Posted: 6/30/2012 2:00:41 PM EDT
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Been considering putting up a wind turbine of some sort on my property, before I do so I need to find out exactly how windy it is.Figured I'd put a meter up in various locations and heights.
There's a LOT of choices out there with a huge range of prices (looks like $30-$500)I THINK a Kestrel 1000 or 2000 would provide all the options I need but I'd hate to buy one and find out I needed option XYZ and didn't realize it. Any suggestions from those with experience? |
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you can get a pretty good idea of wind speeds by checking one of the charts that maps out how windy areas of the country are. I was going to buy a wind turbine but after reading up on actual winds needed to generate usable electricity, I gave up on the idea and went with solar.
Just a heads up on the wind generators... read the fine print about them. Most of them will say things like works in as little as 8mph winds but what they don't say is the power generated is horrible. You really need about 20mph before they produce anything near their rated wattage. In my area, just not enough wind speed to make it worth the investment. On the other hand, the solar setup I've had for about 3 years now works great. |
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I am also interested in this. Did you guys that have wind turbines up setup meters to monitor wind conditions 24 hours a day during the seasons? What kind of meter is good for that weather exposure?
OP, If you are just doing a check, the Kestrels are great meters. That is one of the most popular brands for shooters. From what I have seen, resale value is pretty good. I would not want to keep mine outside for long stretches of time though. Probably the most accurate thing is a weather station from the weather underground. They are a few hundred dollars, but measure all weather conditions very accurately. That is what I am looking into right now. Like you, I want to know what others did before I spend any cash. |
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Here is a good starting point for info, and links to find the wind and solar resource charts for your area:
http://www.nrel.gov/ |