it's happened - the FUNKY turbine!

[Martin]

spent a very pleasant afternoon with the designer of these

-sorry it's a titchy picture - to my mind it's providing exactly what I think the market needs - a damned good product, that actually LOOKs good - sort of the "Glock" of turbines - anodised black ally finish, no nosecone (apparently they hamper performance) - we're going to be main dealers for them - release date, August sometime - for the techies - 85w rating at 8m/s - 240w max - English made - about £400! 8)
I'm impressed! (and I don't impress easily)

[ina]

Can we have customised blades, please - I'd like some with the SSish logo on them!

Sorry. They seriously look good... And I believe you about the technical stuff, not being a tech buff myself.

[den_the_cat]

so what would that reallistically power Martin? And what volume of batteries would you need if you didn't patch it back into the grid?

This stuff is fascinating but I don't know enough about it yet

[Martin]

they predict that it should give you between 20 and 30kwh per month, which equates to around 1kwh per day. (about 10% of the average daily household consumption)
So, in understandable terms, you could possibly have enough to power your lighting needs as long as you stick to energy saving bulbs!
There's two ways to go with the power you produce - shovel it into a battery bank, and use it when needed, or go for grid-tie! There are small grid tie inverters in the pipeline which will suit. With a small generator like this, most people would opt for a battery bank, probably something like 4x110amp lead acid deep cycle batteries - on top of that you'd need the mast, fixings, and something called a dump-load controller, which stops the batteries overcharging. 8)
I think this is going to get used on a lot of yachts and caravans, would be ideal for powering things like water pumps on farms, and is an excellent "starter" turbine that will produce useable amounts of power. Before someone asks - roof mounting - in a word - don't! - in this case the manufacturer is honest enough (unlike many others in the small turbine market) to advise strongly against roof mounting! (put simply -it'll cause vibration, structural damage,and wind flow over a roof is too intermittent to be of ANY practical use!)

[Martin]

ps - just got the email confirming that we can have an erection!
........of the mast for this turbine at the BGG, in the caravan field, for the duration of the festival!
So, any ishers with a flat 12v battery at the festival - if it's windy, we'll have some power to spare - come and grab a free charge of green electricity! 8)
(knowing my luck, we'll get the thing up, and there won't be a breath of wind for the whole festival!)

[Martin]

I'm not sure if this'll work, but it's even got a video!
http://www.samrey.co.uk/downloads/Produ ... npres1.mpg

[Ranter]

My terraced house has an East/West orientation so I know solar panels aren't a viable option, but given that I'm mid-terrace could I attach a wind-turbine to the chimney stack? I know it would be subject to planning laws etc & this is not something I can go for now, but I'm planning for when I'm healthier & can get back to earning some money.

[Martin]

well, be prepared for a shock! I would NOT recommend it!
And we sell them!.............if you fancy a bit of a read, I've pretty comprehensively explained the whys and wherefores here - this was written for a school, but I think you'll find it relevant! http://solarwind.org.uk/forum_viewtopic.php?10.9
On the other hand solar hot water heating panels can work fine on an E/W site - we just have a panel on each side,(one more than normal) a bit of extra piping and nifty switching - might send it up to all of £3,250 all-in!
Solar pv panels are a definite no no - cut and paste from same forum
"Splendid devices! - so simple to use, no moving parts, will last for 30 years or more
If they were cheap enough they have to be one of the very best forms of renewables, but they do at the moment have some very serious drawbacks - mostly that of cost! We are dependant on the global market, and in recent years, the price of panels has risen by some 30%, mostly due to the enormous demand from the German market, so to put in large arrays is "buying at the top of the market" -especially as there are big breakthroughs happening - my prediction is that we will see the prices plummet, probably in as soon as two years!
Based on those simple current facts, we cannot in all conscience suggest investment in large arrays - they are just not cost effective - the money will be far better spent on other technologies, or the PV part of any scheme put "on hold" until the prices drop!"

[the.fee.fairy]

Martin, i'll be at BGG too. Let me know where you are and i'll come say hello (and drool over the turbine)!

[Martin]

brilliant - be great to see you! - all I know is that we'll be somewhere in the campervan/caravan field - I've got a 12' blue and white caravan (a 1973 Knowsley Juno for afficionados) - with luck there'll be a 6 metre tower with a funky turbine on the top of it - and if you see this weirdo in a sarong with a silly moustache - say hello, we just met!

[Ranter]

OOh it was a shock, but thanks anyway Martin,

All very useful info. Good to know that solar water heating would be a good way forward for me. Bit disappointed about the wind turbine not being suitable though, I do think they're beautiful.

[Martin]

really sorry, I love them too! - I'd love to be able to say "yes do it" , but I know the results would at the very least be disappointing, and may well cause major structural problems - if it's of any cheer, I think the price of pv panels may well come down to a much more sensible level in the next few years!

[Martin]

pssst! - just got the confirmation - there will be a few turbines ready for distribution in about a fortnight - full release in August! - don't tell a soul - strictly entre nous!