The Crazy Coe’s – Off Grid living and crafting

Meet Windy Weather Coe

Turbine finally in place – 600W Hornet Turbine

The turbine (Windy) has been a family member for over 5 years and it has lived quietly in its box never complaining about the lack of wind in the spare bedroom.

At least once a year we have stood outside in gale force winds and exclaimed – todays the day the turbine would be doing a great job, and then promptly moved on to other jobs.

So I am pleased to announce in 2020 Windy has finally fled his box and settled on the solar panel shed. Now the solar panels have no need to feel jealous as they will always be the main event, providing the Coe household with hours of electrical fun, but the new kid on the block – the 600W Hornet Wind Turbine is just as fantastic on the quiet and will bring that added extra during the winter winds.

The dogs of course took the solar panels side and barked constantly at the turbine for over a week. They just didn’t like it up there and when Windy did actually move and twist you would have thought we were being attacked as the decibel level of four dogs barking reached a never before ear splitting crescendo.

So what are we really getting from this new family member?

Is 600W (peak power) going to a big difference? Well we estimate that on a stormy weekend like this one we should generate around 2KW hrs from this baby.

It is perfect for keeping the energy generation going through the night whilst the wind is blowing so we always have a continual throughput of energy into the batteries. This helps improve battery life as battery storage is about chemical reactions and anything that keeps the reactions going constantly will always have a positive effect.

It is great for smaller rural locations as it is only 6 feet across and doesn’t require too large a pole to mount it on. We have used an old scaffold pole that is connected on a hinge to the shed.

You don’t have to be an electrical whizz kid to put this up. Our model is a DC model, meaning we simply had to connect the positive turbine output to the positive terminal on the battery and likewise the negative.

We checked the output using a multi meter to let us know voltage was coming through but that was all we have done at present.

We need to get an inline meter to tells us amps, voltage and peak power but haven’t decided which one to get yet, however we did buy an inline diode to make sure the power went only one way but as the turbine is a DC motor we didn’t need it. So all in all it isn’t going too bad, we know we probably haven’t constructed a tall enough pole for the turbine to clear the house line and thereby benefit from clear air but this is all experimental and so we will probably move it again in January/February when we have a better location prepped.

So welcome to Windy Coe long may the wind move you and long may you give us power.

Maybe you are thinking of having a turbine or have one already and can pass on any advice to those who need it.

In the meantime – Just Breathe

Steph

2 thoughts on “Meet Windy Weather Coe

  1. Hi there Steph and Simon!
    Just found you after Google typing ‘living off grid in Ireland’! This is my dream….but have no apparent skills but just a nagging nudge to stop self doubting myself and just do it!
    So I am researching as much as possible and dreaming of possibilities whilst scrolling through Daft ie unable to do anything until lockdown is lifted!
    I have recently turned 50 ,…. its not my first mid life crisis but should be my last!
    I am desperate to leave the UK, it not my home anymore. I am Just too ashamed to be British.
    I spent six months last year in Ireland during Lockdown ( I decided not to return home after Boris finally decided those away should return back to the Uk !…i thought No I will stick it out here thanks!). When Lockdown was lifted I travelled round and saw more then I had originally planned and fell in love with the emerald Isle and her people.
    I have really enjoyed your ‘ramblings’ of enthusiasm so please don’t stop! I will follow….and read.
    If you have any books you could recommend or websites please let me know. I am following Daniel of Mossy Bottom Farm and waiting for Mark Doyles ‘Moneyless Man’ etc to come back into stock. The very best from one happily mad person to another ,take care Kate :0)

    1. Well Kate Welcome – You are my first ever proper comment. I clicked on the comment section expecting spam as usual and there you were.
      I have so much to tell you if you are thinking this is for you. Its fun, its madness some days, its cold and tiring but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
      I am totally with you on the UK thing – whilst we haven’t been back in almost 2 years due to the virus – apart from my family I don’t miss it. Last time I was over in June 2019 everyone looked sad.
      Today the sun is shining and I have been out in my wellies planting some trees and the hubby is digging and I am helping, well attempting to help and its actually bliss.
      so ask away – ask anything – tell us where you are looking at in terms of counties and tell us what you are dreaming of- we can tell you everything we know – all the things we didnt know and learnt as we went along.
      This is not a mid life crisis this is the best thing you will ever do.
      So its so wonderful you found us – I am excited a real reader – goodness knows why as I dont say much that I consider of use.
      Check out the homesteaders – avoid the preppers – look for the The Prairie Homestead she is great. I will have a think about other books and things. Oh also the Bealtaine Cottage = very quaint.
      In the meantime keeping dreaming and speak soon
      Steph

Leave a Reply to kate Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *