Small wind turbine mounted to old satellite dish bracket?

Hi all you windies. I've never done wind power before but I'm interested. We recently moved to a house on a slope and we get at least a small amount of wind often and sometimes quite a bit of wind. So I've been imagining wind power as a supplement to our solar which isn't quite enough for our needs.
I really didn't want to erect a big pole on the property as we have limited clear acreage and I don't want either the interruption of clear space nor the look of the pole. But the previous owners left a satellite dish on the roof with a very beefy bracket made of 2-inch galvanized steel pipe with braces. It's already up there so I wonder if I could mount a small wind turbine on it? I thought that might be good because in addition to the wind we get I read that the slope of the roof can increase wind speed.

Is there anything I'm failing to consider with this idea? Thanks for any help y'all can offer.

I have heard that vibration/noise can be an issue with a house-mounted windmill. I'm not sure if it makes a difference if it is a HAWT or VAWT, some might be quieter than others? I'm sure size matters as well, smaller may be less noise/vibration? It might deter squirrels from setting up housekeeping in your attic

A windmill seems like it might be more demanding to mount than a satellite dish? I'd double check the bracket mounting job before proceeding.
Another thing to consider is what a failure turns into? Damage to the structure or the roof, or damage to your solar panels? most likely during a storm when you can least afford that hassle!...

Would removing the bracket allow for expansion of your solar? I'm guessing you'd need extra equipment to integrate wind power to the system, but maybe by adding more solar, you could still use your existing equipment? or if you did need to upgrade your solar equipment you could make your whole system better?

Kenneth Elwell wrote:I have heard that vibration/noise can be an issue with a house-mounted windmill. I'm not sure if it makes a difference if it is a HAWT or VAWT, some might be quieter than others? I'm sure size matters as well, smaller may be less noise/vibration? It might deter squirrels from setting up housekeeping in your attic

A windmill seems like it might be more demanding to mount than a satellite dish? I'd double check the bracket mounting job before proceeding.
Another thing to consider is what a failure turns into? Damage to the structure or the roof, or damage to your solar panels? most likely during a storm when you can least afford that hassle!...

Would removing the bracket allow for expansion of your solar? I'm guessing you'd need extra equipment to integrate wind power to the system, but maybe by adding more solar, you could still use your existing equipment? or if you did need to upgrade your solar equipment you could make your whole system better?

Thanks, Kenneth. Vibration could put stress on the bolts, you're right! Maybe I could test it with an experimental turbine to see how it sounds and how much it vibrates before sinking too much effort into the idea.
The bracket isn't in the way of expanding the solar, luckily. The problem with expanding the solar is that we get so little sun in the winter here. That's why I was looking for an alternative to supplement with. We don't have a water source here so hydro is out.

Hi M;   Well I'm a hydro / solar guy so my wind knowledge  is from other friends who use it.
Your roof bracket from the satellite dish might have possibility's.
I have concerns about it though.
To start, is it really high enough to let blades free spin?
I've not heard anything about the slope of the roof helping... but it could.
The real possible problem is just how securely that  bracket is attached.  I could see strong winds ripping it from the roof!

I suggest you start by using a wind meter (anemometer) and find out just how strong and steady your wind is.
I'm always surprised when my wind genny friends complain its not windy enough!   You need steady wind at say 7mph min.  to start making any power at all  and really 15 mph and up is where they start bragging...
I laugh at them because my hydro runs 24 seven, wind, rain ,sun, hot , cold... get the point?

Another thing about wind & hydro is they require a different charge control than solar.
A constant diversion regulator that needs a spot to dump power at any time.
A solar array charge control can switch on and off to regulate power.  You can not disconnect an alternator at all if it is spinning.

Find out for real how much steady wind you have.    Investigate wind machine's and see how large a prop span they have.  How much power they make at what wind speed?

Check costs of genny and regulator & wiring.
Then look into how many solar panels you can buy and upgrade them instead of occasional wind power....   just saying...







   

thomas rubino wrote:
To start, is it really high enough to let blades free spin?
I've not heard anything about the slope of the roof helping... but it could.
The real possible problem is just how securely that  bracket is attached.  I could see strong winds ripping it from the roof!

I suggest you start by using a wind meter (anemometer) and find out just how strong and steady your wind is.

Then look into how many solar panels you can buy and upgrade them instead of occasional wind power....   just saying...

I'm thinking a vertical turbine so blade clearance won't be a problem.
The dish has withstood years of wind that the weather report has said was up to 70mph, though that has been rare. But maybe adding the vibration of a turbine would hasten failure, I dunno.
Adding to the solar won't do us much good. We have plenty of power during sunny months. Winter is the problem. There just isn't enough sun to justify more panels.