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Forum Index : Other Stuff : Where’d Everyone Go?
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MacGyver Guru  Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
Crew I wasn't sure where to post this, but it has become painfully aware to me that there's not a lot of activity on the 4m of late. I'm in the northern hemisphere, so that means y'all down under are playin' in the snow, which to me, seems like a perfect time to stay inside the warm, quiet shop and build stuff. At least, that's what I do when going outside to play is just too much of a chore because of snow and ice. It's not a game changer, I suppose, but it sure would be cool(er) if more of us were posting builds. That said, I suppose I'd better get off my big duff and build something, eh? Not sure just yet what I'll construct, but it will likely be the goofier of either a VAWT or a single-bladed, wig-wag pumping (oscillating) mill. I want something that will be fun to watch. For those of you, whom are serious wind-electric buffs, all my efforts must seem quite the lark. That's fine. Back in the day (60s) there was a tune, the lyrics of such saying, "Different strokes for different folks." I be that "different folk". . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Mac, other areas of the forum are busy. In fact, the forum now gets more posts and traffic than it every has. But yes the windmill section has been slow. Noticed the same on Fieldlines. Topic interest comes and goes, as people loose interest and move onto other things. Forums evolve, and the discussions head in new directions. But the posts made in the windmill section are still read by many, so dont think no one is reading what you post. A hundred people could read a post for every one that makes a comment. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| Georgen Guru Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
Wind turbines in the suburbs are bigger problem than in more open spaces. Every constant squeak or churn can be potential neighbourly friction starting point with blocks of land getting smaller and smaller. Solar panels get their share of complaints because of glare or some other issues too. Would be great if some pressure sensors mounted on flat surfaces could convert wind pressure to electricity. They could be mounted on the walls and pretend render for example :) I will have to look for wind powered bird scaring device. Suppose can make one with solar panel instead that will charge battery and battery will power during day hours some kind of movement or movement and noise to make hungry blighters go and leave more garden produce for the owner. Mac, do you have one developed already? George |
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Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904 |
You might have to line your walls with piezo crystals and fit little wind activated hammers to strike them to make electricity. Might get just enough juice to light a few gas lights  .
Perhaps you saw that TV program where an inventor placed tiles, under each of which a coil & neo magnet was fitted, into road where a marathon run passed over. Thousands of foot impacts did produce enough power to light a lamp for a few minutes But I think the effort was far more than the gain. Unfortunately the wind does not wear boots to pummel the wall with your pressure sensors unless its a cyclone with lots of flying debries. Klaus |
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| kitestrings Senior Member  Joined: 23/04/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 102 |
I think there may be a number of reasons for this: 1) Zoning, heights restrictions, etc. can restrict where turbines are installed as mentioned. Big wind debate has influenced opinions on wind overall. 2) The cost of solar has pretty steadily been coming down for the last ~5-years or so. Here net metering is popular. Far and away there are more PV systems going in then any other technology. comparatively the cost of magnets, particularly neo's, towers, raw materials has gone up. 3) Batteries are veryexpensive, and generally it is easier, less complicated and less expensive to do a grid-tied PV system vs. wind, particularly with owner-built systems. Solar is also more modular. One can ease into it with modest upfront cost. 4) Solar is more predictable on a given site. Wind is a bit more hit or miss. In some cases residential/commercial systems are sold and installed at poor sites. In the end this leads to disappointment, and misinformation. Granted on the right site wind can be more productive. 5) Wind systems require much more maintenance. 6) There are solar lease programs that allow folks to get into PV without upfront costs - not something I'm suggesting, but it appeals to many. 7) There are many quality PV panel manufacturers; not so many examples of thriving wind companies, and again the cost of the good ones (of any size) is very high. There are probably more, but these factors quickly come to mind. ~kitestrings |
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norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
On the wind vs solar, I have both but very rarely get a visitor ask me about my solar but almost all will comment on the wind turbines,(usually- "do those things do anything") they are visual and whats that relatively new term? yes interactive. Solar is just boring, passive but oh so reliable up here in NQ Oz. So I guess there is not much to say about solar although BMS and Lithium are topical for off-gridders and get the heart pumping a wee bit. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| Georgen Guru Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
Solar being 'boring' subject should be even more popular. It is installed and it works, even very high wind is not too much of a danger unless it is on flimsy tracking mount. I pray daily for better and cheaper and longer lasting and readily available electricity storage system :) George |
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| norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
Yes perceived as "boring" but everyday entering into the mainstream on hundreds of houses, solars potential in sunny OZ is massive, becoming mentioned in the news weekly soon daily. Getting popular. Bit of a movement taking off converting solar grid-feed systems in the suburbs to solar-battery systems unfortunately small wind turbines through regulation seem not feasible in suburbia, a pity because it has advantages, solar & wind can compliment each other, they do out here away from the "big smoke". Not a fixed rule but close for NQ, sunny days bugger all wind, cloudy days plenty of wind. Households moving away from power bills and that is a concern for the grid suppliers, they apparently did not see it coming. Electric vehicle demand along with off-grid demand will see battery prices drop as solar panels have. Long live solar and wind. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| kitestrings Senior Member Joined: 23/04/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 102 |
We've been off grid since 1984, with wind & sun. Here in NE VT (New England)in summer, we're nearly at "conspicuous spender" levels of energy use (it feels that way anyhow). Peak days are nearly 16 hours long, but we have lots of fall/winter cloud cover and the length of day drops to about 9 hours (with much lower sun angle). The zig to that zag is that our winds are good from late fall to late spring - and notably better January through March/April. Not to mention there are many winter nights where the wind blows all night long; not much PV to be had. It's really a shame that small wind too often gets the lumped in with everything negative the opposition can conjure about wind at all scales. I agree with Georgen that the holy grail is lower cost, longer life batteries; at the homeowner and the utility scale, this will be a turning point. ~kitestrings |
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| domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873 |
That solar has come down in price has been mentioned. The EU has forced a minimum of euro 0.56/W for Chinese panels as dumping has been alleged and German and other manufacturers have gone out of business. I believe I remember this number of 0.56 correctly. Greedy Birds: Old CDs flash at birds and may be a cure, why not a bit of flashy wind art? Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up. Winston Churchill |
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