505-717-7162 - For Sales Only

How To Choose The Correct Wind Turbine 

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" wind turbine. Every small wind turbine is designed to be operated within a certain range of wind speeds.

Most folks do not know how to select a wind turbine that will operate properly in the conditions that are present at their location. 

Here's how to do it:

1.  Find out how much wind you REALLY have available at your location. Invest in a decent quality digital wind meter. Nothing else is as easy to use or as accurate. Now, use it. 

Looking at a National  Weather Service wind chart and listening to the weatherman on the TV and radio is meaningless. Wind does not work that way.

I suggest that you take wind readings morning, noon and night at the exact location and height where the wind turbine will be installed. Why? Because wind is not evenly distributed. This is why you can see some trees moving with the wind and similar trees not moving at all.  Wind moves in currents exactly as  the water in a river moves.  When looking at a river you will see fast, medium and slow moving water all within a few feet of each other. You will also see dead calm pools of water, often within a few feet of moving water. 

Wind works exactly the same way, you just can't see it. Both water and wind are greatly affected by the things that they must flow over.

2. What is your goal with wind power?  Develope a realistic plan. Don't be swayed by all the claims that a small wind turbine is going to allow you to disconnect from the power grid. It isn't. However, it can help you to lower your electric bill . Small wind turbines can also charge  batteries of all types when sufficient wind blows.

Low wind areas:

I consider low winds to be from 0-20 mph.

Our 50, 125, 225 and 300 watt turbines were specifically designed for low wind areas. After the motors are broken in, these turbines will normally start turning in 8-10 mph winds.

Normally, once the winds hit 12-13 mph these turbines have hit 13+ volts and will slowly charge your battery. As wind speed increases, your  battery will charge faster. Remember, more wind charges batteries faster.

I have had reports from customers that have sucessfully run these turbines in 25-35 mph winds. 

If your goal is to charge a bank of deep cycle batterys you will most likely need more than one turbine to do a satisfactory job.  Remember, if you were using solar panels to charge a bank of batteries you would have several of them. Wind power is no different in this respect.

Medium and high wind areas:

I consider winds 20-45 mph to be medium and 45-65 mph to be high winds.

Our 30 watt turbines love these types of winds. We offer these turbines in dual configurations also. The turbines will hit 14-15 volts in 15 mph winds. They will slowly charge your battery in 15 mph winds but they really charge a battery once the winds pick up. They have been run extensively in 65 mph winds with no damage. They love high winds and are serious battery chargers in high winds despite their small size.

I believe that mini and micro wind farms are the future for the average person. Very little space is required. They produce very little noise and they are inexpensive.

Last but not least...

Many people are under the impression that the output of a turbine or solar panel can be computed by dividing rated wattage by 12 volts and coming up with amps. This is a bastardization of Ohm's Law and in no way computes the true output of a turbine or solar panel.

Why?

Because some people believe that since their battery is called a 12 volt battery that the output of the turbine or solar panel is 12 volts.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Put a voltmeter on your  auto battery. If it shows 12v, you're not going anywhere, because a battery showing 12v is technically dead.

Any turbine or solar panel outputting 12v is a worthless. It will not charge your battery at all.

It is for this reason that all wind turbines and solar panels output much more than 12v. Most of our larger turbines output 25-30 volts in perfect test conditions. Most  "12 volt" solar panels output from 19.7 to 28 volts in perfect test conditions.

My Chevy 4x4's all make 18-20 volts at idle.

High voltage does not harm a battery. Too many amps for too long harms batteries.

So, to determine the output of any turbine or solar panel test open voltage and direct short amperage in perfect conditions. Multiply this voltage by the number of amps and you will have the maximum possible output of the turbine or panel in perfect conditions. This is the correct use of Ohm's Law.

Your battery has nothing to do with the maximum output of your turbine or solar panel.