Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

jneilvindy · Post by **jneilvindy** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:00 am

I've searched this thread and found some conversations from 2011-2012 but nothing solid on real experiences with them on the playa.

So, anyone using wind turbine's for battery regen and power needs?

The rv I'm bringing has a turbine. I've never used it and am wondering if it's worth setting up on the roof or not?

Honestly I'm sure I'll hook it up just for something to fiddle with and see how it works cause I'm OCD like that.

Watching videos and some of the newer drone stuff I've not seen any turbines but I guess I could just be missing them in a city of 70k peeps.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:01 am

I bet the AEZ has some.

pink · Post by **pink** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:33 am

Retro frolic has had one for the last 3 years. It's great for generating power at night, when the sun isn't giving us any.

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:38 am

pink wrote:Retro frolic has had one for the last 3 years. It's great for generating power at night, when the sun isn't giving us any.

Does that turbine generate enough juice for the jumper cables, or do you have to fire up the genny for that special treatment?

Token · Post by **Token** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:48 am

They work rather well.

Make sure your brake controller is up to par and have spare diodes and parts to fix it should it fry in high winds.

Sustained wind in the 35 - 40 Mph is rather common. Gusts upwards of 70 are not that unusual either.

jneilvindy · Post by **jneilvindy** » Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:06 am

Thanks for all the information!

It's brand new and according to my friend who bought it has a complete set of replacement parts with it. It's rated up to 100mph gusts.

We all made fun of him when he bought it. Seems kinda heavy duty for winds here in Indiana. I bike past his house every day and see the thing sitting on top of the RV and it's never moved. It is in a bit of sheltered area though. I guess it needs 10mph winds to get it up to speed then 8mph to keep it spinning.

I fully expect the solar panels to provide all MY electrical needs except any AC usage. I've bought 2, 125ah AGM deep cycle batteries as a way of paying back my friend for letting me use the RV for 2 weeks. He's converted every light to LED, the tv and the AC have even been replaced with low amp models.

He says with a decent wind and solar the batteries can run everything for normal day's use without the generator. He's trying to set this thing up to be totally off grid.

pizzamancer · Post by **pizzamancer** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:52 am

They are noisy.

jneilvindy · Post by **jneilvindy** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:59 am

pizzamancer wrote:They are noisy.

Isn't everything noisy on the playa?

skippy3k · Post by **skippy3k** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:15 am

A steady "squeak, squeak, squeak" always seems to cut through Donna Summer at full volume. And haunts me in my dreams. (The squeak, not Donna.)

jneilvindy · Post by **jneilvindy** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:24 am

Ahhh got it!

Well I can't say what playa dust is gonna do to the poor thing but right now the only sound it makes is an extremely low hum. Like inside house fan blades turning hum. And it's 20 or so feet above the ground.

I'm bringing wd40 for the bikes and a can of spray silicone for the turbine's rotation plate just in case dust becomes an issue.

The last thing I wanna do is be stepping on Mr's Summer's awesome vocals I swear!

Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?

Re: Any thoughts on wind turbines on the playa?