Posted: 3/24/2013 9:50:16 AM EDT
|
My basic question is how to hook the DC batteries or AC converter to the fuse box on the house, and some sort of cut out for local power vs wind generated power. I'm envisioning a toggle switch. Up for pole power and down for battery power to eliminate any chance of both power source being hooked up at the same time.
So far, I understand one method of generating power via wind is a windmill hooked to a generator then lines to a battery bank then to the fuse box. Are there AC generators that can be turned directly by a windmill to eliminate the need for DC batteries and an inverter. I ask as I live in southern OK and the wind blows constantly from 10-20 MPH on my property. Not a tree for 1/2 mile in any direction. Not looking for a stand alone system right now just a way to reduce my electric bill. |
|
I'm not really experienced with wind as I use solar, but having visited lots of alternative energy websites and a few expos, you can definitely find good wind turbines. Just like solar, they make non storage (grid-tie) packages, which just lower your power bill by putting power directly into the grid. That isn't going to be cost effective for a small system as you need an electrician to install certified products and a automatic disconnect so your systems don't kill linesmen when the power goes down. And you may need to sign an agreement with the power company, so if you product excess, it defines the rates at which they pay your (search net metering). Some pay you wholesale rates versus retail rates.
|
|
Quoted:
My basic question is how to hook the DC batteries or AC converter to the fuse box on the house, and some sort of cut out for local power vs wind generated power. I'm envisioning a toggle switch. Up for pole power and down for battery power to eliminate any chance of both power source being hooked up at the same time. So far, I understand one method of generating power via wind is a windmill hooked to a generator then lines to a battery bank then to the fuse box. Are there AC generators that can be turned directly by a windmill to eliminate the need for DC batteries and an inverter. I ask as I live in southern OK and the wind blows constantly from 10-20 MPH on my property. Not a tree for 1/2 mile in any direction. Not looking for a stand alone system right now just a way to reduce my electric bill. there are no small scale windmills that produce AC voltage that i know of BUT i havent checked in a while so its hard to say what is new to the market. you can use a transfer switch just like if you were installing a genny to get the power in the house. that being said, in order to get the most out of your system you have GOT to cut your power usage by switching to CFL's or LED(best thing smoking) and energy star products. you even with wind you still are limited to what you can run and for how long by your inverter and the size of your battery bank. |
|
Quoted:
I'm not really experienced with wind as I use solar, but having visited lots of alternative energy websites and a few expos, you can definitely find good wind turbines. Just like solar, they make non storage (grid-tie) packages, which just lower your power bill by putting power directly into the grid. That isn't going to be cost effective for a small system as you need an electrician to install certified products and a automatic disconnect so your systems don't kill linesmen when the power goes down. And you may need to sign an agreement with the power company, so if you product excess, it defines the rates at which they pay your (search net metering). Some pay you wholesale rates versus retail rates. unless you really screw something up a grid tie system or even a back flow system(selling back to the power co) cant back feed the system. a grid tie system that back feeds the grid will only provide power to the grid when it senses power coming into the inverter. they cut off if the grid goes down. |
|
Quoted:
Are there AC generators that can be turned directly by a windmill to eliminate the need for DC batteries and an inverter Windmills spin at widely varying speeds, which makes it very difficult to keep the output frequency of an AC generator constant. For this reason, it's usually easier to generate DC power instead, and then use an inverter circuit to convert it to AC power. Since the inverter controls the output frequency and voltage, this approach makes it possible to have constant AC voltage and frequency, regardless of wind speed. In grid-tied systems, the output of the inverter is fed back into the electrical grid. In stand-alone systems, the windmill's DC output can also be used to recharge batteries, which can power an inverter that supplies the house with AC power. |