Wind or Solar Power, DIY?
May 30th, 2009 by Mr.Burton
I see alot of people asking about making their own wind turbines and solar panels, and the only answers they are getting is links to sites that want you to pay for the information/plans. Are their any sites that give you this information for free?
It may not be free but as an example I purchased the guide from http://www.ebooksreviewed.info/earth4energy and constructed a small scale wind turbine (I plan on making a few more as well) and I have to say the design was about as easy as it can get when dealing with something like this. It also provided places to get everything for as cheap as possible. In the end I spent a few hundred dollars for something that sells for $7,000 – $10,000, so I don't think you're wasting your money on a guide, you're never going to make one for free either. The materials alone cost a few hundred and then it takes some time to assemble and if you plan on attaching to the power grid you will need your city/county inspector and the electric company inspector to come out. I hardly think that $50 for a guide is a large cost. If you do plan on assembling one yourself I was pleased with my experience and recommend it. I calculate that I will recoupe my overhead costs within 8-10 months.
The reason for that is simple. When dealing with that much power you really need to have someone that knows what they are doing and knows the local laws that apply to such devices in your area.
See, in many areas you can put up a solar power system, but it has to be inspected by the city/county. in addition if you screw up and get yourself or someone else killed. The website author can be taken to court and thats not something anyone will risk.
References :
I have used these people's products before.
Yes they will sell you things also, but they have some good info about wind and solar also.
When I talked to them years ago they were very nice and helpful.
Making your own wind turbine might be possible to someone with electrical skills or even automotive skills since you will be charging a "car type" battery.
But building your own solar panels with any usable efficiency I would think would be very difficult.
Solar seems to be getting cheaper – right now I see about $5/watt for a 12 V panel.
So if they can get it down to $1-2/Watt then we may have more solar going up everywhere.
References :
This page goes over much about Solar & Wind power generation for homes.
http://www.windsun.com/Photovolaic_Systems/Home_basics1.htm
If you read it you can see they are being very blunt and honest about what it can and cannot do for most people.
I don't know any sites, but I don't think solar or wind would work. There isn't always sunlight, and there isn't always wind
References :
M&N
Both of those items take a lots of technology and equipment.
To make a solar panel you need a 2000 degree oven to start making the ingot that is made into the wafer that makes the panel.
Wind uses state of the art generator and bearins.
Not DIY.
References :
Start by going to the library – the info there is FREE.
the first thing i recommend is read Mother Earth News. this info had been available and USED since the 1970's.
AND YES!! its DIY!! possible – the power companies and the like Absolutely DONT want you or anyone else to know they could be totally redundant if people did their own!
as to the comment there isnt sun all the time or wind all the time — So What???
PLAN for that – DONT depend on only one thing–
create an inter-working system that each portion contributes to the whole. so no sun that day, no problem – the wind generator is working and there is always the fuel effeciant small woodburner as a back up (this is just an example)
Frankly if the house is built/rehabbed properly (HIGHLY effeciant) and well thought out – most systems would only be back up anyway. the house itself wouldnt need more than that.
there is a house in Scotsdale AZ that is the perfect example- low desert and HOT in the summer but house is DESIGNED to not ever use air conditioning! it does however use various things like solar and water cooling- its most interesting.
there are plenty of articles and books — then when you have some info and knowledge under your belt — then you buy what ever plans/equipment you want or better yet build it yourself
References :
Good information isn't always free. Some free, but bad information can cost you more in the long run.
References :
life
There is a free article at
http://retirerichguide.com/solar-power-solutions-at-home/
References :
http://retirerichguide.com/solar-power-solutions-at-home/
It may not be free but as an example I purchased the guide from http://www.ebooksreviewed.info/earth4energy and constructed a small scale wind turbine (I plan on making a few more as well) and I have to say the design was about as easy as it can get when dealing with something like this. It also provided places to get everything for as cheap as possible. In the end I spent a few hundred dollars for something that sells for $7,000 – $10,000, so I don't think you're wasting your money on a guide, you're never going to make one for free either. The materials alone cost a few hundred and then it takes some time to assemble and if you plan on attaching to the power grid you will need your city/county inspector and the electric company inspector to come out. I hardly think that $50 for a guide is a large cost. If you do plan on assembling one yourself I was pleased with my experience and recommend it. I calculate that I will recoupe my overhead costs within 8-10 months.
References :
http://www.ebooksreviewed.info/earth4energy