Any suggestions for home wind-solar energy use? Thanks!

[ElevenChen]

Is there anyone can give me some suggestions about home use wind turbine? How about a combination of home solar panels-wind turbines? We need it to power our household-about 3 rooms. Then, how to build my home wind turbine system? So far, I know Southwest Windpower and Hummer Wind Turbine are two good reputation suppliers. Does anyone can me some professional help?

[russ]

Is there anyone can give me some suggestions about home use wind turbine? How about a combination of home solar panels-wind turbines? We need it to power our household-about 3 rooms. Then, how to build my home wind turbine system? So far, I know Southwest Windpower and Hummer Wind Turbine are two good reputation suppliers. Does anyone can me some professional help?

Pardon? The Southwest Windpower and Hummer Wind Turbine have a great reputation as boat anchors - right out of the box. With thurines you need a location where you have to hold your hat on when you go outside. Search on the net and all you will find is people bitching about lousy quality and lousy factory support.

The rating of turbines is done at 25 mph wind speeds typically - at a more reasonable wind speed of 10 mph they put out next to nothing.

Maybe 1% of the US is suitable for the typical small turbine.

Larger turbines such as ARE, Sirocco, Jacobs are better but they require a tall tower and some one that likes to tinker with them all the time.

[Ian S]

What Russ said. You'd be far better off with a grid-tied solar system and even then you'd have to do a thorough cost-benefit analysis: sometimes it makes sense but not always. And unless you cannot get a POCO hookup, don't even think about off-grid!

[Noob]

I've gotta say I never expected such a bunch of hard nosed alternative energy skeptics and pragmatists when I came to a solar panel forum! Solar, off-grid, grid-tie, and now Wind are evaluated with clear heads around here. I shudder to hear what you think of the new Tesla.

I'm really learning a lot from you folks and I appreciate it. Thanks.

[Ian S]

I've gotta say I never expected such a bunch of hard nosed alternative energy skeptics and pragmatists when I came to a solar panel forum! Solar, off-grid, grid-tie, and now Wind are evaluated with clear heads around here. I shudder to hear what you think of the new Tesla.

I'm really learning a lot from you folks and I appreciate it. Thanks.

The problem with wind is that not a lot of places have sufficient consistent amounts to make it at all practical for the homeowner. Solar is a far better approach for the individual homeowner but even then it depends on so many different parameters that you have to evaluate it on an individual basis.

As for the Tesla, although I'm intrigued by it, I think it like all current pure EVs induces some degree of range anxiety. In that respect, I think the Volt is far more practical. BTW, the Tesla was just tested by Consumer Reports and tied with an older Lexus model for highest score ever: 99 out of 100. Interestingly, their real world estimate of range is far lower than what Tesla claims. Now if they only made a 2-door coupe!

[Sunking]

Is there anyone can give me some suggestions about home use wind turbine?

Why do you want a Wind Turd for? Who chit in your punch bowl?

[Noob]

The problem with wind is that not a lot of places have sufficient consistent amounts to make it at all practical for the homeowner. Solar is a far better approach for the individual homeowner but even then it depends on so many different parameters that you have to evaluate it on an individual basis.

As for the Tesla, although I'm intrigued by it, I think it like all current pure EVs induces some degree of range anxiety. In that respect, I think the Volt is far more practical. BTW, the Tesla was just tested by Consumer Reports and tied with an older Lexus model for highest score ever: 99 out of 100. Interestingly, their real world estimate of range is far lower than what Tesla claims. Now if they only made a 2-door coupe!

I know, that's why it was on my mind. The CR rating was in "all the papers" online yesterday. Why a 2 door coupe? Between the big sleek 7-passenger and the little roadster they've got the spectrum covered, no? (Oh, and I'm really interested in that Model X, from a wishlist standpoint. I will never own any of these.)

The thing I'm waiting for / fearing is an eviscerating analysis of battery costs (~$30K) by Sunking.

But maybe it's not as bad with cars as compared to off-grid solar PV, since they're not expected to last more than 10 years or so.

[inetdog]

But maybe it's not as bad with cars as compared to off-grid solar PV, since they're not expected to last more than 10 years or so.

There are EPA and state laws requiring a specific length warranty on the batteries, so the manufacturers do have to factor that into their costs. If they plan to be around long enough for the chickens to come back to roost, that is.
One of the big changes between the Prius 1 and Prius 2 steps was that the newer ones allowed modular replacement of parts of the battery pack. Reduced the warranty costs significantly.

[Noob]

There are EPA and state laws requiring a specific length warranty on the batteries, so the manufacturers do have to factor that into their costs. If they plan to be around long enough for the chickens to come back to roost, that is.
One of the big changes between the Prius 1 and Prius 2 steps was that the newer ones allowed modular replacement of parts of the battery pack. Reduced the warranty costs significantly.

Whoa, from quick googling even the original Prius batteries are lasting 10 years / 200,000 miles and more. Why are solar PV off-grid batteries rated for much lower life spans? Or aren't they?

A NiMH verus LIon thing?

Edit: Well, at least Tesla has been licensing out its batteries, so there's some hope for standardization... http://www.slate.com/articles/techno...ittle_bit.html

[inetdog]

Whoa, from quick googling even the original Prius batteries are lasting 10 years / 200,000 miles and more.

Some do. But one of my friends had two original Prius batteries replaced under warranty within the first five years. One car....

The event was infrequent, but still cost Toyota a bundle.

Also they last but I do not think Toyota warrants a very high capacity retention figure. A hybrid may still pass its specifications with capacity down to 50% of original, while most lead acid battery manufacturers consider 80% to be end of life.

[Ian S]

Why a 2 door coupe? Between the big sleek 7-passenger and the little roadster they've got the spectrum covered, no? (Oh, and I'm really interested in that Model X, from a wishlist standpoint. I will never own any of these.)

I just prefer a coupe - model S is a bit too large for me. The roadster is no longer sold although they they are supposedly planning a new one for the future. I have absolutely no use for an SUV electric or not.

[SunEagle]

The problem with wind is that not a lot of places have sufficient consistent amounts to make it at all practical for the homeowner. Solar is a far better approach for the individual homeowner but even then it depends on so many different parameters that you have to evaluate it on an individual basis.

As for the Tesla, although I'm intrigued by it, I think it like all current pure EVs induces some degree of range anxiety. In that respect, I think the Volt is far more practical. BTW, the Tesla was just tested by Consumer Reports and tied with an older Lexus model for highest score ever: 99 out of 100. Interestingly, their real world estimate of range is far lower than what Tesla claims. Now if they only made a 2-door coupe!

I believe Porsche makes a 2 door EV. Real fast too. Just beyond most pocket books.

[ElevenChen]

Why do you want a Wind Turd for? Who chit in your punch bowl?

For home use. We have 3 rooms. How about a wind-solar hybrid generator? The wind turb with SCF generator technolgoy can startup at about 2.5m/s wind speed and survive at about 25m/s, is it true?

[russ]

For home use. We have 3 rooms. How about a wind-solar hybrid generator? The wind turb with SCF generator technolgoy can startup at about 2.5m/s wind speed and survive at about 25m/s, is it true?

The SCF tech is pure baloney and blather - at 2.5 m/sec wind speed there is very, very little power in the wind so whether it turns or not is meaningless. 25 m/sec is storm force and that is what the turbine is rated at.

Basically all small wind turbines are junk and ripoffs.

[ElevenChen]

The SCF tech is pure baloney and blather - at 2.5 m/sec wind speed there is very, very little power in the wind so whether it turns or not is meaningless. 25 m/sec is storm force and that is what the turbine is rated at.

Basically all small wind turbines are junk and ripoffs.

Okay...okay... I just to say that 2.5m/s is the startup wind speed. The working wind speed is about 3-25m/s. "all small wind turbines are junk and ripoffs"-You are too arbitrary. After all, supplier exists bcoz demands is there.