Wind Turbine ?
- Thread starter RAW
- Start date
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
I'd be interested in this too. I looked a long time ago and for the money spent and having to pack it away each time the energy generated was not that good. Has it improved? I'd guess you'd be able to feed your solar controller with it, or is it another expensive box of tricks?
RAW
Forum Member
The technology has improved I think. My understanding is that a turbine would produce AC current rather than DC current like a solar panel and so to bring the Turbine into the system you would need to do some trickery in between the Turbine and the controller or use a different Wind power based Controller for feeding into the Battery.
Regarding putting up and down I am wondering more on small turbines that could be a permanent fixture and maybe somehow rotated?
wildebus
Forum Member
Rae (Streetsleeper) has experience of Wind Turbines and might still have a system for sale that fits on a Motorhome roof and folds down?
I live in a pretty windy area and thought one might be good where I am so I setup a weather station to log the wind speed.... don't think it would be enough though am tempted to get a little setup just to see (and have a little wind speed station to fit to the Camper to do the same when out and about for the same reason)
There is something about the need to be able to dump sudden heavy power inputs, but not sure if that is only on bigger turbines? Saying this as I used to use a Amperor Associates Power Integrator and that had inputs that could be used for both PV Panels and Wind Turbines. The Ablemail AMS 30-12-12 has a Solar Input that apparently can be used for Wind as well?
If you haven't seen this channel, it is entertaining to watch with nicely presented info and he did a little series on adding a Turbine to his folding trailer....
(watch all the videos - I think there are 3? - to see conclusions and feedback on what he bought)
I live in a pretty windy area and thought one might be good where I am so I setup a weather station to log the wind speed.... don't think it would be enough though am tempted to get a little setup just to see (and have a little wind speed station to fit to the Camper to do the same when out and about for the same reason)
There is something about the need to be able to dump sudden heavy power inputs, but not sure if that is only on bigger turbines? Saying this as I used to use a Amperor Associates Power Integrator and that had inputs that could be used for both PV Panels and Wind Turbines. The Ablemail AMS 30-12-12 has a Solar Input that apparently can be used for Wind as well?
If you haven't seen this channel, it is entertaining to watch with nicely presented info and he did a little series on adding a Turbine to his folding trailer....
RAW
Forum Member
A little further research has lead me to Vertical turbines which would be more suited to RV's and MH's I think
Example
Example
Red 400W 12V Lantern Wind Turbine Generator with Charge Controller & 5 Blades 8j | eBay
<br>High performance: The generator using permanent magnet rotor alternator, coupled with a special stater design, </p><p>effectively reduce the resistance torque of the generator, while the wind wheel and the generator has a more good matching characteristics, the unit running reliability.
www.ebay.co.uk
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
I just looked at the rutland stuff to remind me of what I saw before, not much has changed. 10mph wind 1/2 an amp or so if your lucky.
RAW
Forum Member
Where's that then ? Link please ?
wildebus
Forum Member
Just looked at the last month where I am .... peaking between 15-20MPH speed on some days. occasional gusts upto 35MPH.
I think you need a consistant windspeed of around 20MPH minimum to have any kind of viable power generation on small turbines?
mistericeman
Forum Member
Generally low output only reaching higher amounts when peak gusts....
Pfaff to erect/stow
Frequently transmit noise to what they're mounted on AND often far from silent wnen in use.
No wonder they're usually used on boats
Pfaff to erect/stow
Frequently transmit noise to what they're mounted on AND often far from silent wnen in use.
No wonder they're usually used on boats
wildebus
Forum Member
yup, I think so. The guy in the Youtube returned the one shown in the thumbname and got one of the vertical turbines instead.A little further research has lead me to Vertical turbines which would be more suited to RV's and MH's I think
Example
Red 400W 12V Lantern Wind Turbine Generator with Charge Controller & 5 Blades 8j | eBay
<br>High performance: The generator using permanent magnet rotor alternator, coupled with a special stater design, </p><p>effectively reduce the resistance torque of the generator, while the wind wheel and the generator has a more good matching characteristics, the unit running reliability.www.ebay.co.uk
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
Marlec - A UK Manufacturer of Battery Charging Off-Grid Wind Turbines
Manufacturer of the world renowned Rutland Windcharger range of wind turbines and Solar iBoost PV immersion controller. Renewable energy pioneers since 1979
www.marlec.co.uk
trevskoda
Forum Member
I would forget it , 1 the noise/vibration is bad, 2 vertical units produce only about a third of a normal blade unit, 3 about 20mph wind required which at best on a med size unit will give between 1 and 5amps at best depending on turbine size, 4 height required without any disturbing buildings hedges etc which is manly on the upward slope into wind,i have been reading many books on this over a few years and its almost out of reach unless lots of money and planing done,even then it would be marginal gain.
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
I think this happens to many of us as we get older Trevor.
Millie Master
Forum Member
My brother once had a wind turbine fitted to his (full time) narrow boat, he got rid of it as soon as he could simply because of the noise it made!
Phil
Phil
RAW
Forum Member
Thinking about it more I wonder if something could be done with an array of computer fans facing forwards and that would charge the battery as you drive, be additional to the Split Charge Relay on the Battery banks if the battery bank was large and required a lot of energy to charge. Maybe a complete waste of time.
Looks like I will be saving up for some flexible Solar Panels to add to Sylvia's Roof then as just with a WiFi Dongle, Raspberry Pi and the Victron Measuring devices my main battery is down to 50% after 10 days or so of being parked up.
Looks like I will be saving up for some flexible Solar Panels to add to Sylvia's Roof then as just with a WiFi Dongle, Raspberry Pi and the Victron Measuring devices my main battery is down to 50% after 10 days or so of being parked up.
RAW
Forum Member
Quite possibly true
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
RAW
Forum Member
The engine Start Battery(s) should not be draining when vehicle off unless there is a leak somewhere or something left on, surely ?This was my discovery after fitting the BMV on the engine start batteries, it's natural drain of about 5 watts was enough to drain heavily in a week