wind power

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 17:54
ThreadID: 65496 Views:2811 Replies:7 FollowUps:14
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Out of curiosity is it possible to purchase or buy a portable wind generator that is capable of charging a battery running a Engel fridge, instead of using solar panels?
Daz
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Reply By: jdwynn (Adelaide) - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:02

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:02
Daryl, check out threads 18559 & 48872. Few others too. I gave it some thought about a year ago but decided for my rig it would be too awkward to travel with. They say output for dollars spent potentially better than solar, especially I guess if you're set up near a beach. cheers
AnswerID: 346394

Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:09

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:09
I looked too.
Difficult to transport and you will be shocked in terms of how much noise they make when they are working properly.
Still reccon it is a great idea, if/when someone comes up with the right product.
Look in your local big boat shop.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID: 346397

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:16

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:16
Peter - This subject could start a whole new hate debate, I think they would be noisier than a gen set indeed! That is if the ones you hear on the boats are anything to go by, they make a horrific roar when they get a gust of wind. Wind is not relaiable enough when you travel anyway, some places have more then their fair share, others to calm. Cheers Tony
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:48

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:48
Tony, the noise is real, but the attraction is when the sun does not shine, it might be windy.
Sun is good for 5-6 hours per day.
Wind might work for 24.........?

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
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FollowupID: 614427

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 00:55

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 00:55
Noisy, noisy, noisy!

Couple of years ago wifey and I drove in to Thurra River, parked where the gate locked off the track and commenced the walk up to Point Hicks Lighthouse.

When I thought we were near the lighthouse we heard the sound of a helicopter winding up in preparation to take off. Not wanting to miss seeing a copter take off at close range I started sprinting up the track whilst trying to ready the camera gear only to hear the rotors wind down. After a very short period of time they started winding up again.

Furiously staggering over the last rise I was confronted with a wind turbine with blades that would not have been much more than a metre each in length.

As a comparison I experienced commercial wind turbines on massive pylons, these things are seriously speed controlled and turn at a snails pace compared to small units yet even half a kilometre away you can hear the "wump, wump" they make.

Don't let any one try to con you that wind power is silent. I'd rather listen to a current generation generator from one of the better manufacturers anyday.


Ian.
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FollowupID: 614499

Follow Up By: bruce - Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 11:48

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 11:48
Those "wump,wump," towers must be different to the ones we have along the coast near us...they are huge and one in particular that you can stand about 30ft away from emits only a gentle "swish, swish ,swish" , sound as it slowly spins around producing pollution free power....and it does not take much wind speed to get them in motion....and I am not trying to "con" anyone....cheers
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FollowupID: 614531

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 17:10

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 17:10
Peter - I mentioned the above because of your stance against gen sets and how anti social they were for noise, a few threads back, in the thread gen seats in National Parks. So are you now saying it is OK to be anti socia,l if its wind generated noise? Can you see why I am having a big :-). Can not wait for this reply :-). Cheers Tony
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FollowupID: 614606

Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 19:22

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 19:22
Relax, as I said Tony....
"I looked too.
Difficult to transport and you will be shocked in terms of how much noise they make when they are working properly.
Still reccon it is a great idea, if/when someone comes up with the right product. "
Great idea. Would love a silent one.
As they are? Would not buy one in a fit!

My hopes are still with fuel cells, but there is some way to go yet.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

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FollowupID: 614641

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 20:02

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 20:02
Peter - I am very relaxed, just remember its hard to have this type of discussion when expressions can not be exchanged - no malice intended. They have a long way to go with these products. Cheers Tony
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FollowupID: 614649

Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) - Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 20:03

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 20:03
Peter - I am very relaxed, just remember its hard to have this type of discussion when expressions can not be exchanged - no malice intended. They have a long way to go with these products. Cheers Tony
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FollowupID: 614650

Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:37

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:37
I don't know about anybody else, but when I go away for a trip I like to pick a place wher the weather is hopefully nice and balmy. Hopefully quite a bit of sunshine and not much wind is the order of the day for me.

That counts out a windpower solution for me anyway.

Dave
'Wouldn't be dead for quids'

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AnswerID: 346403

Reply By: bennspoon - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:42

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 18:42
Altronics sold them a little while back- I saw them in their brochures. They had 2x different models, but they were pretty small output- not enough to run a fridge. They looked about 1m in diameter- pretty big and cumbersome to lug around and not really made to be portable.
AnswerID: 346404

Reply By: ross - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 19:58

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 19:58
I have one on top of my 75 series and make free power while I am driving.
Cant even hear the roar
AnswerID: 346416

Follow Up By: dindy - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:37

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:37
ross, what happened to your alternator?
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FollowupID: 614420

Follow Up By: ross - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:40

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:40
Dont need one anymore. I reckon another 2-3 windmills up there and I can just about do away with the 1HZ and go total enviro
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FollowupID: 614422

Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:45

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 20:45
Perpetual motion?
I reccon ross is having a lend of us......

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
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FollowupID: 614424

Follow Up By: Matt(WA) - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 22:13

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 22:13
Daryl,

They are pretty damn noisy. A couple of years ago the caretaker at a camping spot I frequent had a wind turbine. It was about 60m away from our campsite and I would have prefered camping next to the Generator house at monkey mia caravanpark.

Rekon solar is the better option.

Matt

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Follow Up By: Member - Allan S (WA) - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 22:30

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 22:30
Daryl,
Been there done that, it is much simpler to stay with solar.
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Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 22:40

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 at 22:40
There's always the option of making your own wind generator!

The Back Shed

Geoff

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AnswerID: 346469

Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 13:38

Thursday, Jan 29, 2009 at 13:38
I have a 400W 24V wind generator ten metres from the loungeroom window.

I also have a Westpac Rescue Helipad that I built 300Metres from the house and I enjoy the hum of the wind generator but I hate the slap of the chopper coming in as even though its a blessing I know some poor bugger is in serious trouble.

The wind gen you can get used to.

Currently we have a balmy nor easter blowing which we get most days and the wind gen is running .How's every one else travelling hot enough.
Ian

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FollowupID: 614559

Reply By: Ianw - Sunday, Feb 22, 2009 at 13:33

Sunday, Feb 22, 2009 at 13:33
wind gennys


Try here

Ian
AnswerID: 350392

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