Started A New Residential Wind Project This Week PICS.

On thursday this week I started construction on a new wind turbine. Weather hasn't been real cooperative. Any way I got as much ditch dug as I could before Concrete truck comes in to pour foundation. (don;t need him getting stuck in newly backfilled ditch) Mfrs. plans in heavy clay ground call for 2.5 yd concrete 2500# mix in a 2' Sonatube. I dig a square 5'X5'X 5' Hole and pour 5yds of 4000# mix in an undesterbed hole. I build a plywood form +- 1' above ground level, plus the 6" riser 2' square in the center. Math says 4.67 yds., Ordered 5y. 5yd is cuttoff for short loads so I might as well get the extra concrete, for added strength and mass. The ditch length is 218' plus risers at the garage and tower foundation. The wind turbine is phase 1 of a hybrid (wind/solar) generation system, So we are running AWG 4 two leg + N & continuious ground all the way back to the main breaker panal. The wind turbine supplies 240V electricity at the turbine head and the PV system will incorperate Micro Inverters which will do likewise when erected out by the turbine. Combined Max Output, 4400W rated @ 240V--35Amps combined. Each system is capable of achiving higher outputs in perfect conditions, but the probability of both systems peaking at the same time is remote. I have seen the wind turbines that I have installed deliver 2900 watts, 500w over rated output momentarly though.
Here's some of the pics as of now. I will post the progress in days to come.

thats a really neat job. You make me feel bad that I posted pictures fixing an old shed when you do complicated things like that!

Looking forward to the updates. Being in the building trades I find these posts interesting. I have considered wind power for supplying some of the power for the home where my wife and may be moving to. I am old enough now though (mid fifties) that I doubt that I would ever see the payback!

I like you old shed repairs. I'm more likely to repair a shed than erect a windmill. Though both are intresting.

Larry
I've worked both Restoration and New Construction projects. Restorarion is much more chalanging than building new. Also far far more satisfaction in saving an old work of art from yesteryear than building something new, other than the fact that you can tell your kids that I built that, when you show them a new building that you designed and built. I am farm bread, meaning when someone offers you a chalange you address it, form a plan, and deliver a quality product.

Keep sending the pictures as the turbine goes up. It will be interesting to see it from start to finish, thanks Larry

The clouds sure look familiar, but the soil doesn't. Nothing but mud here, for the last two months!

A friend of mine installed one in ohio about 10 years ago at a cost of 30000.He's 30 years old and doubts he will ever see a payoff.On a good day it produces less than a third of the electric they need for there old two story farm house.They sell a few dollars a month electric back to the electric company at 4cents a kilowat.
The electric company charges him 15 dollars a month for the electric meter for the system.Some months that's all the electric it produces.

Interesting setup for placing the j-bolts. I have always bolted the j's to the actual baseplste then welded angle or strap to fix them in place.
The whole assembly can be placed in the mud and leveled.
Different ways to skin the same cat I suppose.

Brad

Geesh, now there's someone besides Norm Abram that gives me that "inadequate" feeling.
Looks really good. Look forward to seeing it thru to completion.