Tower Materials

[ebeacham]

I am going to build a wind turbine this next year and want to start accumulating materials for my tower.  Where are you guys finding materials?  I am looking for 10" pipe.  Thanks,  Eric

[dashting]

I bought an old house previously owned by a ham (with entire estate) so I was lucky enough to inherit loads of great junk; towers, masts, wire, metal, electronic components....  so my advise would be to talk to some radio enthusiests.  I used 4" alum army surplus mast he had laying around.

[Volvo farmer]

Dan's latest tower is 10" pipe but I think that's because he planned on putting his 20' turbine on it at 75 feet. I think there are a lot of 10' turbines flying on guyed towers that are 2-3" diameter, as long as the height doesn't exceed 40' or so. The size of your turbine will have a lot to do with what size your tower needs to be.

I live in the "gas patch" and there is an incredible amount of used pipe available in diameters from 2-6" People build fence from the stuff because it is so available and cheap. I got about 60' of 2 3/8" or 2 7/8" (can't remember) brought out here locally for less than a c-note.

[Nando]

Can You translate ?

What is a C-note ?.

Can You expand if there are more ?-notes ?.

Nando

[wdyasq]

C note - $100 bill - comes from Roman "C" used to designate 100.  Common in the real world of trading and barganing with the huddled masses tryign to keep from starving.

Ron

[pepa]

century-note $100 US dollars, old american gangster movie term. fin=$5, sawbuck $10, double sawbuck $20. pepa.

[Nando]

And what about the 50 bill ?

Pentabuck ?.

Nando

[ebeacham]

I am going to build a 10KW plus unit that will be 120' high,  I believe rotor diameter will be 25-26 ft.

[dashting]

woa; now that's a tower.

[force9BOAT]

Why so tall?

[ebeacham]

I want to be sure I stay above the treeline which is about 90' tops.

[wpowokal]

Wow, just a small comment, you are or have a structual enginere as a friend?

Local governing body aproval, at that height your turbine will stick out like the preverbial dogs b.....s.

Are you planning this as a tilt tower? The logistics of tilting 120' boggles my mind, but with suficient determination you will suceed I'm sure. My observation of large towers ie. Jackob's 10Kw is that they used a lattice tower.

I am a believer in several smaller units, but then I don't need to go so high either.

Non of which answers your question of where to source 10' pipe.

allan down under

[Ungrounded Lightning Rod]

Are you planning this as a tilt tower? The logistics of tilting 120' boggles my mind,...

Nothing to it.  You just need a jin pole to raise the jin pole to raise the jin pole to raise the mast.  B-)

A surplus tank to haul on the tow line would be good but a block-and-tackle would be better.  Use enough gain and you can crank it with an ordinary winch.

Start early in the day so you still have sun when you finish.  B-)

But seriously...

[ebeacham]

On the subject,  Is there a site that has detailed info on making your own tower?

I had planned to get a 15,000 lb winch and use my mini excavator ( 12,000 lbs ) to raise and lower the tower.

[thefinis]

There should be several web sites out there on tower building but most of them are going to be for smaller towers that carry a smaller load. For something like what you want/need a used commercial tower might be a good investment.

Finding ten inch pipe will vary based on where you are. Look for a pipe yard or a contractor that does construction with pipe and ask them where it might be found. Next best bet for used would be an iron recycling yard. Where the cars from the wrecking yard go. It will not be cheap even used.

You are going to start having problems with slow rpms on that big a diameter 25 ft unless you can keep the tsr real high or go to a gear box.

Finis

[badmoonryzn]

It's a man thing!