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Northern Tool 30' Tower
By Jedon, Section Wind Posted on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 10:16:37 PM MST
How sturdy is it?

I am considering getting the 1000W 10' Otherpower wind generator and have been trying to figure out how to have a cheap tower for now, I need to keep immediate costs down so I can finish building my house.
Would this:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200320203_200320203
Hold up that turbine?
Any alternate tower suggestions?
Here is a picture of where I would need to put it for now, not optimal for sure. There are 120+ ft trees all over. We do get a nice breeze most of the time though.

Northern Tool 30' Tower | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by halfcrazy on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 05:31:28 PM MST
(User Info)

I dont think that tower is going to cut it way to light duty. plus i would discourage anything under 150 ft tall if you are surounded by 120ft trees

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by Jedon on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 06:22:28 PM MST
(User Info) http://darklingcastle.com

How much does it cost to buy/make a 150ft tower? Net searches didn't turn up anything under about $8000.

[ Parent ]

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by wdyasq on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 08:27:16 PM MST
(User Info)

DanB built a tilt-up of less than 100' and spent several thousand dollars, IIRC. It was of 1" or 12" thin wall pipe.

Ron
Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen
[ Parent ]

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by wdyasq on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 at 05:06:25 AM MST
(User Info)

Should read 10" or 12" pipe ...1" be a bit light at 100'....

Ron
Adventure is just bad planning." -- Roald Amundsen
[ Parent ]

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by halfcrazy on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 08:04:51 PM MST
(User Info)

not much of an expert on towers but i think you would be pushing the limits of tilt up so you may be getting into a guyed lattice tower?

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by wpowokal on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 10:47:28 PM MST
(User Info)

IMHO your chances of getting any usable power from that site on a 30' tower even if it could support the turbine are next to nill. Far too many trees(turbulance)a breeze is nice on a hot day but power it does not make.

A good tower will generally cost more than the turbine. Put a 10' turbine on anything less than 3" even at 30' and you will possibly be heading for a crash.

allan down under
A life lived in fear is a life half lived.

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by wooferhound (tim((NoSpamAt))wooferhound.com) on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 at 07:48:54 AM MST
(User Info) http://wooferhound.com

I suggest that you put up a Test Prop on a cheap mast to see what kind of wind you have there.

Another suggestion would be a Chainsaw.
W o o f -={(

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by dlenox (dlenox@briery.com) on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 at 08:09:25 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.briery.com/wind_turbine

Jedon,

for free standing lattice towers (no guy wires) I would recommend http://www.anwireless.com.

I have a 70' one working with my 17' turbine on top of it.

Dan Lenox

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by luv2weld (luv2weld at hughes dot net) on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 at 08:18:36 AM MST
(User Info)

The specs on that tower include 260 feet of 1/8 inch cable/wire rope.
I don't think anyone here would recommend putting up a 10 footer with
1/8 inch guy wires.

If you are determined to put a tower on that site, do as was already
suggested. At least 3 inch pipe and try a test tower to check how
much usable wind you actually get. Try a metal recycler/scrap yard.

Also contact construction companies that specialize in underground
utilities. If they replace underground gas lines, you might be able
to get some 4 inch pipe from them for scrap prices.

And PLEASE use guy wires larger than 1/8 inch!!!!!

Ralph
"The best way to kill time is to work it to death!!"

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by GeeMac (foxunc@telus.net) on Wed Aug 6th, 2008 at 05:05:43 AM MST
(User Info)

Cheap Cheap

Ask around at the local radio, tv and police/fire stations to see if they have any old towers on the ground. They might give it to you or sell it at a low price just to get it off their land. Our local station had a huge mast on the ground for years before sending it to the junkyard as scrap.
GeeMac

Re: Northern Tool 30' Tower (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by Jedon on Wed Aug 6th, 2008 at 10:35:41 AM MST
(User Info) http://darklingcastle.com

Thank you all for the advice, I guess that flimsy pole is out.
Other cheap ways to mount the generator:
Telephone pole ? - Sometimes people just give these away or are cheap, 40-60'
Limb and top a pretty big tree that isn't too close to the other trees? 80-100'
Or maybe I should start with a smaller generator? 400W?
Thanks!
-Jedon

Northern Tool 30' Tower | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 editorial)

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