When looking for a way to generate electricity for their home most people think of solar power. While this is a good solution, home wind turbines are also a very reasonable alternative for most homeowners. Home wind systems will generate plenty of power and are more reliable, more quiet, and more efficient than previous models.
There are numerous advantages to using home wind turbines as your alternative energy generator. Wind power systems will generate electricity any time that there is a wind, unlike a solar power system that can only work when the sun is out.
When deciding on what style to install you need to first consider your lot size and elevation. The factor that most effects power generation of a wind turbine is finding a strong wind for as long as possible. You might need to have the turbine unit on top of a tower to get to the wind, or find a location on your lot that isn’t blocked by trees.
There are basically two styles of home wind turbines for you to choose from. There is the standard horizontal configuration and the newer vertical configuration.
The horizontal home wind turbine uses a rotor assembly with a number of blades that spin when the wind blows. The rotor assembly is attached to a shaft that is connected to a generator that will spin and conduct electricity while doing so.
There are a few drawbacks to this design and you need to know about these before making a decision. First, because the blades are larger, it takes quite a bit of wind to get the horizontal home wind turbine rotating. Despite being able to generate electricity with a slower wind, a smaller turbine would not be able to produce as much energy as a larger turbine.
The next problem is that the horizontal home wind turbine needs to align itself with the wind. This rotation is done by the wind and the turbine cannot generate electricity until it is in position.
The vertical turbines utilize a separate design. They are connected to a vertical shaft and they don’t uses blades to spin the shaft. They use a modified cup or scoop mounted to the shaft to rotate.
This can be a better solution since they take up less space than the large blades of a horizontal wind turbine.Also, because the rotating shaft is vertical you can mount the heavy generator near or at ground level.
Another major advantage is that since the shaft is vertical, this type of turbine can catch the breeze no matter what direction it is blowing and never needs to adjust its position. It will also rotate with a gentle breeze which will help you achieve better efficiency when compared to a horizontal turbine.
The problem with the vertical wind turbine is that a horizontal turbine will generate more power for the same amount of wind. They don’t produce as much power, but they can still generate electricity when the wind isn’t strong enough to turn a horizontal turbine.
As you can see, both systems have their own unique advantages, but no matter which design you choose you will definitely reduce your power bills by installing a wind power system. If you spend some time investigating the two different styles you will find the one that works best for your needs.