wind generator

[MossRoad]

The trick is to identify the most-used light sources and replace them.

That's what I am experimenting with. I have a back porch light that is on 24/7. I had a 40W bulb in there and it would croak about every month or two. So I replaced it with a 13W CFL. I wrote the date on the side of it with a marker. I just went out and looked. 9/6/2008. So, it has lasted longer than any incandescent bulb so far and used 70% less energy.

40W x 24H x 90D = 89400w or 89kwh x $0.11kwh = $9.79 to run that bulb for 90 days.

13W x 24H x 90D = 28080w or 28kwh x $0.11kwh = $3.08 to run that bulb for 90 days.

I saved $6.71 in three months in electricity on one bulb.
Subtract the cost of the bulb... about $2.00 and add in the price of the two incandescent bulbs I would have used, about $1.00 and I still came out over $5.00 ahead in three months, or $20.00 in a year (or more if the CFL lasts longer). That is a significant savings on just one light bulb that is run 24/7.

Lights that only run a few hours a day will take much longer to get payback and that is only if the CFL can take the on-off cycles which I do not know, yet. I have another in my kitchen and three more in my basement that get on-off a few times a day. I dated them, too and will keep track for myself to see how they compared to the incandescents they replaced.

What I do not like about them is they cannot be used on my dimmers and most of the lights in our house are dimmable. The cost of dimmable CFLs is too much for me right now.

 

[EddieWalker]

I ... Plus I'm not so paranoid that I believe the company that builds the bulbs has lied about the electric usage of the bulbs they sell. Of course, they would have to be in on the lie with a variety of agencies who have tested the bulbs to verify that energy usage.

Feel free to live in your paranoia and conspiracy theories.

John

John,

Might be time for that chill pill. We're just discussing personal observations here. I could care less what you do or believe. Seriously.

No need to get all upset because you can't prove what your savings were when changing light bulbs. If it makes you happy, then that's all that really matters. I'm sticking with regular light bulbs myself because that's what makes me happy. If I believed that I could save money by switching, I'd do so. I don't believe it, so I"m not going to.

I'm also not bringing in poisonous mercury into my home that in some states requires a Haz Mat team to clean your house if you break one. Read the labels, those bulbs are very dangerous if broken. What happens to them when they get thrown away? Can't be good for the environment either.

But back to energy usage. I have a Kill A Watt. Bought it off Amazon last year. Neat little device and fun to see what the actual usage is of the stuff that I have that plugs in.

Eddie

 

[QRTRHRS]

In 1982, while job searching after I got a degree in electronics, I worked with a friend who was selling and installing wind electric generators. Tax credits for energy savings updates were about over which pretty much eliminated his business so I only worked with him about six months. While I do occasionally read a related article, overall I have not kept up with wind generators.

More often than not, what people percieve as a good site is merely ground turbulance. You can find wind info on the internet, etc., but as RonMar suggested, setting up an anemometer is the best way. That in itself can be expensive.

As such, many of the installs we did were not the best for wind. Add to that, one of the systems that we installed turned out to be rather problematic. We did have some Jacobs systems that were well sited and were returning on their investment. The Jacobs was a pretty well engineered machine too.

By the way, one of the Jacobs systems we serviced was not one we had installed. The site had good wind but was also prone to lightning strikes. During a dry spell, the tower lost it's ground. It had been tied to the well casing but the water level dropped down to bedrock. During a strike, with no ground, the electronics got "blasted".

It was interesting work by the way. We did the entire install, including tower assembly and install. Our lowest towers were 80 feet plus the height of the generator, the highest around 140 feet. We had residential and municiple units installed. To my knowledge, no one ever climbed the towers besides us. Most people even in good shape quickly find themselves out of breath when they are not used to climbing a tower before they get to far up anyway.

We had no battery systems. All ours worked with the grid and would not operate during times of power outages by the way. The rate that the utlity companies pay you is less than what you pay them. Anyone contemplating a system should first get in touch with their supplier and have a discussion with the engineers. That may not be a bad idea with PV cells as well.

Like I said, I do not keep up with the field but there are a lot of big machines going up around the country. Some pretty big companies must believe that money can be made?

For most of us on the grid though, I think PV's, solar hot water or structural upgrades are more realistic. If I had a tower, I would also be looking for someone to install cell phone or some other communication devices on it as well for the additional income.

 

[Doc_Bob]

If I had a tower, I would also be looking for someone to install cell phone or some other communication devices on it as well for the additional income.

Great idea.
Bob

 

[jim_n_nh]

When I built the house I live in, I walked the talk. Above ground it is made of structual insulated panels, below ground the entire foundation is insulated with 2" of rigid insulation. The top level is earthbermed four feet on the north and west side. I heat the 1744 feet upstairs and 912" feet downstairs with a single woodstock soapstone woodstove. Last year I burnt 2 1/2 cords of wood or about $400 to heat for the year. I live 8 miles from Manchester, NH.

All the lights are CFL's. At the 8 year mark, one failed. All appliances were the best in class as far as energystar ratings. Currently we are trying to replace the gas fired hotwater tank with an on demand type. When the icestorm hit two weeks ago my house never went below 67.

Jim

 

[Doc_Bob]

When I built the house I live in, I walked the talk.

Jim, you are living my dream. Keep up the good work.
Bob

PS Love to see photos.

 

[Eagleview]

I think if you were handy and could find a used water windmill at a reasonable cost and had an open area with enough wind to turn it . You could easily adapt a belt driven 160 amp truck alternator to it . A large pulley on the fan shaft and a small one on the self exciting alt . The deep cycle batteries would need to be at the base of the tower as DC does not reticulate well . If you were energy concious like we are and used low energy appliances it would work . PV cells are a more reliable source though , as said they could be combined later .

 

[Scooby074]

Moss, your calculations are accurate. Less watts used = Lower power bills. Its not a conspiracy its a pretty solid electrical theory. I noticed that Ireland (correct me if im wrong) has outlawed all incandescent bulbs by next year i believe.
On a related note, i noticed that Home Depot is selling 12V LED MR16's. If i remember they were around $20. I believe high power LED is the future of lighting. Extremely long life and very low power consumption.Once Walmart starts selling 120V LED's (within 5 years i'll bet) for $6.99 nobody will be buying CF bulbs. CF bulbs are great for now and certainly better than incandescent, but i have yet to see one last as long as the package says and theres also the mercury issues.

Heres a link to a guy that builds and sells 12 and 24V windmills based on a GM alternator that would be excellent for a remote camp or boat. default 20080213

 

[QRTRHRS]

When I built the house I live in, I walked the talk. Above ground it is made of structual insulated panels, below ground the entire foundation is insulated with 2" of rigid insulation. The top level is earthbermed four feet on the north and west side. I heat the 1744 feet upstairs and 912" feet downstairs with a single woodstock soapstone woodstove. Last year I burnt 2 1/2 cords of wood or about $400 to heat for the year. I live 8 miles from Manchester, NH.

All the lights are CFL's. At the 8 year mark, one failed. All appliances were the best in class as far as energystar ratings. Currently we are trying to replace the gas fired hotwater tank with an on demand type. When the icestorm hit two weeks ago my house never went below 67.

Jim

Sounds pretty neat. Tell us some more if you don't mind? What style is the house? Did you use SIP's for the roof as well? What is the foundation construction? Do you have some kind of air to air heat exchanger for refreshing the air?

 

[Doc_Bob]

On a related note, i noticed that Home Depot is selling 12V LED MR16's.

The LEDS lights look very nice. I saw some at Sams.
Bob