Topic: Wind Turbine on the Allotment

[DavidW]

Hi, I'm planning to build a small wind turbine for use on the plot. The turbine is planned to charge an old car batterry for shed lights, radio etc. Anyone carried out a similar project?

Thanks
David

[chriscross1966]

I'd suggest a Savonius design as it's simpler to build, aesthetically less intrusive (and TBF safer)... it's not like you need epic amounts of charge unless you plan on running LED growlights and DC soil-warming cables from it.....

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Build-a-Savonius-Wind-Turbine.htm

I'd thought about it but it has become obvious that our site is going through a spate of problems with our neighbours from an official traveller camp and though the turbine would probably be ok the battery wouldn't.... annoying as apparently it's been the thick end of a decade since there was a problem, but we've lost several builders wheelbarrows, a crop of pumpkins and various tools recently.... I'm having to rethink plans for irrigating a proposed polytunnel I'd like to put up.....can'#t risk having the electrical kit on site to pump water.....

chrisc

[RobinOfTheHood]

I've thought about it for a long time, does that count?   ;)

At the moment I'm using 2 of these in parallel:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358&C=MS&U=Storage

Not so good in the depths of winter, but ok for most of the year.  :)

[chriscross1966]

I've thought about it for a long time, does that count?   ;)

At the moment I'm using 2 of these in parallel:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358&C=MS&U=Storage

Not so good in the depths of winter, but ok for most of the year.  :)

Hmm... they're really meant as battery charge maintainers on cars and caravans that go a long time between having a proper charger plugged in .... one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=96861 would be a better bet.....

I use a pair of 15W panels on my camper when I'm doing festivals where I won't be able to run a mains  feed over from the gig....

chrisc

[Unwashed]

I think it's a neat idea, especially if you can build it from scap.

I thought seriously about how to boil a kettle on the allotment.  A gas burner is the obvious answer because it's so cheap but I wanted to do it carbon-neutral if possible so I looked at solar and wind, though a wood-burner is much cheaper and still carbon neutral.

Combining solar and wind isn't a bad idea because solar does better in the summer, and wind in the winter.  There's also a trade-off between generating capacity and storage capacity - at one extreme a big battery bank charged up in the summer can get you through the winter on a modest solar array,  and at the other extreme an enormous solar array will generate enough capacity even in the middle of winter for you to get by with little storage capacity, and if you know the cost of panels and betteries you can work out the cheapest combination for your demand.

Boiling a kettle on solar is particularly expensive because the kettle takes an awful lot of current all in one go.  24V kettles are possible, but take a lot longer to boil than a domestic kettle, and big inverters are expensive and not very efficient.

I'd think seriously about a tilly lamp.

[chriscross1966]

I think the wind turbine idea is probably the best.... it isn't hard to build a Savonius that will kick out a near continuous 20 watts or so, and of course generally the winter is breezier than the summer and it's winter when you need the juice.... if it was really about boiling up a kettle I'd suggest burning something rather than electric anything.... LED's for lighting and if you're lucky you could have a system that would allow a signficant amount of LED grow-lighting if you build a slightly bigger turbine....

chrisc

[tonybloke]

for 'off-grid' boiling water, you can't beat one of these!! https://kellykettle.com/?gclid=COGF7eGb254CFU0A4wod1nXaIQ

[InfraDig]

FC is bringing me one of those. (How sad is that!?)

[tonybloke]

FC is bringing me one of those. (How sad is that!?)

Lucky you!!

[Amazingrotavator(Derby)]

I bought a generator. Alot more simple.

[tonybloke]

I bought a generator. Alot more simple.

since when has refining petroleum been simpler than cutting a few sticks? ;)

[Unwashed]

The Kelly Kettle is quite amazing.  A couple of sheets of newspaper will boil enough water for a brew in minutes.

[lewic]

Kelly/Storm kettles are great but you wouldnt want to light it in your shed as they kick up a load of smoke!

[Unwashed]

depends on your shed!

[Jayb]

depends on your shed!

 ;D ;D ;D

[dtw]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere of somebody using an old sky dish covered in aluminium foil. Mount the kettle at the focal point where the LNB is. I think it generates 1kW on a sunny day.

[Plot69]

I've got one of these for my floating shed on the river. Bit overkill on an allotment though.

[PurpleHeather]

I have read this lot and am shaking my head and saying.

'Some one is seriously short of something to do'

[chriscross1966]

I have read this lot and am shaking my head and saying.

'Some one is seriously short of something to do'

Boys and their toys I think.... we can't help ourselves.....

[Plot69]

'Some one is seriously short of something to do'

Well don't look t me, I'm seriously short of something not to do.

Thank God for Sky+HD, otherwise I'd miss everything...  ::)