My Location Wind Speed Average?

[Sven Cool]

I just put up a Inspeed Anemometer to test my daily avg for the next few months. I was wondering is there a weather site that might be able to give me that info so I can compare?

I'm just starting the research process to see if wind is a good option for me. I already do solar but am looking for something to work through the nights or rainy days.... I would appreciate if someone could get me started in the right direction. Thanks ahead of time.

I've watched a couple video's where they suggest 7 to 11 blade units for lower wind speed area's that start working at 4mph. So far it appears for the last couple days my average is about 8mph but is way to early to tell.

Any help would me much appreciated...

Mike

[Rob Beckers]

Hi Sven,

Welcome to the forums!
Where are you located? There are a number of wind speed sources, though location dependent.

The most efficient wind turbine is one that has a single blade. For practical reasons the smallest number of blades that work is three, so when it comes to efficiency a 3-bladed turbine will work best. More blades gives a higher starting torque, but less efficiency (so for a given wind speed less power). Of course, number of blades is not the only factor when it comes to efficiency, just one of many, but generally there is no advantage in going with more than 3.

Be careful about yield at very low wind speeds (ie. 4 mph). While manufacturers like to emphasize this because customers like you want to hear it, it is an utterly useless parameter. There is no energy in those slow winds, therefore very little to produce no matter what. Power in wind goes with the cube of the wind speed; double the wind speed and you have 2 x 2 x 2 = 8x the available power in that wind!!

-RoB-

[Sven Cool]

Where are you located? There are a number of wind speed sources, though location dependent.

The most efficient wind turbine is one that has a single blade.

-RoB-

I currently live in Waynesville Ohio, But have a Home in Eagle River Wisc which I will probably retire at in about 7 years....

I will have to look for a single blade I don't think I've ever seen one....

[Rob Beckers]

I think it was someone in Germany that built a single-bladed turbine. Very strange looking (big blade, big counterweight). Worked fine though, even if impractical...

There are a number of wind atlases for the USA. I've tried listing them at https://www.solacity.com/learning/
Try if this one has any info for your locations: https://windexchange.energy.gov/

-RoB-

[Sven Cool]

Thanks Rob, Can anyone give me some feedback on the units they currently use at there homes? The good and bad? I was looking at this SkyMax and have seem to found allot of negative reports and reviews about this unit. Thanks

A side note I just installed a Anemometer by Inspeed to measure the wind speed in my area. I have mounted it 40ft up and it logs the min max and avg wind speed. I had planned on doing a 3 month test. But after reading some info from the above links thanks ROB I will be testing it for at least a year now maybe longer.....

Mike

[Ralph Day]

First turbine, Southwest Windpower H80. Lousy, blew apart in 80km/hr winds (at 11 years old).
Present turbine Bergey XL1. Both units nominally 1kw...Bergey much better quality build and will hopefully last a lot longer.

Bergey comes with a Midnite solar Classic 250 controller, but really needs the Clipper I purchased after installation. Much better control of the turbine with the Classic and Clipper combination.

Average yearly production for both turbines: 600-700kwhr per year. Small wind is not the most productive form of energy harvest...but nice to have in the winter and spring.

Ralph