| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| gribbly |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 02:07:15
Hi there. I am a wind generator newbie planning to erect a wind generator at Burning Man (basically seven days of camping on a prehistoric lake bed) this year. We have time and space to do a pilot install, balance the blades, etc.
The mill is relatively small (800W, 59") generator that we purchased from Mike's Windmill Shop: http://www.mikeswindmillshop.com/wgenerators.html
We are (were...) planning to construct the recommended 20' tower.
The tower safety issue we're running into is that the tower plans recommended by the vendor require that we mount the pole in a hole filled with concrete. Unfortunately, this is not possible at Burning Man (putting a permanent hole in the playa is not really an option, as it is a "leave no trace" event).
Obviously we are very concerned about safety. Are there any safe options for mounting a 20' tower without setting the base in concrete? We are struggling to think of any... I'm hoping some more experienced folks might have run into similar situations and can help out.
Thanks in advance for any help. |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Hefhoover |
Posted - 12/08/2008 : 23:14:17
Hope this isn't too late, I just saw a good "temporary" mount on the Futurenergy site, good luck. Hef.
http://www.futurenergy.co.uk/casehistories/ElanValleyMutton.pdf |
| Tim |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 15:48:51
Maybe something akin to a small version of those mobile crane things? Put mounting points for the tower on a car trailer, and also have mounting points for "spiderleg" bracing on the trailer, which could be ballasted with sand or water in containers at the start and emptied at the end? Just a thought. Trailer would be useful for carrying the genny, tower, bracing and other bits to Burning Man in any case so it would be elegant to use it while the event's happening. |
| Victor |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 15:19:42
I used a lighting stand from when I used to do discos and put sand bags on the bottom of it. If you put emnough mass on the bottom it will hold up in strong winds and also add some guy wires for extra safety. hope this might help |
| optixelectrics |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 07:40:28
Another option is take plenty of scaffold and make a wide based framework to put the turbine on, and use sandbags to hold it down.
Myk
Goto www.optixelectrics.co.uk and click on 'renewable' for Dump Load Controllers, Turbine and battery monitor units. Grid tie installations. Custom projects catered for. |
| BushWhacker |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 03:23:58
Are there sturdy trees near your camp site? I know you are near/on a lake bed but every lake has a shore and most shores have trees. I have no idea of the layout near Burning Lake. perhaps some hiking is in store???
Cheers!
BW
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. - Albert Einstein |
