If you are considering the possibility of adding a wind powered turbine to your home there are certain things that you need to take into consideration. The idea of being able to supply all or at some of your power using a wind turbine is fine as long as you know that you have enough wind to continuously power a turbine. To find this out you can check with your local government for an average wind data chart or you can measure it yourself over a period of time with an air velocity meter or anemometer. The US Department of Energy publishes a set of maps that show the wind speeds in most areas that are measured using an air velocity meter.
The only problem with this data is that it was measured at 150 feet above the ground and if you are planning to use a rooftop mounted unit the information you need may not be the same at rooftop level. The information at 150 feet is fine if you are planning to install a tower turbine that is rated at 10KW and stands atop a 100 foot high tower with blades that have at a 24 foot diameter. Anything less than that you are going to need to use your own air velocity meter to check the winds that are prevalent at the height you will be working with. In order to determine whether the site you have picked out is going to be suitable for a wind turbine you need to collect a relatively large amount of information regarding average wind speed and direction over the course of several weeks or even months.
This information can help you to decide whether or not making the investment in a wind turbine is a wise choice for your location. To help with this collection of information the air velocity meter you use should come with some form of data logger that allows you to keep a record of samples taken at various times during the day and then download them to a computer. With this information it is possible to analyze the location you have chosen and make an informed decision.
Often it might take trying several different locations to find the ideal spot to place your turbine or you may find that there simply is not enough consistent air flow to make the project worthwhile. According to the turbine industry your air velocity digital multimeters needs to show that there is at least a steady 7 mph wind to get a turbine started and that you have winds that average 10 to 12 mph for at least 6 hours per day to generate any real electricity. Since the average home consumes 800 to 1000 kilowatt hours per months you can see where a good steady wind is needed to even begin to supply your basic needs. If you are considering installing a wind turbine and are looking for an air velocity meter to collect the information you need Tek-Inst may have just what you need. They offer both hand held and remote vane digital anemometer that will help you collect wind speed and record the information to help you make an informed decision.
