 Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me. |
Forum Index : Windmills : Want to BUY NEW WIND TURBINE
Page 1 of 2   |
|||||
| Author | Message | ||||
| humanatek Newbie  Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 7 |
Hey guys... TOTAL NEWBIE here, so please know right now before you cats FLAME ME OUT OFF THE SITE that NO I haven't surfed this entire site yet, but I am on market for a wind turbine for my rural home in Riverside, California. Here's what I've done so far. 1) I've called 3 wind turbine vendors approved by the state of California to purchase. I have gotten nothing but flakes that have NOT returned my calls, empty promises.. and poor service, I fired them before I decided to actually hire them. 2) I've tried to fill out my State of CA form to lock in my reimbursement for my turbine 3) I now have the budget to pay for the install on my property 4) I think I know which turbine I want (5000w) however, I'm not sure if that particular turbine meets my needs or exceeds my needs (as per California's rule) That's it guys... can anyone help me a sorry freshman, trying to get HOMEGROWN POWER. Thanks guys, H. Martin de'Campo humanatek@gmail.com Martin in Riverside, California |
||||
GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Martin, I don't think what you are doing is really homegrown. A 5kW unit is probably 20x the output of a std F&P windmill. You must have a good location to invest in this size, so you could be producing in excess of 20kWhr per day. A local forum member may be able to help you on the statutory requirements.... Gordon. become more energy aware |
||||
| humanatek Newbie Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 7 |
Hey Gordon, thanks very much for your reply. I guess you're right, it is just a tad beyone "homegrown."  But, as things begin to heat up in this Riverside desert, I definitely don't want to be exposed to the nasty $800 to $1000 per month utility bills I had last year during this time.... OUCH!  I live on a one acre lot, with my home on one end, the highest part of the lot. BTW, since I am on the higher part of my lot, about 20 feet above the street, winds up here can get as fast at 75mph! So the turbine/mast will need to be able to easily withstand those winds every so often.
Any help and guidance or direction any of you cool cats on this site could provide would BE totally APPRECIATED on my end.... Martin Martin in Riverside, California |
||||
Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Hi Martin. I agree with Gordon, a 5kw windmill is not an easy project, though it could be done with the right tools and expertise. What you need to find is a consultant, someone who knows the local laws, and can get the right people to install the windmill and infrastructure. The local battery suppliers ( big batteries, not your AA's ) could point you in the right direction. They will usually stock inverters, solar panels etc, and would have someone who can do the installations for them. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
||||
| humanatek Newbie Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 7 |
Cool! Thanks Glenn. So for the Riverside or Los Angeles area, would I just Google my way to "battery suppliers" in my county? Any referrals? I'm in the 92509 zip. So before I sound too dumb here do you guys think a 5000w turbine could help me avoid a $1000 power bill from the Southern California Edison THIEVES?... er I mean power company? Thanks again guys! Martin in Riverside, California |
||||
| petanque don Senior Member Joined: 02/08/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 212 |
While I don’t know what you pay per Kw hour if you are interested in saving money on power bills often the cheapest solution is to examine the potential to save power. You can do this today with little expense and no bureaucracy. |
||||
| KiwiJohn Guru  Joined: 01/12/2005 Location: New ZealandPosts: 691 |
Hi Martin, I am sure just about everyone on this site wishes to help you but most of your problems seem to be rather local, maybe there is someone local to your area who can step up to the plate but I doubt anyone in Australia or NZ can tell you how to fill in those California forms or overcome the lethargy of your local suppliers. 
However, a 5Kw rig would be a fine thing so please keep us informed of your progress.
|
||||
| KiwiJohn Guru Joined: 01/12/2005 Location: New ZealandPosts: 691 |
Deleted by me, double post (dont know why!  ). |
||||
| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Martin, what is the unit price you pay for power? ie $ per kWhr. At $900 per month equates to 30 units per day at $1 per unit. If the wind average is only 1/4 the max you say occurs, then you should produce some serious kWhr. I have found that the if you start to do things youself, then retail suppliers don't seem to want to help you. They lose a lot of the profitability if they don't do all the job. If they were to sell you a complete system, then the paper work would not be a big issue. I found a similar windmill on the net for about AU$5000. I went to an installer and the installed price was close to 3x. I guess that if you choose to bypass the retail component, then you are expected to do it all. You have to consider the engineering aspects of a large mill as well. You will probably need engineering certification if you intend to make you own tower etc. The electrical connections will have similar issues. This would need to be a high voltage unit with grid connection. Do you need to store energy? I assume you have the grid connected, as you currently have power bills. I would try and see a similar windmill in operation. My experience with a skystream 3.7, indicates potential noise issues. Even at 150m away there is significant noise in windy conditions. You may find that this size system has sophisticated control electronics. They usually have overspeed shutdown. This can severely reduce total output if located in a windy spot. This type of info is not always in the brochure. I will leave it at that. Please get back with some amswers to the questions... Gordon. become more energy aware |
||||
| humanatek Newbie Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 7 |
Martin in Riverside, California |
||||
| humanatek Newbie Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 7 |
Gordon: great questions, great analysis, very deductive reasoning... thank you. I am connected currently to the grid. Southern California Edison, the power supplier/utility would rather NOT pay me money if my wind mill produces MORE than I use... and the state of California will only pay for a mill that produces "EXACTLY" what my power requirements are, or they won't pay for it. In my opinion, "exactly" is fairly opinionated, but I am acquiring info even as I post this reply to you. I guess the state wants to make sure I get a mill that accomodates my needs, whatever accomodates means, so that they dont pay for mills that end up costing local utility companies in the state money. What I've heard is that if an individual makes more power than necessary, the utility company no longer has to pay, rather, they'll give you credit towards FREE power in future bills... as long as I get that $1000 per month bill off my ass, I'll be really happy! Any other input ou experts can provide would be appreciated. Kind regards, Martin de'Campo humanatek@gmail.com Martin in Riverside, California |
||||
| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Martin, Can I assume you do not have to store energy and is the unit price $0 per kWhr, or is it classified.... Gordon. become more energy aware |
||||
| brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548 |
Hi Martin ,,, $1000 per month for electricity,,,WOW ,, what are you guys running ????. We pay around $ 80 dollars a month for our house ,,,,two adults ,air-con used couple times a year ,,heating chopped down trees in our back paddock, You'de better look at cuddling up up a bit more drinking rum.. Bruce Bushboy |
||||
Mertz Newbie Joined: 03/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 15 |
I was talking to a supplier and he told me, that unlike Washington, California will pay for the installation of a wind generator. They will pay 100% of the cost within 90 days of installation. I would check with the state to confirm. I believe that law is that the utility has to buy back the excess power you make and that the program ends in 2014. The amount they pay for the power is being reduces as the program continues. The initial pay back with the right equipment in Washington was as much as $1.50 per kwh. That is not a typo $1.50 per kwh. The most I can get now is $0.33. We pay $0.056 per kwh. Mertz |
||||
| humanatek Newbie Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 7 |
Hey Gordon, no, frankly I don't have to store energy, but I don't mind if I do either. In fact storing energy sounds good to me. So long as I stay off the grid!  My unit price for power is as of this Spring month 701 kWh = $62.00 US dollars. I guess you'd divide the 62.00 by 701 kwh right? Mind you that my $1000 dollar monthly power bill is typically for the hot desert summer months, where the AC runs all day / night. It has to... the temps here in the desert exceet 100 degrees fahrenheit. And I have a baby girl, and a wife that likes comfort (you guys get me on this right?)...
So, my bill is big in June, July, August, September... the bill kills me, it's like nice used car I have to pay for every summer! HELP! Martin in Riverside, California |
||||
| humanatek Newbie Joined: 16/04/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 7 |
I wish the state would pay me 1.50kwh! Martin Martin in Riverside, California |
||||
| petanque don Senior Member Joined: 02/08/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 212 |
Doing some rough maths you use about 2.5 times the power in one month of summer than I use in total for a year. What is a reasonable and sustainable thing probably depends on who you ask. Last summer we had 16 days in a row that the temperature was above 100 F Perhaps you need to suggest to your wife that you become nudists in the warmer months and run the air conditioning a lot warmer. |
||||
| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Martin, 8.8cUS/kwhr equates to 10cAU. Mertz is paying only 5.6cUS. This is half the unit cost in Aus. The $1000 per month equates to about 380kWhr per day. I think a bad day is with 43C temp and I have to operate a fan to keep my house cool. I have checked my last summer records and my peak daily total household consumption was only 20kWhr. I think most RE households would be appalled at the energy your house consumes. I estimate that you would probably need many 5kW windmills to reduce this 380kWhr per day grid consumption. Others have mentioned to reduce the total consumption first. Insulation, shading, etc etc may help. You may need to look at the actual house. I would not consider attempting to be off the grid in your situation. The large difference in the summer and winter loading negates this. If your circumstances are typical, then no wonder the planet is warming. Remember that about 3 units of energy are required to get 1 unit to your door. ... Gordon. become more energy aware |
||||
| KiwiJohn Guru Joined: 01/12/2005 Location: New ZealandPosts: 691 |
I am afraid Gordon is right, 380kWhr per day would require a steady input of more than 15kw! Even in the best locations your 5kw wind mill will not produce 5kw for many hours of the day, I think you need more than 20kw of generator capacity at least, maybe 50kw to handle peaks! Martin, I respectfully suggest that there is something amiss with the information you have to give us, have you ever considered that you might actually be being grossly over billed for the power you are getting? |
||||
| GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
Hi Martin, KiwiJohn has a good point, unless you have a fully airconditioned really big house.... Gordon. become more energy aware |
||||
| Page 1 of 2 |
|||||
 Print this page |
 |
The Back Shed's forum code is written, and hosted, in Australia. | © JAQ Software 2025 |
