affordable grid-tie wind?

[AlBargey]

I did ponder the Future Energy turbine at one point, I think someone here has one?: https://futurenergy.co.uk/feshop/airfor ... -turbines/, but we don't really have a suitable location. It's not grid tie though.

If I did have an ideal site I would search for a DC coupled 2kW second hand Bergey, they seem bomb proof, friends have had one in Belgium, never lowered for storms (they self furl), and only one bearing change in probably around 17-18 years of non stop use up an 18m mast on their 51m Barge, I'm not sure many others would last that well.

[Joeboy]

I did ponder the Future Energy turbine at one point, I think someone here has one?: https://futurenergy.co.uk/feshop/airfor ... -turbines/, but we don't really have a suitable location. It's not grid tie though.

If I did have an ideal site I would search for a DC coupled 2kW second hand Bergey, they seem bomb proof, friends have had one in Belgium, never lowered for storms (they self furl), and only one bearing change in probably around 17-18 years of non stop use up an 18m mast on their 51m Barge, I'm not sure many others would last that well.

I would really like to know how much power they have generated over a timeline like that. Not many chances to receive an insight of such ownership?

[ivan]

Id say our site is not windy enough for a proven - they need really windy sites. We get periods of windy weather here, where it is consistently 20-40mph, and thats generally when we don't have much PV power. But we do get a lot of calm days too.

I like the idea of some kind of portable system, as we were told that we couldnt have wind here unless we got Natural England's approval unless it was MCS (because MCS means it will not affect wildlife!! and Non-MCS means it will!). So if I can argue it's temporary, that would help. Also, I reckon 2-3kW is more easily ignored than 5-6kW!

I don't have the spare time to build the Socraig turbine, unfortunately - too much work to do!!

I'd like to know more about your grid-tie turbines ecogeorge - do you have any write-ups on the forum? Are you still local to me? I've moved but not very far - I'm just up the road from Monmouth - in Whitchurch.

[Joeboy]

Speaking from the smug position of having hydro, I can certainly support your view on the value of having something other than solar in midwinter: just having enough to cover background loads overnight makes a huge difference.

I can't really advise on which wind turbines are good for grid tie, and even something I'd choose like a 2nd hand proven or similar still needs a 'wind' gti, which are quite thin on the ground i believe.

But as you have batteries I would suggest dc coupling via a MPPT controller that supports wind turbines, such as Midnight Classic. That's the way I'd go.

I've seen that set up in France. I find the midnight classic to be a particularly cool unit to look at. There was no reason to design in in the art deco skool, yet they did.

All the yachts round my way in Turkey are fitted with small w/t's. They can't all be wrong. MCS via a battery stack gets my thumbs up. Our turnip has been spinning for about 5 years. Although it is from the deeply flawed end of Chineses vawt spectrum so only really good as a landmark and cautionary tale.

Although it does output enough to keep the battery charged operating the garage emergency back up lights.

Found this
https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item ... ref=search

[ivan]

Is your turbine one of the chinese 'lantern' turbines? I bought a 48v one a few years ago to have a play with, but still haven't got round to installing it.

[ecogeorge]

Id say our site is not windy enough for a proven - they need really windy sites. We get periods of windy weather here, where it is consistently 20-40mph, and thats generally when we don't have much PV power. But we do get a lot of calm days too.

I like the idea of some kind of portable system, as we were told that we couldnt have wind here unless we got Natural England's approval unless it was MCS (because MCS means it will not affect wildlife!! and Non-MCS means it will!). So if I can argue it's temporary, that would help. Also, I reckon 2-3kW is more easily ignored than 5-6kW!

I don't have the spare time to build the Socraig turbine, unfortunately - too much work to do!!

I'd like to know more about your grid-tie turbines ecogeorge - do you have any write-ups on the forum? Are you still local to me? I've moved but not very far - I'm just up the road from Monmouth - in Whitchurch.

Hi Ivan - yes i'm in Cinderford. Did visit you just after you moved (can't remember why tho ?) .....
No useful write ups or experience of wind grid tie other than ..........
-Previous life grid tied a Windsave with future energy blades via windsave inverter .............fine but in low wind area too high a start voltage. Grid failure meant overspeed and blade assembly came off..... still on tower no blades
-Experimented with a Ruttland Marlec 504 (tiny yacht turbine 12v) -coupled to a chinese 18v max 100w grid tie inverter and got it to grid tie ..lol
Big issue is grid failure and over speeding /over voltage. I used a new zealand kit that shorted output at set voltage....... say grid inverter max voltage 22v use a device to prevent voltage rising above 20v......... obviously grid tie inverter needs to accept that voltage.
Google Windygirl - sell voltage limiting devices for turbines.
Trick is to match grid tie inverter voltage to turbine to use cheap cinese inverters........
Other wise you have to invest in wind grid tie inverters with programable set points .......

[ivan]

Yes, you may well have been here - it's difficult sometimes to matchup people on the forum with people in real life - often don't put two and two together. I'd known more than one forum member for at least several years before I finally twigged who it was on the forum!

I bought a 1000W chinese grid-tie inverter for wind with integral dump load facility. Mounted it in the shed, but still haven't connected a wind turbine up to it. Might get my lantern VAWT going on it - but think that style of turbine only outputs 200W or so, even though they're often sold as kW+ machines! Im a big fan of VAWT, even though there are few successful commercial units.

If I could get something up and running to handle base-load over long winters nights, that would be very useful. I was installing a sunsynk inverter recently, and noticed that had the potential to work with a wind turbine power curve.

[Joeboy]

Is your turbine one of the chinese 'lantern' turbines? I bought a 48v one a few years ago to have a play with, but still haven't got round to installing it.

Yep, can't remember the output voltage but it gets knocked down to 12V. The pancake the generator is housed in is not big enough to be 'real'. I did go through a wee time of trying to hunt down a compatible pancake unit but lost interest as the airflow across our roof is too disturbed. Love to see it spinning though.