a smorgasbord of wind gennys [RE-wrenches]

[Doug Pratt]

So Marco...you found that the smaller the wattage of the turbine, the less
noise and vibration it made. If we take this to its logical conclusion, a
turbine with no output makes no noise and no vibration. Happy
neighbors...happy homeowners!

  Actually, if you're into trying things out, I'd love to see somebody try
out the Whisper H40. At your beachfront site you've probably got the wind
for this unit. It likes 12 mph and up. Southwest was doing some bragging
about how quiet they are. They even got an acoustic noise report done:
http://www.windenergy.com/SUPPORT/downloads.html#noise%20reports

Cheers,
Doug Pratt

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mangelsdorf, Marco" <mmangelsdorf at hei.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 2:48 PM
Subject: a smorgasbord of wind gennys [RE-wrenches]


> I found the info below, provided by our friends at Ocean Solar in Oregon,
very interesting as a comparison between mainstream  ~400-watt wind
generators.  Any other comments out there on favorite/preferred wind gennys?
>
> We investigated numerous turbines, and decided to run some tests. We liked
the AIR-403 from Southwest Windpower (SWWP)
<http://www.windenergy.com/PRODUCTS/air403.html>, because of the high power
output for its size (rated at 400 watts), and the ability to throw a "stop"
switch and greatly slow the unit. Unfortunately we found the machine to be
unacceptably noisy, and there were stirrings of a neighborhood rebellion.
>
> As well, we placed a couple AIR-403's several feet back on some
south-facing roof dormers for architectural reasons-only to see the dramatic
results of turbulent air. The turbines swung wildly around in the "dirty"
air. It was obvious that because of its loud sound the AIR-403 would not
work in a residential neighborhood. It was also obvious that regardless of
the turbine we used we needed to make sure it was located in a zone of
smooth airflow.
>
> A much better location was identified on the west main roof of the house,
which placed our prospective turbines in smooth air. With this place in mind
we next tested the Ampair Pacific 100 generator <http://www.ampair.com>,
considered to be exceptionally quiet and ruggedly built. This turbine proved
to be much more quiet than the AIR-403, though not very powerful at a rated
100 watts, and without the ability to significantly slow the turbine in high
winds if we wished.
>
> After some weeks of testing it was felt that the Ampair was still not
quite quiet enough for this neighborhood. We also found that the vibration
from the turbine into the structure was unacceptable, and sought to rework
the mounting system.
>
> After hearing about the new AIR-X from SouthWest Wind Power
<http://www.windenergy.com/PRODUCTS/airxmar.html>, we decided to try this
unit. We were encouraged by the SWWP web site, and the suggestion of a SWWP
technician. At low to moderate wind speeds the unit seemed as noisy as the
AIR-403. We had heard that the noisy high-speed "flutter" had been
eliminated from this unit, but we ruled this machine out immediately because
of a loud "swishing-whooshing" sound heard throughout the neighborhood. In a
residential setting this unit was unacceptably loud, even before we reached
higher-winds. It is far from the "neighbor friendly" that SWWP advertises.
>
> Finally we tried a couple Rutland 503 generators
<http://www.marlec.co.uk/products/prods/rut503.htm>, small marine turbines
that produce very little power (maximum of 50-60 watts in high winds). These
units are exceptionally quiet, though they still reminded us of the
vibration issue. For now we are reworking parts of the mounting system, and
plan to use the Rutland units as "placeholders" until we have access to a
quiet, low-vibration, more powerful turbine.
>
> Note that all wind turbines were tested under load (connected to a
battery), and in a range of wind conditions. While we found some of the
units, especially the AIR-403 and AIR-X, to be unacceptable in this location
we feel that they have their place-but not in residential neighborhoods!
>
> We hope that Southwest Windpower, and other wind turbine manufacturers,
put some of their resources into evolving generators that are truly
"neighbor friendly." We believe that such a machine will be much in demand,
and could allow more wind turbines to sprout in residential neighborhoods.
>
>
>

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

==^================================================================
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================