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Thread: Discuss - Going off grid
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20th April 2013, 10:24 AM #31
I have to agree with Stuart,
I've installed a few combined systems for work and the wind turbine input is negligable. Even if it seems the wind blows all the time it's not constant enough to generate at anything even close to max output.
These were mobile communication trailers, much smaller than a house but still probably in proportion for the mix of solar and wind. We weren't expecting the wind turbines to contribute all that much, just a handy little backup that could generate at night or on cloudy days. While these installations were being trialled they had plenty of data logging to asses the performance.
The wind input was so small and ineffectual that they dropped the turbine all together and just rely on solar. It wasn't worth the initial expense to install them.
House sized turbines may be more efficient, I haven't had much to do with them, but I would be doing lots of research before parting with any cash.
If shading of panels is going to be a problem, don't forget you don't have to install them on the roof. They can be installed on stands a little way from the house in an area that has full sun all day. Make them easier to clean too.Those were the droids I was looking for.
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1st May 2013, 03:36 PM #32New Member
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Sounds great in theory, but having had some experience make sure you check your local wind speeds and what wind speed you actually need to get the rated power out of one. Just coz it is spinning doesn't mean it is making much power. Also, depends on what obstacles you have around you. If you have any other structures, trees etc within about 100-150 metres you will get TURBULENCE unless you have it on a mighty high tower, and it will be as good as useless.
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6th May 2013, 09:09 AM #33
You would be married then....
I have been told that even if you get a decent inverter and panels you also have to look at the quality of the rails that mount them and maybe the quality of the installation ?
Is there somewhere I can find reliable information on suppliers/installers in Brisbane and NSW ?I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong.
Wait! No one told you your government was a sitcom?
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6th May 2013, 10:49 AM #34GOLD MEMBER
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One thing to think about if you want to go off grid is that storage does not just need to be for using power generated during the day overnight. A cloudy or overcast day can also seriously reduce the output from a system. We recently in Brisbane have had several periods of time where we got very little for a week or so. If you want to be truly off grid, you probably need to factor in enough storage to get you by for at least a week with little generation at all.
The other day I described to my daughter how to find something in the garage by saying "It's right near my big saw". A few minutes later she came back to ask: "Do you mean the black one, the green one, or the blue one?".
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6th May 2013, 11:01 AM #35
Hi Peter
Yes, that is one of the points that make it seem to be a very costly exercise. What we need is a way to store power in a fashion that is retrievable as electricity and that doesn't cost much at all.Bob Willson
The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.
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6th May 2013, 11:59 AM #36GOLD MEMBER
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I have seen people living beside running water using water wheels for generation. That would be pretty cool because I imagine it would be a lot more reliable. One thing that I have seen proposed (not sure but it may even be possible now) is using an electric or hybrid car for storage - the idea being that you could have the car plugged in during the day and charge it using solar power, and it could then discharge into the house at night. Problem with this scheme is that it ignored the idea that you might just want some change in your car to be able to transport things, and the most likely time the car will be away from home is during the day.
The other day I described to my daughter how to find something in the garage by saying "It's right near my big saw". A few minutes later she came back to ask: "Do you mean the black one, the green one, or the blue one?".
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