Living off the grid, Part IV: Catching the Wind

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Putting Up the System

Now that you have measured your site, picked out the right system, and obtained any necessary permits, you are ready to get your system up and running. The easiest thing to do is call your local Mick Sagrillo and have a trained crew do the work for you. Installing the tower, raising the wind generator on top of it, wiring the system, and installing the batteries is not a simple weekend project.

Mick, however, has no qualms about people installing their own system. In fact, he encourages it: "If you get your hands dirty, you have more vested interest in making sure it works properly." However, he discourages people from building their own tower. The tower is a critical component and a poorly built one can actually be deadly.

There are various ways to put the actual wind generator in place. You can use a crane or a gin pole, which is a small crane that attaches to the top of the tower. The generator is usually raised first and the rotor and tail vane follow. Once the generator is in place, it must be checked to see if it is level and the rotor blades are tracking properly. If the unit is out of balance it will vibrate, increasing noise and losing power. However you put up your system, it is strongly recommended that you work with an expert. A poorly installed or wired system can mean major damage in the first big wind.

Once your system is operating, maintenance is minimal. Mark climbs his 70-foot tower twice a year to lubricate and inspect the generator ("not the most pleasant task"). You can do this yourself or hire a local dealer. In an off-grid system, the batteries will need some attention. They must be checked periodically and you may need to add distilled water to them a couple times a year.

But to the thousands of people living with wind systems, this is a small price to pay. And once your system is spinning that wind into electricity, you might think differently the next time you feel a cool breeze or even a strong gale. That gust of air means that the days of needless and spiraling utility expenses are over.

For more information

Workshops:

Solar Energy International, P.O. Box 715, Carbondale, CO 81623;303-963-8855.

Organizations

American Wind Energy Association, 122 C St. NW, 4th floor, Washington, D.C. 20002; 202-383-2500.

Books

Wind Power for Home & Business (Chelsea Green Publishing Co., Chelsea, Vermont, 1993) by Paul Gipe.

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