Wind

There are a number of companies that offer small windpower systems. They usually offer system design help to determine your windpower potential. As I get the time, I’ll list some of them on this site. If you have recommendations I’d like to hear them.

You are best advised to store excess windpower in batteries. Building an inexpensive battery bank is easy for those people who take the time to learn a little about ordinary vehicle batteries. Many batteries are thrown away that are not bad, or have several perfectly good cells and only one bad one (which can be bypassed). Getting the ‘Capacitive Battery Charger’ book will help you find out about this bonanza of potential electrical storage. See ‘Order’ button above.

‘Reverse your Electric Meter’ Book shows a way to store excess windpower without having a battery bank. This simple and interesting technique can even be used to MAKE money by selling your excess windpower to your local utility.

Wind powered ships, mills, pumps and many other applications around the world long before electricity and thermodynamics were invented. Elsewhere in this site I talk about other energies, but I admire the universal simplicity of windpower.

An important thing to know about wind is that the power potential of the wind increases by a factor of three every time the wind speed doubles. So it is vital to take advantage of the highest wind speeds available. This generally means putting your wind tower as high as possible (wind speed increases with height) and making sure there are as few obstructions to the wind as possible.

New wind generators are more efficient, so make previously marginal winds practical.

High towers are dangerous to climb to maintain your wind generator. A good idea I’ve seen lately are towers that lower the wind generator to the ground, allowing safe generator installation and maintenance.