if i get a 400 watt windmill generator will i have to convert my heating appliances to wood/coal?
Image by George Lu
Windmill Generators. Xinjiang, China
Question by william c: if i get a 400 watt windmill generator will i have to convert my heating appliances to wood/coal?
and what is the wattage to my refrigerator will the 400 watt windmill generator work on that too?
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
6 Responses to if i get a 400 watt windmill generator will i have to convert my heating appliances to wood/coal?
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400w isn’t all that much! Most high-end computers use about that.
A fridge uses anywhere from 900-2.1kw/hrs… Which is way more than your 400w windmill can provide.
Combine that windmill with a power storage center and you should be able to run a full fridge off of it… As fridges are only on for about 10m out of every hour (but draw way more than 400w while they’re on).
Arcygenical
May 3, 2011 at 12:57 am
The average house hold uses 1100 kilowatt run every thing in the house.If there is a way to supper charge the windmill so it could crank out more power, than you could run more things with wind power or just supplement your power usage.
archduke
May 3, 2011 at 1:15 am
I’m installing a 800 watt Hornet wind turbine in my back yard. It’s presently stalled with municipal permits and other nonsense, but I hope to get back at it eventually
The 400 watt rating you mention is likely the power created with 25mph or 30mph wind. At lower wind speeds the power will decrease by the cube of the speed reduction. At half wind speed the power output will drop to only 12.5%.
The generator will be used to charge a battery bank which stores the energy until needed. Typically, an AC inverter is used to convert the DC battery voltage to usable household AC voltage, although some people will operate lighting or even certain appliances directly from the batteries.
You will need to measure power consumption of the appliances you plan to power. Determine the average wind speed for your area to assist with calculating the available power to charge the batteries. Factor inefficiencies in the batteries, inverters, wiring and so on to get a total power available budget.
I was quite surprised how little power was actually available. At first, my plan was to power the furnace, fridge, and freezer from wind. After doing calculations, I think it would be lucky to operate just one of them reliably. I either need a larger generator or supplement the system with solar PV panels.
Read through my wind generator page for an idea of what I’ve been putting together. There are diagrams for the tower foundations, over-charge controller, overall system wiring, and several pictures and links.
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/wind.html
warren914
May 3, 2011 at 1:32 am
400 Watts is pretty small, you have ti figure out how much amperage you are getting out and voltage.
luka
May 3, 2011 at 1:55 am
You will be able to energize four 100 watt light bulbs. Check your refrigerator electrical needs. 400 watts is not much for household use.
johnandeileen2000
May 3, 2011 at 2:25 am
A wind generator will not power any appliance by itself, you will have to engineer the “system” and use large capacity batteries to store the electricity and a inverter to transform the 12 volts Dc to the required 115 volts Ac for your appliances.
dave
May 3, 2011 at 2:26 am