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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Boondocking, Solar Power, and Related Items -> Wind as a supplement to Solar
Post Info TOPIC: Wind as a supplement to Solar
bigboomer


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Wind as a supplement to Solar
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After I constructed our solar system to take maximum advantage of Mother Nature's free energy, I gave some thought as to when the sun don't shine for either extended periods or how to charge the battery bank after sun down by taking advantage of Mother Nature's other free energy source, wind!

What I ended up deciding after some research was to use a Primus Wind Power 40 Wind Generator which would be wired into the solar panel system so that when there is no energy being sent from the panels then the wind turbine would supplement and help keep the batteries at full capacity.

In order to put the turbine up above the RV I used a collapsible flag pole and using the anchors where the flags would normally go as the guide wire connections to stabilize and secure the pole. I also used empty 5 gallon pails filled with water at the bottom to secure the wire down.

Where we are at now in the NE in the Catskill Mtns the wind blows very regularly above 15 mph and quite often above 25 mph. We have had winds clocked in above 50 mph and the turbine was buzzing away! I have been monitoring the input from the turbine and so far the maximum input I have recorded was 410 watts when winds were hitting 20 mph.

The nice thing about the set up is that it is very portable and it does not take up a lot of room when broken down and we are traveling.

Here is a link to photos and videos of it in action and also to Northern Arizona Wind and Solar where I purchased all of the components.

http://s962.photobucket.com/user/mybigboomer/library/RV%20Solar%20System

www.solar-electric.com


-- Edited by bigboomer on Monday 24th of November 2014 05:51:30 AM



-- Edited by bigboomer on Monday 24th of November 2014 05:55:16 AM



-- Edited by bigboomer on Tuesday 25th of November 2014 12:40:30 PM

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Sushidog


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Cool! Nice setup. Light weight, low start-up speed - you have chosen wisely.

Here's a good treatise on wind power for the uninitiated. store.mwands.com/wind-turbine-products/

Are you using a dump load?

Chip

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bigboomer


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Thanks Chip. With the Primus turbine it has a built in electronic brake with an internal charge controller so when it reads the batteries are full or if the solar is charging the batteries then it is braked and will not spin thus protecting the turbine.

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'20 DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4

 
Bill and Jodee


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I'm so glad to see this information as I have always thought wind power would be ideal in so many areas. This is likely a silly question but is there a means for generating wind power when driving down the highway at 60 MPH? Would the turbine be able to withstand that pressure?

If the wind could provide some additional power I would probably like it much more when out there

Jodee

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Camper Chronicles


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Thank you so much for sharing this Les...that is amazingly cool.

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Diana and Jim


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Lee and Trace wrote:

Thank you so much for sharing this Les...that is amazingly cool.

 X2, Les!  This is something a lot of people don't think about in the realm of an RV, including myself.

Jim



-- Edited by Diana and Jim on Tuesday 25th of November 2014 08:50:43 AM

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jimindenver


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How is the noise?

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bigboomer


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Actually noise is not bad....when it is really windy and you are inside you do not hear it but we hear the slide toppers flap! If your outside it sounds like a lot fluttering birds.

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'20 DRV Mobile Suites 40KSSB4

 
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