News & Articles on Small & Household Size Wind Turbines

Small wind turbines encompass a broad range of wind turbines from micro turbines, to mini turbines, to household-size turbines. Wind turbines in these size classes may have power ratings from a few watts to dozens of kW. Internationally, this category includes wind turbines up to 15 meters (49 feet) in diameter. Wind turbines of this size may have power ratings from 50 to 100 kW.

While ducted or shrouded wind turbines and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines can be of any size, they are listed here because they are outside the mainstream of the commercial wind industry.

Brakedrum Windmill Plans Year 2000 Edition

By

Paul Gipe

Hugh Piggott’s plans for turning a used brakedrum into a windmill is welcome addition to the literature on small wind turbines.

Small Turbines Not Left Out of Wind Boom

By

Paul Gipe

Wind energy is booming. Not since the heyday of the American farm windmill has wind energy grown at such a dramatic pace. By the new millennium, more than 40,000 medium-size wind turbines will be in operation worldwide, mostly in California, Europe, and India. These commercial wind turbines, including those found in California’s giant wind power plants, will produce 20 terawatt-hours (20,000 million kilowatt-hours) of wind-generated electricity annually.

Get A Grip! Raising a Bergey 850 with a Griphoist

By

Paul Gipe

The most common technique here in the United States is to raise the tilt-up towers with a truck or tractor. I’ve never been a fan of this approach and I’ve long wondered if there is a better way. The griphoist, a simple hand winch, may be the answer. While no system is foolproof, using a griphoist can reduce the chance of accidents when raising and lowering a tower.

Lowering the BWC 850 with a Griphoist

By

Paul Gipe

My thanks to everyone on the awea-wind-home list for your help raising the BWC 850. Sunday 21 June, Nancy and I lowered the turbine with the griphoist. (Because we will be traveling for the next five months I didn’t want the turbine to run unattended and thought it best to lower the turbine and store it in a safe place.)

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Windmill: Essays from Four Mile Ranch by David Romtvedt–A Review

By

Romtvedt struck a chord with me and I found myself reading this fine book through in one sitting.

Wind Power Workshop by Hugh Piggott

By

Finally, something to supplant Michael Hackleman’s aging classic Wind and Windspinners.