I've got a few Bergeys flying, some have been up for almost 10 years.
Yea I've had to work on them, but Bergey has always been responsive.
My suggestions:
1)ground really well, because lightning is definitely a problem,
2)If in a high gust area, consider the shorter blades, it lowers the
max output to prevent blowing the controller
3)Do NOT oversize the wires, as at average wind speed the volt drop
won't be bad, and at max output it helps lower the surges. Bergey
actually had me install a huge resistor in series to mellow out an
old XL1, imagine my feelings after putting in 300 ft of oversized
wire, to then essentially downsize it.
4) Don't go too tall, their 50 ft tower is a very nice compromise of
height, and workability. I can drop a 50 ft tower as fast as the 30
ft. I did a 125 ft high one once, and that is really getting sketchy
both installing, and for lightning.
5) Get a spare rectifier, and fuses, so if you do have a lighting
incident, you don't have to make 2 trips.
6) Get a receiver mounted winch for your truck, for raising and
lowering.
My 2 pennies,
R. Walters
Solarray.com
NABCEP # 04170442
On Aug 27, 2009, at 4:33 PM, Kirk Herander, VSE wrote:
Despite my vow to never install another wind generator, I have been
called to action by an old customer who needs my help. We need to
replace a ten year old Whisper (Elliot-area) 1500 watt machine 3-
blade, 24 vdc battery bank, three phase to the basement rectifier/
controller. I am not at all keen on Southwest Windpower. Any
suggestions based on reliability and a machine actually outliving
its 5 year warranty would be most appreciated. PS. Does anyone have
experience with the Raum 1.3kw machine?
Kirk Herander
Vermont Solar Engineering
802.863.1202
NABCEP(tm) Certified Solar Installer
NYSERDA-eligible Installer
VT Solar Incentive Program Partner
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