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turbineZ
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 Figuring Out Loads |
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Yes, the energy monitor is critical to nail this very good. Most tend to overload and cause themselves much drama. So, until you figure it out, load it light and get a feel for the capacity first, then move stuff over.
You are Grid-Tie is that correct? If so, your load leveling is easier to do because your system will take the overload and use grid very smoothly. It is less critical and less a problem if you put too much on sub panel, not as big a deal as for OFF-Grid. I'll post more about this later but I have to run.
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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| Re: Flourescent Tubes vs CFL Bulbs, Which To Deploy? |
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>> I am changing out all my lighting to CFL now to better conserve
>> electricity of my wind/solar home generation. Now, I am going
>> to use CFL because the cost per bulb of the LED is just prohibitive
>> so I will be going with flourescent and CFL throughout my property.
>> I will be upgrading to LED when the cost per bulb gets lower, or as
>> budget permits me to change over.
>>
>> So, I have a couple of areas that currently have flourescent tube
>> lighting and not sure what to do there. Should I just leave those
>> alone, or is the CFL more efficient there? What about mercury?
Well, what I would do depends on whether or not you want to change your fixtures right now. Flourescent tube lighting and CFL bulbs use about the same amount of power. Your tube lights spread the light over a larger area and distribute light a little better. One thing about the tube lights is that the ballast is with the fixture, thus does not get changed out with the bulb, is permanent. The CFL bulb has the ballast built in and thus you renew that with each bulb change and avoid the possibility of a aging ballast that may not be operating efficiently.
Either one is a major improvement over incandescent lights. The best fixtures for LED will be screw in type bulb fixtures. So, when you move to LED that fixture change and a CFL bulb may be a mid step that you can do now or later. But the move to LED will ultimately lead to killing off the flourescent tube fixtures. I am currently taking out rows of flourescent tubes and putting in regular screw in light bulb fixtures. I am going to put in as many LED as I can and the rest with CFL, changing them to LED as soon as I can. As you move to LED, choose the lights used most, do them first thus saving electricity on highest use lights.. first.
A standard fluorescent tube will contain 5 times more mercury than a compact fluorescent bulb. Both reduce the amount of mercury released into the environment. By conserving energy with flourescents, the amount of electricity needing to be generated by mercury releasing coal power plants is reduced.
I do believe that in terms of a lumen's to wattage ratio, the two types of fluorescent bulb are fairly similar. But the little ones can be used much more easily in home applications and are cheaper to buy in both bulb and fixture. Thus for NEW CONSTRUCTION the flourescent tube fixtures should never be used, CFL is the standard and LED the new technology, buth using screw in type fixtures.
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This is really a cool stuff.
Regards,
Arron
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
Site Admin
Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 145
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
Site Admin
Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 145
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 145
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Sam, you're not bad lookin guy. Haven't missed any meals lately but that's not bad I haven't either lolololololo
Thanks for the assurance, I'm complete now will have the panels up soon. I have a frig, and a lot of lights, 4 circuits on now.
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 145
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| Solar Panel Wiring and Turbine/Charge Controller Voltage |
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Wire them like the manual shows. Wire them into the charge controller as shown. You are overanalysing the voltage and seeing maximum. These panels have a nominal voltage of 12v like most solar panels.
This is a picture of me with our upgraded 240 watt large solar panel kit. Our standard kits are built with 150 watts but from time to time I get these upgraded larger panels and sell with home wind turbine kits as a promotion.
When you look at solar panel specifications this is what you see. I noticed in reviewing this that the nominal voltage is not in the label. That should be added for clarity sake. So Here it is.
117 Watt PV Module:WE7-117Wp
Nominal Voltage: 12v DC
Maximum Power - Pmax: 117W
Open Circuit Voltage - Voc: 23.74v DC
Max Power Voltage - Vmp: 18.82v DC
Short Circuit Current - Isc: 7.09 amp
Max Power Current - Imp: 6.31 amp
This is all correct what you are reading. Really good questions, but fear not, the Turbine/Charge Controller has facility to deal with this, as does any charge controller for solar panels. An MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller resides between the 24v DC battery load and the solar panels. The MPPT regulates the voltage for the panels which allows them to operate at their peak power when conditions allow.
Like I replied in my email, after dark the panels will read 2v DC or so, and the performance varies with the solar resources of the day. This is all normal and panel voltage output swings all over the place. The 12v Nominal is the average specification for system config. and is not a direct output spec.
The Turbine/Charge Controller is a hybrid device which has the required facility to support solar and wind charging. This Turbine/Charge Controller basically takes the varying voltage and amps input from your 117 watt solar panels and converts it into a constant 24v DC voltage or current, to optimize charging the 24 volt battery bank. The controller is a Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) type, which charges faster as more sun is available, rather than at a set rate as most controllers do. This is all good and makes our home wind turbine systems more efficient than others.
Related Article Post:
About Turbine/Charge Controller Status Lights?
Twin Turbine Rooftop Wind Turbines, Michigan
Illinois One Turbine Wind/Solar Hybrid With Tower
Oklahoma Install, One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop Wind Turbine
Small Wind Turbine Kit, Installed in Oklahoma
Rooftop Wind Turbine Kit Install, Indiana
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
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| Off-Grid solar panel wiring. |
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Sam, we have wired the solar panels per your diagram and we get 50 volts DC. Remember these are not the first panels you used these are the new panel you bought and had to package and send. They have two terminals for + and 2 for - on each panel when we went series we get 48 volts.
I'm ready to intall them but not sure how to wire them.. 
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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| Shelf capacity of Tennesco Units |
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Yes, the 150 lb shelf capacity is an issue. But these batteries do spread load and much focussed right to edges in sides and back. What the photos do not show yet is the shelves are supported by extra 2x2 blocking underneath, screwed from sidewalls, and then a 2x4 across center and screwed with 3" screws from sides. There are many, many installs of this cabinet with different ways of supports for the shelves people have employed. The heavier Tennesco is so much more expensive and harder to get. With about $20 in lumber and screws this is no problem at all.
I must say though. After going through an install recently where an existing cabinet was used that did not have sufficient space. It made me appreciate how well the system design of using these cabinets works. How well it fits, looks, easy to work in and work with. Easy to repeat again and again on multiple sites and installs. This actually one of the best things we do with a system is make it so tidy and orderly looking.
I really discourage using closets, and existing cabinets. If you do that, measure the batteries and plan carefully to be sure it is all going to fit appropriately. It's a total drag on an install to be playing with a cabinet that isn't correct or spending as much time building a cabinet as it takes to put in a system. I understand working in a budget and having to do what you can afford. So, people in that situation I totally get it. My first battery bank was nowhere near this nice and well designed.
This standard method we use is well thought out. This looks good, works good, is easier than almost any other thing you can do. So, as a dealer, this model is efficient and cost effective, best to deploy and demonstrate for others.
A wooden battery box on floor like clayhill mentioned is a common method I have seen allot for solar installs. This cabinet though as a demo example is preferred and recommended as it makes a great presentation and function and is better for our branding of WE7 systems. This is a much better method and design than what others are doing out there. I want to encourage continuity as much as possible with systems being deployed.
I'm trying to get my latest pictures and videos edited of batter bank and cabinet building. So much to do, so little available time. Bear with me.
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
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| Is Wind Still A Good Investment Even In A Wind Zone 1? |
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>> If I live in an area where my wind maps show only a 1, can I still
>> utilize wind energy and would it even be a cost worthy investment?
Hi Lisa,
As a property improvement it will still be a great investment as it will no doubt provide emergency power and green the property. This one of the best property improvements you can have for value. In a wind zone 1 there are pockets of good wind and decent sites that will do well too. Many folks sites do not concur with these broad general maps ratings. But it would be best to think conservatively. Also, in Georgia you have good solar. So, the strategy would be to start a system, then analyse and most likely add to the solar to grow the system so that your balance would be primarily more solar than wind, but still to have wind in any home generation system is ideal.
As a business, the systems are easy to sell and payback themselves in a very short period of time. At 12% on sale only, 5 turbines sold pays off your unit because the IRS tax credit pays for 30% off the top. The systems are a fun thing to do, the right thing to do, and yes, even in a zone 1 I think are a good investment.
As an investment for a fast money payback through energy generated, will pay itself off over time but starts to stretch into 12 to 15 year payback on power generated (ALONE). That's if you ignore the IRS, solar capability, income from systems sold, the property improvement, rising energy, and energy security for a family. If the focus is solely the power generated by the wind, yes, it's a longer payback than a zone 2 or better, but it still will get wind and make power.
But, I do believe power costs will double by time Obama leaves office. That will make that curve shorten for sure. Energy is just going to get more and more precious. Still, does a swimming pool, new deck, or other property improvement actually make money? This does, for 30 years and beyond.
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
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| Mounting Solar Panels to Roof? |
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>> Hi Sam
>> How should the panels be mounted? upright or sideways. Also, do I
>> use tar on the roof where I am going through with holes?
Hello Guy,
I tried to call back and left a message Saturday. I usually put the panels oriented so that the connections are top. It's OK if you go other way but this s standard and that fits with rails that run horizontally.
Are you putting them all on one roof face? Like all in a row? If so, you may want to put a rail down and then bolt them to the rail. That makes less holes through roof. So, a rail would go horizontal and panels would orient perpendicular, vertical onto the 2 rails. Some would also put a angle at the bottom edge. Then again, many folks just bolt the Z Clips right through the roof with 4 bolts per panel. For you I recommend a couple of rails because you can be sure they go INTO THE RAFETRS with longer lag bolts, like the turbines do. Then mount the panels to the rails with the Z clips, that's best way. For the rails you can use aluminum channel, square tubing, or Z Bar
And yes, you should dip the bolts in tar or hit them with a 25 year silicone as you put them in, that goes for roof mount turbine and panels, tar the bolts and holes a bit, or a 25 year silicone is used regularly because it's easier to apply than tar.
Here's a picture of a resent install showing rails and an angle at bottom. On a normal home roof would be a bit different as your rails would be atop spacers or blocking and bolted straight into a truss or rafter with a 3 1/2" galvanized lag. Usually aluminum is used because it won't rus and doesn't need paint or seal.
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
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| Wiring Questions for Single Turbine, On Budget.. |
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>> Like he says that we should put the lights and television on the system
>> since we are only starting with 4 batteries , do you agree with this ?
>> We don't want to over load the system and if we did how
>> would we know?
Yes, that's a reasonable load for the system to start out, especially with 4 batteries and a single turbine. You will add loads later as you get smoothed out and know your system better. I will help you figure out how to judge your capacity and add stuff later.
Does the turbine and the solar panels go into the same system or do you have to hook up different different breakers to each item , such as the turbine and a solar panel to the Tv and the other panel to the lights ? I hope that what I just said makes sense? Or does it all just go into one?
The Turbine and solar connect to the controller, together.
The Controller connects to the batteries.
The Batteries connect to the inverter.
The Inverter serves your 120v AC loads from a GREEN CIRCUIT.
The entire loads of the system you have can run on a single breaker of 20A (20 amp) 120v AC. Many folks use a 30a breaker.
The wiring is very flexible in that with the system you have, it does not take too much to wire it all up. However, you want to look at where you are going, maybe have some added beef for upgrading the system.
Personally, since you already made a decision to go with 4 batteries, it's a minimal system. So, here's what makes sense to do a nice job, but on a budget.
A 20a breaker from your Main panel. That to an outlet in your inverter cabinet. That's your 120v input for the inverter.
INTO the inverter, a 20a pigtail, in/out so you can have the inverter easy to swap and upgrade.
OUT OF the inverter a 20a line to a single 20a breaker, wired to your green circuit loads.
That is your minimum off-grid system and will handle up to 2 wind/solar kits and their loads.
Should you expand past that, you can add a beef up on breakers and wiring at that time. Keep in mind that many people run a new circuit wiring and thus, like behind a refrigerator they have 2 live outlets, on old one and a new, green one. This gives ability to take things off and on the green power as you evaluate the capacity you have.
Capacity is different for everyone based on site wind and solar resources and wiring configurations etc. With Off-Grid, he key will be watching and learning what the load can be and using all you can make without going over what you generate.
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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| Oklahoma Small Wind Turbine, Demo Trailer |
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Sorry I am so pressed for time that I can't put more commentary about this rig. But this dealer is making huge innovation to step out and make this trailer mounted, GRID-TIE demo unit. Initially he was making it to do the 4th of July Parade. The first stab at it missed the height restrictions...
So, this you are looking at is a more low profile trailer. I will probably be helping with some graphics to inprove the look of the branding and such at some point. I had a trailer demo in build at one point and had to abort. At some point I will be working on that again.
With some 40 Amp heavy generator cords, you could actually use this rig at home between fairs, shows, and parades. One thing is for sure, anywhere you park this it will draw a crowd.
Here you can see his controller and the Grid-Tie Inverter, he's going to put his batteries on the deck here next to the Grid-Tie inverter.
Here the dealer had to come up with an apparatus to keep the turbine blade secured and not allow it to spin or get damaged by turbulence while being hauled around.
Anyone wanting a small wind turbine, fill out the contact form and I can connect you with the dealer for your area. There are still areas open in most states for new dealers but many counties and a few entire states are taken up and several people are saying they are going to get their territory. So, if you are interested in becoming a dealer fill out the same form and we can see if your area may still be open.
Oklahoma Install, One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop Wind Turbine
Small Wind Turbine Kit, Installed in Oklahoma
Rooftop Wind Turbine Kit Install, Indiana
Pictures: Twin Turbine Rooftop Wind Turbines
Pictures: One Turbine Wind/Solar Hybrid With Tower
Pictures: One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop System
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 145
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Sam, the panels are just below the legs. I made sure they were below the legs, the box on the roof rail is plastic sealed with O ring and easy to drill for romax connectors especially if you add the panels. We ran 5 #8 wires up to the rail box, 3 green, 1 red and 1 black. Worked grean because I got the turbine up before I got the panels. Also my installer liked to use SS # 12 wood screws instead of leg screws because the screws have more threads then legs, just a personal choice.
Rex
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
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Joined: 23 Nov 2008
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| Hawaii Wind Turbine Install, Home Wind Turbine Rooftop |
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Here's a really neat picture of another recent install in Hawaii. The coastal residence is within view of the ocean from the turbine's rooftop perch. We sweat bullets over the Somoan Tsunami that led to a Tsunami watch in Hawaii and there for a few hours I was worried for the customer and his new system. WindEnergy7 has customers from Hawaii to Massachusetts and north into Canada. Our systems succeed anywhere they get deployed.
This really interesting photo was captured from an iPhone and the way it captured the motion of the blades was really neat. Instead of appearing as straight and streaking like all other photos we have, the iPhone caught them maybe imaged from outside to the center or something. Can't explain this effect and how it worked out. Showed many photographers who thought it was doctored and don't know of a way to capture an image like that on purpose...
We have many new customers coming from Hawaii because of the excellent performance of our wind/solar hybrid there. The tradewinds spin the system round the clock and the solar kicks strong all day. With a local utilty cost as high as Hawaii, reported as HIGH AS $.55, these systems have about a 2 year ROI which is a payback that makes anyone in the mainland jealous.
Turbine, Wind/Solar Buyer's Guide
Twin Turbine Rooftop Wind Turbines, Michigan
Illinois One Turbine Wind/Solar Hybrid With Tower
Oklahoma Install, One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop Wind Turbine
Small Wind Turbine Kit, Installed in Oklahoma
Rooftop Wind Turbine Kit Install, Indiana
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Anyone wanting a small wind turbine, fill out the contact form and I can connect you with the dealer for your area. There are still areas open for new dealers but county territories and entire states are being established now, a few states completely established. So, if you are interested in becoming a dealer fill out the same form and we can see if your area may still be open.
If you just want to look at the wind/solar hybrid kits we have for home energy or to buy one online Buy Home Wind/Solar Here
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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turbineZ
Site Admin
Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 145
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| Minnesota Wind Turbine, Home Turbine Install Pics |
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This installation was at a new dealer in Minnesota who put a demo in at their place of business. This is another implementation of a pole mount. This unit was put atop an fiberglass pole because the dealer wanted good visibilirty of the system. This is an Off-Grid 850 watt kit with the upgraded 234 watt panels making it a 934 watt wind/solar hybrid system.
Anyone wanting a small wind turbine, fill out the contact form and I can connect you with the dealer for your area. There are still areas open in most states for new dealers but many counties and a few entire states are taken up and several people are saying they are going to get their territory. So, if you are interested in becoming a dealer fill out the same form and we can see if your area may still be open.
Oklahoma Install, One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop Wind Turbine
Small Wind Turbine Kit, Installed in Oklahoma
Rooftop Wind Turbine Kit Install, Indiana
Pictures: Twin Turbine Rooftop Wind Turbines
Pictures: One Turbine Wind/Solar Hybrid With Tower
Pictures: One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop System
The customer used a bucket truck to raise the pole, wire up, and attach the turbine.
Here is the finished install from the outside showing the upgraded 234 watt panels which this dealer mounted to a pole for visibility and to be easily adjustable to the sun. The kits come with roof mount hardware for mounting on a residential
This custom built battery cabinet is a really heavy duty cabinet that the dealer had built locally.
Here's his off-grid inverter and controller. This system is running the lights in the showroom of the business and some other loads on the green circuit. Anyone wanting a small wind turbine, fill out the contact form and I can connect you with the dealer for your area. There are still areas open in most states for new dealers but many counties and a few entire states are taken up and several people are saying they are going to get their territory. So, if you are interested in becoming a dealer fill out the same form and we can see if your area may still be open.
Oklahoma Install, One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop Wind Turbine
Small Wind Turbine Kit, Installed in Oklahoma
Rooftop Wind Turbine Kit Install, Indiana
Pictures: Twin Turbine Rooftop Wind Turbines
Pictures: One Turbine Wind/Solar Hybrid With Tower
Pictures: One Turbine Wind Only Rooftop System
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| Sat Mar 06, 2010 1:45 am |
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