Northern Tool 30' Tower

[Jedon]

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.

[halfcrazy]

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

[Jedon]

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

[halfcrazy]

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?

[wdyasq]

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

[wpowokal]

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

[wdyasq]

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

Ron

[wooferhound]

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.

[dlenox]

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

[luv2weld]

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

[GeeMac]

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.

[Jedon]

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