A Beginner’s Guide To Wind Power Generators
Wind power generators are becoming a more viable option for individuals who are interested in alternative, renewable energy sources. Of course there are many things that you should be aware of before making such a purchase. Probably the most important thing is knowing ahead of time just how much energy you are going to need. If your only goal is to charge batteries, then a small residential turbine is probably all you will require. However, in most cases you will want enough energy to power your home, in which case you are going to need larger turbines.
Before purchasing wind power generators, it is also necessary for you to check out how much wind your location typically experiences. The US Department of Energy has a wind map that will allow you to easily find out this information. Typically a Class 1 area is all that is necessary for most applications. If you live outside of the United States you will have to check with your local authorities. You will also have to look into the local laws for your area to determine the legality of up setting up these turbines. Pay particular attention to how far away from structures they must be.
Because wind power generators typically create direct current, more commonly referred to as DC energy, you will have to invest in wind turbine inverters. These devices take the DC power at its source and invert it into more usable AC energy. There are even grid tie inverters that allow you to feed the converted energy directly into the utility grid and then sell it to the electric company if you wish. These machines also alter the frequency of the raw energy so that it is at the same level as the utility grid. In addition, these devices are designed to disconnect from the grid automatically in case of blackouts so that line workers do not get electrocuted.
Also make sure that you pay attention to the disadvantages of having wind power generators. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of going green, but remember that there are cons as well. Keep in mind that the amount of wind you will experience differs from day to day and when there is no wind you are back to using fossil fuels. These turbines can also be loud and there are often complaints of them interfering with TV reception. People also claim that they cause headaches and other ailments. Hopefully these negative aspects will disappear as the technology improves.
Finally, you may be interested in purchasing verticle axis wind power generators which are often referred to as VAWT. These are specially designed to attach directly to a flat roof or a similar type of platform. The advantage is that they may be placed closer to the ground.
