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Frequently
asked questions...
# What
can I do with the power generated from my machine?
The Winglette wind generator, properly installed,
on a sufficiently high tower, will produce enough electricity to
serve the average house hold - with the exception of heating
elements like a stove, geyser, and heaters for the winter.
Examples
of items that are normally served: a deep freeze, fridge,
micro wave oven, kettle, washing machine (the ones without
warm water heating elements), hair dryer, radios, TV, computers,
lights, fans, etc.
# How
much does it cost?
The amount of money a small wind turbine saves you in the long
run will depend upon its cost, the amount of electricity you
use, the average wind speed at your site, and other factors.
Compare the costs of complete packages.. click
here.
Since
energy conservation is usually less expensive than energy
production, making your house or farm more energy-efficient
first will likely reduce the amount of investment in a wind
system to meet your needs.
# How
does it compare with with other systems...?
A study was undertaken to compare various alternative power
generating systems with each other. All the costs involved,
as well as interest rates, and inflation was used to draw a
comparison between the various systems. Look at the results
of this study... click
here.
Of
all the types of power supply systems, the Winglette wind
generator is by far the cheapest.
# How
important is alternative energy production really for us
today? Energy consumption has grown to a level today
of approximately 0.9 CJoule per person per day. This corresponds
to the equivalent of burning 32 kg of coal per person per
day.
The
majority of this power is generated by burning fossil fuel
like coal, oil, and gas, which causes air pollution to
such an extend that today we are facing the effects of global
warming that is almost out
of control.
Wind
energy is nonpolluting, clean, and renewable. The fuel, (wind),
is free energy and can provide a stable, long-term energy
supply. So, by installing a wind generator, you help clean
up our earth's environment, for a long term energy supply.
# How
does it work...?
The Winglette is a horizontal-axis, upwind, propeller
type, machine. It captures the kinetic energy of the wind and
converts it into electricity suitable for your residence or
other system that needs to be electrified. For a more detail
explanation of the of the machine... click
here.
# How
many batteries do I need?
Sizing your battery bank and inverter is elementary math's.
Power is measured in Watts. The formula to determine watts
is as follows: (Watts = amps x volts. ) Appliances wattage
is usually listed on the manufacturer's label. After you've
collected this information about all the items that you want
to power off your system, you are ready to determine the battery
size you will need. For further complete detail... click
here.
# What
is net metering?
"Net-metering" is a method of metering the energy consumed and produced at
your home or business, by your wind generator. Excess electricity produced
by the Winglette will turn the electricity meter backwards. This
provides you with full retail value for all the electricity produced. Finding
out some more.. click
here.
# How
much power can I expect to generate at my farm?
Depending on the size of the project you envision, you may
want to do a “wind resource assessment” at the
proposed site, since wind is affected by subtle variations
in landscape and tree growth.
This
wind resource assessment may involve a simple visual inspection
backed up by existing wind data (e.g. from the Canadian,
or American Wind Atlas, or from data obtainable from the
South African weather Bureau, for the southern parts of Africa).
To look at more detail on a wind resource assessment... click
here.
# Why
is tower height so important?
Your wind generator must have a clear shot at the wind to perform
well. The energy available in wind, is a cubed function of
wind velocity. Increasing wind velocity increases the power
out put of the wind system to the third power. Because of this
cubed function, wind velocity is the one variable that has
the greatest impact on the power equation.
That is why, wind generators live on tall towers. Their fuel
is up there. The quality of your wind resource improves radically
with height. A tall tower is a must for good energy production
with you Winglette wind generator. Find out more... click
here.
# How
can I find out about the experiences of people who own
an Winglette wind generator?
We would gladly provide you with the names and telephone numbers
of people who are owners of these machines. To ask for this
information... click
here.
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