper type to use for this application.
These are described as for heavy duty use. The first time we lowered our tower, the malleable clips were
replaced. Now they do cost more, but this is one component that should not be compromised.
Power Point
There is a right and wrong way to use wire rope clips. The live wire must be on the
saddle. Hence the term "Never saddle a dead horse".
You can Click Here For more info on how to properly install wire rope clips.
Guy Wire Tension Gauge

Once you have your tower raised you will probably start tightening the wires a little, step back, then scratch
your head and to wonder out loud "how tight should they be?". Well, wonder no more! You can buy a wire
Tower Hardware
rope tension gauge that will tell you how tight they are.
It has notches cut out on the side that will tell you what diameter wires you have.
Tower Hardware
As you can in the pictures it has a scale

that reads the wire tension in ponds and
also the breaking strength percentage.
10% is a good breaking strength to shoot
for but not absolutrly necessary for every
application. We tighten our bottom two
wires (3/16") to 10% breaking strength,
but feel that the top wire (1/4") is
adeuqute at ~6%.
Note - Check with the company from

which you purchased the tower, or the
tower company directly, to determine the
proper guy wire tension.
Power Point
The tower and turbine are subjected to various vibrations. There are a
couple of ways to ensure that nuts and bolts remain securely fastened such
as using a Nylock nut or steel lock washers. In addition to these measures,
a thread locker should be used as added insurance.
Tower Hardware
The most well known brands are Loctite, Permatex and SUR-LOK. They
come in three strengths, low, medium and high. The high strength typically
requires heat if removal becomes necessary. Unless high strength is
required by the manufacturer on the tower or turbine, the medium grade
should be adequate. Fasteners assembled with a medium strength will
guard against loosening and the fastener can be removed without heat.
Safety
Safety
First, it is important to understand that, with some exceptions, a wind turbine is not a toy. They are
machines that have the potential to cause great bodily and property harm. Each step from beginning to end
should not be treated lightly but treated with the understanding that what you are doing is very important for
a safe and happy ending.
If working alone, you need to double check you own work.
If working with one other person, you should be checking each others
work. This may consist of visual inspection and asking questions. A
question just may avert a disaster so now is not the time to take offense to
what may be misconstrued as your partner looking over your shoulder. If
he is not looking over your shoulder you should be concerned.
If working with a crew, someone needs to be in charge. There are too

many nuts and bolts in a wind tower with critical functions for anything to
be overlooked.
Pilots learned a long time ago that checklists are not an unnecessary routine but actual life savers. In the
cockpit of an air plane, large or small, the crew will run through a checklist pertaining to that stage of the
flight. When just starting as a commercial pilot, I (Ricky) remember feeling a little silly when it came time
for the checklist. When the captain said something like "fuel pumps", I was not only to respond but also
physically touch the fuel pump switch. A verbal response seemed good enough but the touching or pointing
reinforced the fact that the copilot was just not responding out of rote. I soon learned that this little motion
actually makes you think about your response. If this works in the cockpit, it should work on the ground.
Physically verifying that every nut and bolt is properly tightened may not seem necessary but as a final
inspection it is something we strongly recommend.
This is not a time to take shortcuts and do a semi good job. Once the tower is in place, taking it back down
because of some small oversight is not an efficient way to work. It may happen even if you are diligent but
chances of a problem are lessened. It goes the same way with the basic risks of installing a wind tower.
There are things that may get out of hand no matter how cautious you are. Fortunately, planning and safety
can be your first line of defense that can keep serious trouble to a minimum.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/Saftey.html [7/14/2013 6:04:07 PM]
Our Tower
Chapter Six
Our Tower
Towers, as we have discussed, are a serious part of the wind system. You can buy a cheap, flimsy turbine
but the tower should be carefully selected to minimize the risk of a failure that could wipe out your entire
investment.
We took the approach that a little overkill may not be bad. The local winter wind is fairly brutal so a sturdy
tower seemed appropriate. After much consideration it was decided that the triangular lattice design was
possibly stronger than a monopole so we settled on the Rohn 45G. In addition to having the right tower, it
seemed that assembling the tower as well as working on the turbine at ground level would also be desirable.
Thus we needed a tilt-up design. lattice towers are typically non-tilting and either guyed or free standing.
As it worked out, a local company named ABS Alaskan, located in Fairbanks AK, has just the right setup.
Their gin pole design differs from the typical tilt up in that it is guyed off vertically and remains in a fixed
position during the raising and lowering process. Actually it stays in place even after the tower is raised so it
is ready when the time comes to lower the tower. The way it works is pretty slick. No vehicle is needed at
any time. A winch is attached at the base of the gin pole. The lifting cable runs from the winch, up the gin
pole and over the top, through a fairlead and down to the tower. It is then just a matter of operating the
winch to do the actual raising.
When raising or lowering the tower, we use three people. One operating the winch and one at each side of
the guy wires. We watch closely for any sign that the tower is falling off to one side but so far this has not
been a problem, since we only do the transition in calm wind conditions. The reason this is an issue has to
do with the typical three point anchoring system of a triangular lattice as opposed to a four point anchoring
system for a monopole. The three point system has an anchor every 120 degrees. One set of guy wires is in
use during the lifting and lowering process. That leaves the other two positioned such that they are tight
when the tower is completely vertical but slack at any other point during the transition.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-six/Our%20Tower.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 6:04:43 PM]
Our Tower
That is because they are 30 degrees forward of where they should be for the transition process. There is a
way to correct this potential problem. Place an anchor on each side of the tilt up base at 90 degrees to the
Our Tower
lifting plane and guy them to at least one point on the tower. We have brought the tower down several times
with no problems but when we replace the turbine with a heavier model, most likely the additional anchors
will be added for security.
One problem we have encountered with our particular setup is the stress that is placed on the tower during
transition. The tower is 100 feet but the lifting points are at the 30 and 60 foot level. This leaves a lot of
unsupported weight hanging at the end. We corrected this somewhat by moving the lifting points closer to
the turbine end of the tower. This helped but the gin pole also needs to be extended to make this work
properly. After consulting the company where we purchased the base, we found that they have since started
using a traditional gin pole setup.
What would we do different next time? We still like the lattice design but might go with a monopole tilt-up
for any additional installations. The one thing where the lattice has an advantage over the monopole is the
ability to climb it. The weak part of the advantage, around here anyway, is that we always lower it to do any
work, therefore negating this point. Another positive was having one less anchor point and less guy wires.
This point is also subdued when you consider the addition of the two anchor points needed for the lateral
stabilization during raising and lowering.
All said, it is a nice design we are comfortable with, but a monopole would work just as well.
Our Turbine
Our Turbine
When we began our search for a wind energy system neither we nor any of our friends had any first hand
experience. The local dealers in alternative energy products were also of no help. One was playing around
with Air X micro turbines and wasn't convinced that wind harvesting was viable. The other dealer was just
starting to dabble in the field and was clueless. We expanded our search to include anyone in the state of
Alaska. We ended up in Fairbanks. A company located there that actually installed turbines.
We dealt mainly with one of the owners and never felt pressured about purchasing a specific system. He
gave us the options available and what knowledge he had about specific machines.
We sat down to the task of selecting something we had never seen and knew nothing about. Like many, we
could see pictures of the machines, graphs and figures. All this basic information was available on the
internet. What was lacking was a voice of experience to help us cut through the numbers and get down to
what mattered.
Without that direction we zeroed in on what seemed really important, the rated output. And we decided on a
1K model. A thousand watts seemed reasonable enough even though Rick really wanted the surplus that a
3K Whisper 500 could offer. Jordan shot that idea down saying the 2 blade Whisper would have issues with
gyroscopic imbalance. He was starting to learn big words and ideas which probably saved us a few thousand
dollars. The wind at the Ranch is strong and gusty in the winter. From our research the Whisper 500 is not
the turbine to have for this type of environment.
Settled on a 1K turbine, our Fairbanks connection helped us narrow down the choices. The Bergey XL.1
was said to have trouble burning up in continuous high wind conditions. This didn't sound very promising
for long life. (This problem was confirmed later by Bergey as being a supplier issue but they have since
assured us the problem had been resolved.)
The African 3.6 was briefly considered but there were none to be found for sale. This was about the time
that African Wind Power had stopped producing turbines for the U.S. market. We later found out that
Abundant Renewable Energy (ARE) was doing a make over on the quality control challenged AWP 3.6
and had plans to sell it under the ARE name.
This left the Southwest Windpower Whisper 100/200 as the only easily obtainable turbines within the
budget. Southwest sold a lot of machines, the name was all over the place and the information looked pretty
slick. Also, the voltage could be changed in the field. This was a plus since we wanted to eventually
upgrade our 24 volt system to 48 volts. How could we resist? The Fairbanks dealer suggested the Whisper
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-six/Our%20Turbine.html (1 of 9) [7/14/2013 6:05:51 PM]
Our Turbine
200 because of the higher output.

It arrived with a Rohn 45G lattice tower in the late summer. Since this was our starter turbine, we dropped
2 gauge copper wire in the ground with the expectation of future upgrades and went to work installing the
shiny, new machine.
After the first winter, we lowered the tower and found the nose cone cracked but everything else seemed
fine. The second winter, we watched it closer when the wind would come roaring through. What we saw
was unsettling. It just didn't look comfortable in anything over 25 mph. The furling worked but we
speculated that the rotor was occasionally getting into an over speed condition. Sometimes when a long,
strong surge of wind rolls past, the Whisper 200 will issue forth a growl that reverberates throughout the
Valley. When this happens, moving away from the windows seem like a prudent move, just in case the
thing explodes.
At the end of the second winter, late one evening during a mild storm, the Whisper began making a strange
sound, like someone was shaking a metal bucket full of bolts. We looked at each other on that cold, dark,
wintry night and considered the options. The only reasonable one found was to shut it down. Upon
inspection, a weld on the rotor can holding one of the blade extensions had failed. The shaft was either
broken or the bearings had come apart. Fortunately it was repaired under warranty. From then on we started
shutting it down when the batteries were full and a storm was brewing. Though not efficient, we were
hoping this would put off the next certain failure. In the mean time, we suspiciously eyed the Whisper with
each gust of wind while continuing to slip money into the wind turbine replacement fund.
The next problem occurred during the middle of the second winter when the charge controller failed. This
was replaced under warranty and we were soon back up and running to finish out this windy season.
The third and final failure occurred 39 months after the initial installation. We awoke to a typical winter day
with winds in the 20 mph range. During breakfast, we noticed the little green charging light went dark.
Sensing a problem we went outside to relative silence. The only noise was the wind blowing through the
trees, no Whisper sound was to be heard. When the sun finally peaked over the horizon, we were able to
verify the problem. The wreckage of the crumpled turbine was found laying several yards from the base of
the tower with a couple of blade shards scattered close by.
Our Turbine
Our Turbine
Our Turbine
The Diagnosis
The cast aluminum body cracked just behind the furling pin resulting in a separation of the generator
housing. The separation caused the front of the turbine, including the alternator and rotor, to leave the tower
and fall to the ground. Blade destruction resulted from ground contact.
The Whisper 200 was new in the fall of 2005. The 2006 failure was most likely attributed to either a weak
weld or poor design of the rotor can. The new rotor can had a more substantial build to it. The January 2009
incident was the result of a stress failure in the cast aluminum making up the body of the turbine. The
body was the original since this part was retained during the 2006 work.
Our Expanded Thoughts on Dealers and Installers
We have mentioned at various times how working with a local dealer can be beneficial. We still maintain
that idea in light of our recent experience with the Whisper, SWWP and the company we purchased it from.
This is with a couple of caveats.
First, just because they sell wind turbines doesn't make them knowledgeable. Period.
Second, they make a living selling a product. They want you to buy something from them so they may try to
make their product fit your need.
Third, once the product is out the door they aren't making more money off of you. Their enthusiasm for
assisting you may diminish. This isn't always the case but we mention it just for awareness.
These are not reasons to shun local people over ordering from a faceless company on the internet. Just
choose wisely. We have indicated, of 3 main re-sellers of turbines, only 1 was found to be worth working
with. While making inquires to the other 2, we basically encountered shameless, arrogant salesmen. You
have the freedom to choose where you want to spend your money and there are reasonable people out there
to deal with.
Let's look at the case of the company we chose. Looking back, they were knowledgeable but still learning.
There are few that have a total grasp on wind turbines and even if they do, things change with turbines over
time and each installation sites will pose its own unique problems. With our most recent problem, they just
dropped the ball. (And we happen to be the ones affected)
The Follow Up
Our Turbine
Our story takes an interesting twist that is bound to happen in many different variations throughout the
course of a day when dealing with any business. When we began our trek into wind energy generation, the
company offered great assistance. We ordered the Whisper 200 and the Rohn 45G tower. As you might
expect, the tower was 10, ten foot sections with a few boxes of wire rope, turnbuckles, clips and bolts. If
you have never assembled a lattice tower some of the parts may not be self-explanatory.
With patience, they walked us, long distance, through the installation so we could have a successful tower
raising. This was invaluable. We could have done it eventually but at a greater cost in time and effort. With
the exception of the last episode, they handled all the other Whisper episodes quickly and efficiently.
In the January 2009 incident, the owner offered the assistance but his employees fumbled. They were not
persistent with SWWP in following up on our issue. Consequently we were told, after much prompting from
us, that the turbine repair may or may not be covered under warranty. This was the answer after more than 2
months of waiting and calling!? This was unsatisfactory since the fault was clearly a failure in
workmanship.
A personal call to SWWP tech department was very enlightening. It took all of 20 minutes and a
replacement turbine was on its was. We applaud the SWWP tech for getting right down to the core of the
matter. He said a cracked housing just behind the furling pin was not unheard of and they would take care of
it right away.
What occurred later was something that makes for a comic situation to put the icing on the cake, so to
speak. We were busy on the Ranch so we decided to wait for the dealer to call when the replacement
arrived. One week. Two weeks. Three weeks. A call revealed that there was no Whisper waiting for pickup.
Hmmmm. Maybe the agreeable fellow at SWWP really wasn't a tech but someone that just wanted to get
us off the phone. A follow up call confirmed that the turbine was indeed shipped the day following our
initial call.
The rest of the story is a comedy act. The dealer had received the turbine and sold it to someone else! They
apologized but the fact was we were approaching winter conditions when our Whisper 200 finally showed
up.
We understand that these type of things happen so we won't hit the company with a negative outlook. Just
learn from our mistake and follow up more closely when dealing with a warranty issue. At times, you may
be better off working directly with the manufacturer of the turbine. This is yet another factor to keep in
mind when buying into a wind energy system. You just may have to work past the guy you bought the
turbine from on certain occasions.
Our Turbine
Well, the Whisper 200 is back up and running. It is keeping the lights on and the battery charged. Right now
it is a story with a happy ending. Historically it should make it through the 2009/10 winter but no certainty
of the upcoming 2010/11 cold season. With this in mind we are starting to plan for a replacement turbine.
There will also be other turbines occasionally springing up around the Ranch for spot-power demands. Keep
up to date by checking back on our website and signing up for the Power-Talk newsletter.
Raising The Tower & New Whisper 200
Our Turbine
Our Turbine
Gallery
Gallery
This is the site before we cleared it.
It was a good location since we
didn't need to cut down very many
trees.
Digging holes for the anchor blocks.

Having an excavator handy sure
makes it easier!
If you are using screw-in anchors
excavation is not required.
file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-Five/Gallery.html (1 of 13) [7/14/2013 6:08:14 PM]
Gallery
These are the coil rods used to hold

and level the tower base plate. We
used a plywood template that
matches the base to hold the rods
the proper distance apart. We also
welded rebar to the bottom for
reinforcement and to keep them
from splaying out.
Now we are pouring the concrete.

We filled the bottom 1/3 of the hole
with concrete and backfilled with
dirt until there was about 12" of
threads left. If using this method be
sure to compact the soil very well.
Then on top of that we poured a 6"
slab. This method saves on
concrete by not having to fill the
entire hole.
Gallery
It's all ready for the top slab.

Notice the rebar welded onto the
coil rods for added reinforcement.
The tower base is complete!

leveled by turning the nuts
underneath the plate.
It is
Gallery
The first tower section being

attached.
Our lattice tower sections came in

10' lengths. Each new piece slips
over the existing one. This is fairly
quick and easy but installing all the
nuts and bolts can take a while. We
used Blue Loctite Threadlocker on
the hardware that attaches each
section.
Gallery
The tower is completely assembled.

It is 100' tall plus another 4'
including the stinger. We supported
the middle of the tower with logs to
keep it from sagging.
Gin pole assembled and waiting to

be raised. It is 30' tall comprised of
three 10' pipe sections.
Gallery
The gin pole is up. Believe it or not

the gin pole was much harder and
scarier to raise than the actual
tower! It's like trying to raise a 30'
spaghetti noodle! This is facing the
direction our prevailing wind comes
from.
Gallery
This is the trench the conductors sit

in. it's only about a foot deep. One
word of caution, fill up that trench
and clean up real good after your
finished, otherwise it turns into a
big mess!
Gallery
The anchor blocks consist of a 55

gallon drum filled with concrete.
After filling the drum we rewelded
the top back on.
Gallery
Jordan is welding rebar to the

barrel. this will give the concrete on
the outside something to hold on to.
Looks like overkill, but we can rest

assured knowing the tower won't be
going anywhere.
Gallery
This is the equalizer plate which

holds the guy wires. The
turnbuckles are used to tension the
wires.
This bracket holds the bottom of the

stinger.
Gallery
This bracket is for holding the guy

wires.
The gin pole is up and ready for

lifting.
Gallery
This is the harness for lifting the

tower.
As you can see this is not a

conventional gin pole
system. Instead of the pole always
being 90 in relation to the tower it
actually remains in a fixed, upright
position, acting much like a crane.
Gallery
That's it!
footer for a page

The Complete Consumers Guide To Wind Power

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Complete Consumers Guide To Wind Power

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Ultimate Consumers Guide to Wind Power

The Complete Consumer's

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/The%20Complete%20Consumers%20Guide%20to%20Wind%20Power.html [7/14/2013 5:43:39 PM]

Rolling Foward a couple of decades...

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Welcome.html (2 of 2) [7/14/2013 5:45:25 PM]

An array of Batteries connected in series, parallel, or both.

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Glossary.html (2 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:45:28 PM]

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Glossary.html (3 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:45:28 PM]

The wire that attaches the tower to an Anchor.

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Glossary.html (4 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:45:28 PM]

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Glossary.html (6 of 6) [7/14/2013 5:45:28 PM]

Wind Farming, the Other Solar Power

Jordan: Wait, why do you call it wind farming? I don't

Rick: Have you ever watched a wind turbine during strong

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Farming.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:45:52 PM]

Jordan: So it's like a farmer toiling and working the soil as

Rick: Yeah, something like that. That is why we need to make

Jordan: ...Otherwise, so long wind turbine and tower. Sort of

Rick: I don't mean to scare anyone, especially on something

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Farming.html (2 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:45:52 PM]

Jordan: There you go again with the negative connotations,

Rick: Well, it is serious stuff but if you do it right and exercise

Okay, back to the serious stuff

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Farming.html (3 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:45:52 PM]

History of Wind Eergy

History Of Wind Energy

Seven Decades of Change

History of Wind Eergy

History of Wind Eergy

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Energy%20History.html (3 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:45:55 PM]

The Misconceptions Overshadowing

the wide-spread slaughter of birds

the horrible noise from wind turbines

the inhumane transformation of thousands of acres of land into dreaded

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Common%20Misconceptions.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:46:21 PM]

Do They Kill Birds ?

Are They Noisy ?

Decibel Level Cart

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Common%20Misconceptions.html (3 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:46:21 PM]

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Common%20Misconceptions.html (5 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:46:21 PM]

Grid Tie Vs. Off Grid

Power is available at all times without having to run a generator.

Grid Tie Vs. Off Grid

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Grid-Tie%20or%20Stand%20Alone%20System.html (2 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:46:23 PM]

Grid Tie Vs. Off Grid

Will this possibly be inconvenient? Yes.

Will it change the way you live? Most likely.

Will it open your eyes to how dependent we have become on

How to View This Lifestyle

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Grid-Tie%20or%20Stand%20Alone%20System.html (3 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:46:23 PM]

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Energy%20Basics.html (1 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:47:13 PM]

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Energy%20Basics.html (2 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:47:13 PM]

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Wind%20Energy%20Basics.html (3 of 3) [7/14/2013 5:47:13 PM]

Energy in the Wind

Understanding The Energy in Wind

How To Calculate wind energy at 10 mph vs 20 mph

Air Density and Power Output

Air density decreases with higher temperature and altitude.

Air density increases with lower temperatures and altitudes.

file:///D|/Jordan/Documents/ebook%20files%202011/Chapter-one/Energy%20In%20The%20Wind.html (1 of 5) [7/14/2013 5:47:23 PM]

Energy in the Wind

Limiting Factors in Wind Capture