Go to Otherpower.com Home Page Go to Forcefield Shopping Cart Go to Wondermagnet.com Home Page
Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Rants & Opinion - Diaries - Our Products
Sourcing Renewable components in California | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial)
Re: Sourcing Renewable components in California (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by dnix71 (yahoo.com 'dnix71') on Tue Oct 7th, 2008 at 07:04:05 PM MST
(User Info)

HarborFreight's home is Camarillo. That's a lot of panel kits at 45 watts each. They're inexpensive, though, usually about $225/set. Harbor Freight also sells bigger monocrystalline panels.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599

  http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96352

Any auto parts store will have flooded "deep cycle" marine batteries that are rated what you want for about $100 each. If you want sla's, then go to a wheelchair/medicare/medical supply. They're a lot more money, but they won't spill.

The Bergey retails for about $2800. The latest AirX marine 400watt turbines have smart controllers built in so they won't overcharge. You won't need a dump controller with those.



Re: Sourcing Renewable components in California (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by la7qz on Wed Oct 8th, 2008 at 05:37:39 PM MST
(User Info) http://home.no.net/naomij

Hi

The Air X marine turbines always had built in regulators which is one of the reasons I don't recommend them. Apparently, they also have an "industrial" model which does not have the built-in regulator. Up in the turbine head is not a good place for electronics and it makes it impossible to use the excess energy for anything useful (like heating water) once your batteries are full.

The other reason I don't recommend them is the almost incredible noise level, a high pitched swishing sound that carries a long way, particularly over water. Yes, their advertizing says they are quieter, but they are only quieter than their previous efforts. They are far noisier than any other comperable machine I have come across. These noisemakers have probably done more to hinder the acceptance of wind power than any other product on the market.

Many of them also put out serious RF noise. So serious that it is not unusual that the only thing I can hear on my SSB communications radio is the wind turbine on a boat 5-600 feet away. It is the only wind turbine I know of that generates RF interference.

Owen
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
[ Parent ]



Re: Sourcing Renewable components in California (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by dnix71 (yahoo.com 'dnix71') on Mon Oct 13th, 2008 at 09:17:16 PM MST
(User Info)

The AirX has small fast blades, which makes it noisy, true enough. The controller makes it start and stop when near a full charge, so that may also contribute to some of the noise.

I'm suprised to hear about the rf interference, though. Uncle Charlie usually has something to say real quick if you make noise for no reason.

The regulated output is an absolute safety necessity in a marine application. It would be easy to burn to the waterline if a marine electrical generator just kept churning out in a storm, esp. since you may not be able to bring it down in high winds/rough seas.

[ Parent ]



Sourcing Renewable components in California | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial)

Menu
· create account
· How to use the board
· FAQs
· search the board
· Google search the board
· Old Otherpower Board

Login
Make a new account
Username:
Password:

Powered by Scoop
You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest © 2003 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!