Solar and Wind

uksparks · Mar 30, 2015

Hi,

I have a 4kW array on my roof, I was just thinking, can I hook a 1kW wind turbine into an inverter in the same way so that I get power from that during the dark hours too?

I wouldn't want to change anything in the house, it was just if it is possible to hook a wind turbine into an inverter to feed into the house.

7029 dave · Mar 30, 2015

Your being greedy now.

ian.settle1 · Mar 30, 2015

7029 dave said:
Your being greedy now.

But practicable

uksparks · Mar 30, 2015

Lol, no it was a serious question, I would like to reduce my night energy cost.

Besoeker · Mar 30, 2015

uksparks said:
Hi,

I have a 4kW array on my roof, I was just thinking, can I hook a 1kW wind turbine into an inverter in the same way so that I get power from that during the dark hours too?

I wouldn't want to change anything in the house, it was just if it is possible to hook a wind turbine into an inverter to feed into the house.

I see no reason why not with the right conversion equipment that you can't feed it into your 230V supply.
Currently, wind is producing over 15% of the national consumption.

uksparks · Mar 30, 2015

I'm only looking at a 1kW turbine, but so long as it produced say 300w it would cover the tv and computer etc and some lights.

Leesparkykent · Mar 30, 2015

Dedicated circuit on non RCD side of consumer unit with a g83 compliant inverter.

Ginlong GCI-1 5KW Wind Turbine Grid Tie Inverter Operating Range 30 400V

uksparks · Mar 30, 2015

Just found this too
Wind Turbine Kit | FuturEnergy Wind Turbines

Leesparkykent · Mar 30, 2015

I would install it exactly like pv but obviously instead of the panels you have the turbine. You want get any feed in tariff unless it's installed by some one who is MCS.

uksparks · Mar 30, 2015

Can I just connect one up to the grid or do I need someone who is lower to like mcs etc? It's not something I have ever looked in to.

uksparks · Mar 30, 2015

Looks like I can just connect it up.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk...bine connection to the grid and your home.pdf

Leesparkykent · Mar 30, 2015

The DNO has to informed within 28 days of install by the mcs registered installer.

trev · Mar 30, 2015

Will you get enough wind to drive it? Don't forget, it has to be the right sort of wind. Too windy and it could damage the turbine, not windy enough and you'll get nothing out of it.

Leesparkykent · Mar 30, 2015

I don't think domestic turbines are much cop tbh.

uksparks · Mar 30, 2015

Well it's only an idea floating round in my head at present, I'll do a bit of research and monitoring of wind speed over the next month or so and see where it takes me,

I hve read bout the type of wind, I don't really even know what 5 knots or meters per second feels like.

trev · Mar 30, 2015

There's a site somewhere that you can put your postcode into to get an idea of what, if anything, you'll generate.
I found it when I was looking into getting MCS registered

Beavstro · Mar 30, 2015

Noable is the wind data site but it really is a very,very rough guide.

Beavstro · Mar 30, 2015

And I must agree, small turbines of that size I have seen and dealt with, aren't up to much. You'd have to take them down in high winds and if not, bye bye turbine!

Silly Sausage · Mar 30, 2015

Sounds like a lot of hot air to me.

Gavin A · Mar 31, 2015

domestic roof mounted wind turbines are commonly referred to as chocolate teapots.

I'll leave you to judge if you should procede further with this, unless you have a decent amount of land and can mounted the turbine well out of the turbulence caused by the house.

ps you'd need advance permission from the dno, as you already have filled your 16amp automatic allowance.

Risteard · Mar 31, 2015

Gavin A said:
ps you'd need advance permission from the dno, as you already have filled your 16amp automatic allowance.

Precisely what I was thinking.

uksparks · Mar 31, 2015

I think I'll give it a miss, it sounds like it might be a waste of money!

GB.Kayak · Mar 31, 2015

uksparks said:
Well it's only an idea floating round in my head at present, I'll do a bit of research and monitoring of wind speed over the next month or so and see where it takes me,

I hve read bout the type of wind, I don't really even know what 5 knots or meters per second feels like.

Google the Beaufort scale, there are descriptions of observable effects of different 'bands' of wind strengths. Also take a look at the Meterological Office web local 5-day forecasts; there is usually a link to the observations of actual weather conditions at your nearest weather observation station. Usually this is your nearest major airfield, civilian or military. If you are close to that location then it will be a good indication of the wind speeds that you can expect, subject of course to variations due to local terrain and other features that affect the wind speed at your location.

GB.Kayak · Mar 31, 2015

uksparks said:
Well it's only an idea floating round in my head at present, I'll do a bit of research and monitoring of wind speed over the next month or so and see where it takes me,

I hve read bout the type of wind, I don't really even know what 5 knots or meters per second feels like.

Google the Beaufort scale, there are descriptions of observable effects of different 'bands' of wind strengths. Also take a look at the Meterological Office web local 5-day forecasts; there is usually a link to the observations of actual weather conditions at your nearest weather observation station. Usually this is your nearest major airfield, civilian or military. If you are close to that location then it will be a good indication of the wind speeds that you can expect, subject of course to variations due to local terrain and other features that affect the wind speed at your location.