JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2002
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when hybrid TV's become the norm, they may find a way to channel air already being pushed through a turbine to help charge the TV battery-pak... not beyond the realm of possibility, but not yet...
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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Joined: 08/26/2002
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As Hershey posted it's no fun camping where the wind is strong enough to generate any quantity of watts.
We've had several folks in the extended camping family try wind generators. Almost all require 20 mph to get much amperage, and over 35 mph they shut down due to generator over speed.
Also the reason you don't see then mounted on vehicles going down the road.
There's also the issue of a waste heat sink. Some of the turbines keep generating and if the batteries are full you need to provide some thing that will dissipate the extra amps.
Of course I have been stuck behind a few RV's that did run in the wind turbine speed range...LOL
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Glen41
North Texas
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Joined: 01/25/2008
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I want one of those BIG suckers. They require an 18 wheeler with a special long trailer to transport one blade down the interstate. Thay are so long they have to be preceeded and trailed by other trucks with flashers. Yeah there is some real energy savings going on there 
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RamblinFever
Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 06/01/2005
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One thing to check out is the noise level of a wind turbine. When we were sailing we came across quite a few. Some were fairly quiet but one smaller, multi-blade style was so noisy you wouldn't want to be within 200 feet.
04 Bounder 35E, W-22
05 Honda CR-V, SMI brake
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ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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PapPappy wrote:I often wondered why people didn't mount a smaller version on the front of the RV, so that it would be generating while driving down the road. Seems as if it would be a good idea...and you'd get the batteries all charged up when you got to where you were going....and maybe even when you were there, if wind was working well!!
Yeah, but think of all those bugs you'd murder!
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
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debaets
California
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Joined: 02/12/2006
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There is a storage container at the yard where we store our MH that has an automotive alternator mounted to a pole with a 4 or 5 blade fan mounted to the Alt. The yard is close to the beach so we always have atleast a gentle breeze. I don't think there would be any problem with overspeed if the wind really started blowing. The Alt has a built-in regulator so once the batteries are fully charged the Alt would just reduce output. The day I stopped to take a look at it the wind was about 7-10 mph and the Alt was quite. Looked like a great (free) way to charge the batteries without the expence of solar panels and all the control equipment associated with panels.
Steve & Jeri De Baets
Manhattan Beach, CA.
2004 Dolphin 5342
79 VW Convertible, Triple Black
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Hornet28BHDS
Parker, PA
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Joined: 01/29/2007
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Neat!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Life is short, why not spend it in an RV!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I have researched a few wind-power systems just for the heck of it... Weight is a factor since I drive a gasser.. Might not be with a DP
But as you note 400 watts (A good amount of power a bit over 40 amps in practice) at 28mph is nice.....
My awning is supposed to auto retract at 15.. I've only been camping a few days where I retracted my awning to protect from wind
So..... There you are.... 2.8 mph wind good camping weather
28 not so good
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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F.L.U.F.
Cedar Rapids Iowa
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Joined: 09/09/2006
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I have used an automobile alternator with a fan blade mounted on it for 12V power for more than 20 years. works great.
Pick an alternator that puts out the amps you want, mount it to a pole, run the wires down the pole to the batteries and you are set. It might not be as pretty as the one pictured by the OP but works great. As state above the internal regular puts the correct amount if power into the batteries just as a car would.
Not much work involved in building one.
Keep Smilin' It Makes Everyone Wonder What You Are Up Too!
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debaets
California
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Joined: 02/12/2006
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F.L.U.F. How do you keep the wires from getting twisted around the pole as the Alt. changes direction with the changes in wind direction?
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