Consumer Windturbines, anyone using one?

Tollster · Jan 11, 2012

Curious if anyone was supplementing there electric bills with a turbine? Curious how its working out, what kind you have and if you have had any troubles. Cons and pros.

KansasFarmer · Jan 11, 2012

Don't use one but I looked into it quite a bit for the farm. Hard to make the numbers work and the tower is pushing 60 feet where I live. I believe in alternative energy but the dollar and cents didn't work for us. I hope you get some responses because I would like to read more too.

wcampbell47 · Jan 12, 2012

I'm looking into a SkyStream wind turbine. Last quote I got for my area was $10K installed. Need 8mph wind to generate electricity. I live in an area that is rated as Zone 3 for wind generation. I currently have wind at 13 mph and saw a gust to 19 mph earlier.

My electric provider is friendly to attaching to the grid. The SkyStream can connect directly into the grid with no batteries involved. It will be a long term investment - however if you have the wind what other investment out there is returning $40-$50 per month on a $10K investment.

Suggest you acquire a device to measure and record the wind in your area for 6 months to a year to make sure you are getting enough wind to produce electricity.

F250DSLPWR · Jan 12, 2012

Check out Windbluepower.com They sell parts and use standard alternator conversions to build home built wind generators. When I looked into wind power, buying a comercial built wind generator was going to be to expensive. I still have not built a wind generator yet, but it is on my list of future projects.

MadJack · Jan 12, 2012

As wcampbell says, you need a way to record the winds 'habits' in your area BUT... you need to record them 30 feet above anything within 300' so you'll need it on a tower.
I have heard SkyStream is coming out with a 12v-24v DC turbine instead of the 110vac they have now. For $10K I'd go with the Bergey (sp) 3000 watt due to the much larger rotor and their reputation.

I just acquired 68' of tower which I will put up when the ground thaws. I will most likely build my first turbine and go from there.

bearcreek paul · Jan 12, 2012

I looked into it years ago.Thought about building my own about 5,000$ then to build a 20 k windmill plus tower plus connection to the grid.The windmill was the cheapest part.We figured about 25,000 to 30,000 to finish that was 10 yrs ago.
When all was said and done with the cost and the maintenance it wasn't worth it at our age.Once the windmill is up their the yearly maintenance has to be done.That means dropping the tower or climbing 80 feet in the air to work on it.
What it came down to with us was if we were in our 20's it would be worth it.
If you do research there are plans and kits out to build you own.You can have twice the power for half the price if you DIY and recoup your investment faster.

Good luck I'll enjoy reading this thread.

vwnotrunning · Jan 12, 2012

Madjack - Be sure to post picks during your install. I think many of us would be interested!

crash325 · Jan 12, 2012

I had a commercial wind gen in about 1980. Basically a generator with a propeller on it. It had a high wind brake and could also be shut down. Wind was far too strong in that area. Almost to NM on the AZ border.

Soon burned out the brake and even in the shut down mode it would turn. Didn't last very long. A total waste of money.

Here near Tucson AZ 60 MPH wind happens fairly often. Doubt than any thing less than the giant commercial jobs would hold up for any length of time.

lilranch2001 · Jan 12, 2012

my next door neighbor looked into it and it is quite expensive
Especially the part to make sure you system is compatible with the power supplier

Pete Judd · Jan 12, 2012

I have a friend that lives off the grid. He has large battery banks, solar panels, and propane powered generators. He put a wind generator in a couple of years ago to help supplement the solar. He lives on a "knob" in a valley, and a 50 foot tower was all he had. Wind gives him a 100-300 amp hours a day, and I don't think he spent very much for the used unit, and tower. The reason he lives off grid, is that it would cost him more than 60K to have power delivered, he is 70, and the wife in the late 60's. It is their retirement place, and he is worried about the wife not having power after he is gone.