Wind Power Overrated ?

   Today's stretch for independence seems a bit out of grasp for most homeowners.
Especially when it comes to Going Green, 99% of products out there are SCAMS unless we come up with big bucks. Having spent over $25,000 myself for a radiant floor/water heating system, I now know that it works great only when the Sun is out during the day.  Most of this month has been overcast and dismal, yet I'm still getting power from the wind turbines.  What is it exactly that makes Wind Power attractive at all ?

   First of all, we explore exactly what's produced from these systems.   Since the average market design is in the form of a D/C motor, we can expect high maintenance costs, low output, and quite frankly these systems only last a few months.   Yikes !  We spend over a thousand dollars on something that looks pretty, however doesn't last long.   Just to give everyone a small example of the capabilities of a D/C motor, the fact of the matter is this:  D/C motors run HOT.  Heat causes things to expand and wear out quickly if not properly ventilated or cooled.   An all out bad design when putting out into the weather elements, wouldn't you say ?  My design uses remanufactured alternators.  Alternators have stood the test of time inside very hot engine compartments.  This gets my vote every time.  Simply put, the heat doesn't bother them and the bearings stay good for years without maintenance.  Knowing this, we can encapsulate and weather-proof them when built into a wind turbine generator motor.  Now, there are certain tricks to producing power from an alternator.  The old one's coil must be re-wound and a different rotor is used to create a A/C 3 phase flux.  This is the electrical voltage/current produced when the rotor passed by one of the stator coil elements.  With a proper coil/rotor match we can expect 12 volts at about 150-200 rpms and minimal amperage, say 0-3 amps.  The energy created is channeled into a rectifier diode which converts to D/C current ready for battery charging.

  Don't expect much power to be produced ?   By running a single 0-600 watt turbine with a battery & inverter system will only save about .05 to .10 cents per day on your electric bill.  Translation:  $1.50 to $3.00 per month savings, however, small loads can be maintained with a properly sized battery/wind system.   For those of us who expect bigger results are soon convinced that it may not be worth the investment.   I could not disagree more on that.   Here are the advantages:   Rising electricity cost savings,  slow but efficient cost recovery.  My very dependable design allows virtually no maintenance after installation.   It's thrilling to know that I'm saving the planet's carbon footprint a little every day and am NOT using Fossil fuels, nor paying taxes on them.   I have included safety features, like a Furling mechanism which turns the turbine out of the wind long enough to offset the gale force winds.  Not to mention a simple design with the blades that keeps them quiet when spinning.   This up-and-coming tax season we will be able to write off a portion (up to 30% of costs to build) on the IRS form 5695 (2009 version) not 2008s.   If that doesn't add to your eagerness to try this approach,  I don't know what is.  The president is trying feverishly to get us into independent FREE energy systems like this.  Shall we help him and the Economy ?

   The 3 most abundant sources of FREE energy in the world are HEAT (from solar), WIND (cyclonic weather reactions related to heat release), and HYDRO power water currents from wind & heat reactions.  Which one you choose is up to you and is most available in your area.  My choice was a combination of Solar & Wind and I'm glad that choice was made.   When one system is working, the other may be resting.   Combined is just awesome !    Why not produce energy while you sleep ?   With my plans for a wind turbine, rest assured, you'll be paying yourself back very soon !

Literature on Solar, Wind Renewable Energy Systems:  Got Sun Go Solar,  Power With Nature 2nd Edition, Solar Power For Dummies (Beginners) to say the least.  Search my Amazon ads for dozens more books on the subject and what ever other pleasures you'll find....

 Visit: http://greenanything.net  and buy yourself a copy now.