SkyStream 3.7 up and running.
Well this past saturday we finally got the SkyStream fully installed and wired in.
The video below shows just how smoothly the install went. My brother-in-laws cousin Chad, who owns Tree Experts out of Norwalk, Ohio (419-433-0668) and has really good prices... just a quick plug, came out with his crane and set it. It took less than 45 minutes to lift the turbine and attach it to the pad, remove the straps, add the colar and wire the turbine into the breaker box. We tested it out and it ran fine and shut down immediately when the power was disconnected.
Tracy from the county building inspection is coming out friday to do the final electrical inspection so I can fax a copy of the approval to First Energy and get our meter switched out.
So far the turbine is working great. It has been running almost non-stop for the past 3 days and is quiet as can be. We are still waiting for our hand held wireless interface to arrive. Once that comes in I'll drop some stats on from time to time to show how it's doing.
Played: 2220 | Download | Duration: 00:07:19
I also want to thank Joe & Linda from North Coast Wind and Power and Chris Reigner from Southwest Windpower for all their help in the process of becoming a windpower user.
Damn... you are a high tech, eco friendly redneck. I think you need to dress it up with a moose head.
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Today we had our first day of consistent 15-20 mph winds after 2 days of no wind at all. The skystream was spinning like crazy so I went to check out the Kw meter on it and I noticed the wheel on the meter was spinning at about the speed that the meter on our house does. I went and checked the house meter and saw the coolest thing, it wasn't moving. It was at a complete stop. That was a beautiful thing. Josh
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Thanks for this post. I am very interested in solar and windmill power. This was really interesting. Would love to know how it is going and what results you are seeing.
Thanks
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Hey Renee, It's going really well. The fall winds have started kicking in and we've had a lot of days of 15-20mph wind, which has been great. So far we have generated 110kw since the install. Most of which was in the past week. We had quite a bit of 5-10 mph days right after it was put up and a few days of no wind at all. Weather is coming around now, though.Hate to hear the weatherman say light winds, means it's going to be 5 miles or less. ha... I find myself actually watching the weather now for wind speeds, instead of the temperature.
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This is sooooooo cool. You rock!
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Hey thanks! We're really happy with it. Thanks for checking it out.
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I'm building a new house in Ohio and we're trying to incorporate as may "green" things as possible. I've received a quote on a wind turbine that puts out a ton of energy - maybe more than we should need - and is very expensive. What were the costs associated with your system. I keep coming back to the wind energy option for us but have to be able to afford it. Sincerely - an interested wind user.
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Hey Michelle,
Skystream 3.7 Turbine - $5400.00
Wireless Remote - $335.00
USB Convertor Kit - $99.00
45' Monopole Tower - $3700.00
Foundation/Bolt Kit - $350.00
Shipping - $450.00
Pad Foundation/install - $3000.00
Crane - $400.00
Loader for lifting tower of semi-truck and placing near foundation - $? not sure what rentals go for. We used my father-in-laws Case tractor.
Trencher rental - $75.00
35amp shutoff switch - $40.00
20amp double pole breaker $4.00
Dedicated 100amp meter box for turbine - $40.00
Dedicated 100amp electromagnetic meter - $99.00
110' 8-3 with ground wire - $220.00 - $2.00 a foot
50' of 1.5" electrical conduit and other fittings $80.00 - 1 1/2" conduit is $1.00 a foot
Township zoning height variance hearing - $150.00
Township zoning permit - $35.00
County electrical permit - $60.00
First Energy interconnection agreement - $250.00
First Energy meter replacement - $300.00
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Total - $15,087.00
Some of these prices are just estimates because I already had a lot of the materials and equipment for installation on hand from building our home.
The worst part was dealing with zoning. They were working up rules to do their best at stopping people in my area from installing wind turbines. If you don't have zoning in your area count yourself very lucky.
Over all it's not hard to install a skystream. I had the foundation done by a local masonry company because I don't own a backhoe or a machine for bending re-bar so I figured it would be easier to let some one else handle it. Also that is the linch pin in the tower going up with ease, so I thought it best to put the responsibility on someone else to get it right.
Things to check into before you start...
Check with aviation board in your area, make sure they don't have any regulations that will effect you.
Check with county and township to make sure there are not zoning regulations you must follow.
Check will your local electricity provider and make sure that the turbine your installing is approved by them and that you can get an interconnection agreement.
Also make sure to take your plans around to all your local neighbors and explain your plans ahead of time to make sure they understand the limited impact on your area and answer any questions they may have. They can shut you down faster than zoning can.
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Josh, I was curious if you applied for the tax reduction and or grant here in Ohio for Wind generators? I believe their is about $2.50 /w when you purchase Im not sure exactly how this works yet as Im just reading about it on on of the sites. Was curious about your experinces with this. Thanks
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We didn't meet the requirements to get the grant, our usage was to high. I just started seeing the stuff about the tax reduction, but I don't know much about it. Actually I'd be interested in any info you found on it?
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We can supply you affordable wind turbine,our general engineer has engaged in small wind turbine for more than 30 years. experienced engineer assure our products' stability and effeciency. contact me. halloowa@hotmail.com
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Thanks for the offer, but I really like the Skystream and other than the one bug we ran into, we're very happy with it.
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Great web page and information. I'm curious to know if you would be willing to share what your kWh rates were from your local utility and what they are on average now...I work for villages in Alaska that see upwards of $.54/kWh. We are looking for alternatives and from what I see with the SkyStream and other Wind Energy products - these may be units that show promise for our communities. Thanks.
Everette
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I will check when my next bill comes in, can't remember what it is off hand.
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Hey Everette, I live in the village of Kasigluk, near Bethel. Our power company is AVEC, the co-op. Is that who yours is too? I asked them about what their policies are regarding wind systems and they said they had zero customers in all of their villages with a grid-connected system. Said they'd "get back to me" but never did. I'm sure they won't be real helpful, which is too bad. The biggest hurdle for me is getting the equipment and people with expertise out here for the install. And the pad...I'm not sure how it will do on our marshy tundra over permafrost. Do people ever install these without a concrete base? Concrete doesn't really work well here. Houses are on multiple steel pilings that are pounded deep into the permafrost with a piledriver. I've been wondering if I could make some kind of platform with those and pour the concrete on that.
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I'd check directly with Southwest wind and power and ask them for any specs on installing it in that kind of surface and weather conditions.
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Hey I'm thinking of putting in two of these units for my house to offset the electricity bill entirely or really close. It has been great to read all of your comments and feedback. It will be in Illinois and they have a great rebate/incentive program which should give me a little over 30% so I figure if I drop 30K and get 10 or so back that would probably be worth it in the long run. Anyways thanks again for the advice and things to ask and look for before installling a unit. I'd like to install it myself with some of my dads farm equipment but we'll see.
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Thanks for all the info- I will be checking back to see how your numbers do through the winter. I live in University Heights, outside of Cleveland. Do you know of any turbines for more urban settings? It seems like these need a bit more space than I have... also not sure about zoning issues etc. Thanks for sharing your story and feel free to vent. How else will we learn from one another?! peace.
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I don't know of a turbine off hand that is really urban friendly. Skystream aims for that and I think is probably the most urban friendly for size and noise. Maybe if you went to a smaller size that put out less power, like the Air Breeze, but they max out at like 60kwh a month, instead of the Skystream's 900kwh max. So I'm not really to sure, but I'll keep an eye out and let you know if I see anything.
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just wanted to say that I enjoy the updates on your site because I am looking into putting up one myself. its too bad that you are now having the problems that you are. I am not an expert with these things but i thought that they had a brake that would be set if the wind ever got over 65 mph, but would also release one hour later if winds were slower than 65 mph. just an opinion though...not really sure. I also have to give you praise for as by now I would be REALLY ticked off and I would probably have my lawyer contacting them instead of me contacting them. I don't put up with crap like that especially since it says right on there website that there is a 5 year warranty. on the other hand I would be interested in maybe talking to you one day about the system as for I am possibly going to put in multiple ones. I use about 3500 kwh a month so I am looking into something to help regenerate some kwh back for me. I think most of the kwh come from my duel geothermal units but it is hard to tell this early in the game because I have only been in my new house for 3 months now. please give me any info you can handle to share if you would and I will be checking back often to see the updates.....hope they get it fixed sooner than later. might want to start looking for a GOOD lawyer to get your money back! thanks for listening! keep up the good work!
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Yes it is supposed to shutdown for an hour and come back on.
I guess it just forgot the second part... ha
It's been a major disappointment this past month. I really believed in their product and that seems to be my mistake.
Josh
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Dear Janes, waiting for any new info about your turbine. I will often back to see your update.
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I install these units and have several up presently in Ohio. Monthly usage can be overcome for the grant if you get your home energy star certified; we've done it several times.
We're having MAJOR shutdown issues with almost all of our units. The shutdowns are rumored to be due to cold weather and grid power variations. Most of our units return to operation shortly after shutting down. One install has two units and one is far more affected than the other. Southwest is very hush and we're having problems getting answers. If anyone gets a definitive answer, I'd appreciate knowing about it.
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Matt,Ive had shutdown problems two yrs. and running.Up and down the pole more than a squirrel.Changed com.boards twice, circuit board once And up grade software.To no avail.At about 28F.it stops until it gets to +/- 32f.If my guess is right the "fix" will come now in march. So we all can wonder again this summer If its really fixed this time.Ben cold this winter,lost more like two months.They said they were waiting for UL approval on the repair???Anyways Im in const. got my poll,base,machenery for free. Skystream 4,800 minus all the times they compensate me for fixing it down to 4,000.If I paid as much as most of you I suppose Id be more upset.Good luck,Tom
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Hey Tom,
Man that bites. I've been there and it is irritating. How many times since you installed have you done replacements and updates on it?
Did they ever make you switch out the alternator? I've heard from a few people where they ended up switching it out.
Our first skystream went down in December, but after it was replaced the new one hasn't had the cold weather problems so far, although it's only going on two months. Since the new install we had two huge ice storms and weeks of below freezing temperatures with subzero wind chills and the only thing that made it shut down was when the wind was gusting above 65mph, and you would see it start up and start increasing speed till it was spinning really fast and then shut down. Then once the wind calmed a bit it just continued to run on the next start up. So I'm hoping that the problem has been corrected on the new machines they are releasing. I don't understand why it would be random.
I got my fingers crossed that that this new software does it. I hate hearing that people are still having trouble.
Josh
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Matt, sorry for such a late response! But just started looking at these sites to see if I was a lone wolf! Installed the 3.7 in October 2007, have had problems with shut-down from the start. Remote has never worked just sent two back with an inverter up-grade, junk! 3.7 made a whole 370 kWh last year, will pay for itself in about 100 years at this rate. I first turned my attention to SWWP and the 3.7 as the issue. Do beleive they still are having issues, my unit was only the second generation unit producted so there are bugs. But I invested into a device called TED, (The Electic Detective) works like an Amp meter that clamps around any circuit and tracks volts, Amps and watts used by that circuit remotely! I connected it around my 3.7 connection feed and it shows that 3.7 uses 0.010 Kw to the inverted momtioring the grid, but what it also shows was the volts and freqency going to the turbine along with what the turbine is producing in real time. I found the same cold weater issue but mine is related to voltage and freq drops for the power company. if volts dropped below 115v or 59Hz 3.7 shuts down. Cold weather means heat pumps and increase demand. Good documentation and a call to State SCC has started to correct one of my two issues and SWWP has been very helpful with my other issue of inverter upgrade, but they have a huge back log on replacements. Look at your power company also. 3.7 is H#$$ when she is well, but she is sick so darn often! But in my case it was not all the 3.7!
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You mentioned in the long post back in October that you would post your monthly generation number. Please post them. I'm really excited to see how you are doing.
Thanks!
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Will do.
I'm getting ready to post a chart on the new site. www.keepturning.com
should be up in a few days.
sorry about the wait.
Josh
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Hello Jane, and everyone else out there.
We are Btekenergy.com and we live just north of Toronto, Ontario and we started a R.E. Business on our 12 acre site. We have installed 5 Skystreams 3.7 so far and out of those 5, three will spin to 20F the others stop closer to 35F. I have been told kick out temperatures range between 20F and 35F.
The newer software that came out in mid February 2008, 1.11 inverter software addressed the High Wind events, so that the R4 relay would not blow on you and you have to change your relay boards. I was just told that new 2.0 Software is coming out and is being tested as we speak in Alaska with high watt outputs and temperatures 20F and colder. As a dealer who believes in this product, and an owner of my own Skystream, I know how important a role this is going to play in the residential renewable energy market. Sometimes you just have to hold on a little longer, and I believe we will see the Skystream ending up a winner in the end.
Up here the summers get hot 100F (36C - 40C) and in the winter it gets cold 10-20F (-14C to -10C). And the turbine has to deal with many environmental factors. From July 07 to December 07 we ran non stop. Then we blew the relay with old software. We changed the boards (all of them) (we were then running 1.10) and we have been operating as long as temperatures are above 20F, below this we experience the start and stop. Above this we are fully operational. I wish I could say that for 2 out of the other 4 we have sold as they need to get above 35-40F (2C-5C) to keep going.
We are having an extended WINTER this year with reports of 6 more weeks of cold. IF that is the case, we will be able to see if the new 2.0 software addresses this temperature problem - because that is what it is causing all the shut downs. Everyone in the warmer states are producing with no problems.
Southwest has been around for a while, and they want this fixed - can you imagine the sales once we know 100% these babies can take the cold?
Have faith, we do. If can and will be fixed.
btekwindsolar
www.btekenergy.com
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Hi Again -
I've noticed that all the negative stuff about Skystreams and low temp problems have disappeared from your website. My neighbor's unit has been essentially inoperable since November 2007. No help from SW or the local dealer. It's now starting to produce because temps are up.
I have my permits and electric provider approvals but am very wary about buying a unit that will only produce for half the year. All the data I've seen suggests that SW has not solved the low temp problem and that there is a real technical mess out there.
Any positive news?
Tom Gallery
Northport MI
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Hey Tom,
Well back in the first of January after I blew my top, Southwest and I worked things out and they shipped and installed a new Skystream turbine for us. This new turbine has been running great, producing nearly 300kWh a month and so far has run in any temperature weather. Down to 0 degrees with 40mph winds with a -10 wind chill. I'm not sure what the difference between the two machines could be other than this one had newer software on it.
I wish I had better news, but from what I understand the temperature problem has not been corrected. There is still lots of confusion among owners and dealers and no real answers yet. I'm going to email Southwest again and see what I can find out.
I put together a site dedicated to Skystream owners to discuss positive and negative stories about their turbines. The address is www.keepturning.com.
Stop by if you get a chance. People have been posting some really good info.
Josh
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Hi Everybody,
Since there has not been any other information posted I would take it that all the problems have been fixed. I have been dealing and working on Skystreams since they came out and they had quite a few bugs but as of this time all of my customers are happy and all of their units are up and operational. There were some that had issues but an engineer came from Southwest Wind Power and assisted all of the customers that had any issues free of charge.
As of now the Skystream wind generators I believe are great units.
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For anyone interested in my skystream or how it's doing visit KeepTurning.com and click on the blog section. I have a production chart and various info on there. thanks, Josh
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Hi all,
Just wanted to stop by and add that I am installing a Skystream at my home. Foundation and electrical is completed and I expect the 2-piece monopole tower and modified gin pole to be here for final install on Feb. 24. My place is in southeastern Arizona.
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Anyone help.
I have a 4 month old 3.7. Inverter went out when we first put it up. Skystream replaced it after a month. 4 months have past with normal operation. Last night 20 mile winds. Our unit now spins up to the wind but vibrates when it reaches speed and that causes the unit to slow down. I had to shut it down. Anyone have this problem? LCL
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Hi all,
We are getting ready to have a SkyStream installed - hopefully by September. We actually started this project last Summer but it took 3 months to get our Building permit approved since we are the first in our township in Lancaster, Pa. to install a Wind Turbine. So in October of '08 we had the Electric company mark our power lines and found out that they were in the way and have to be moved. Then winter came and we had to wait until warmer weather to start excavating.
I am glad I found this blog as there are so many negative comments from individuals on the web that it clouds ones judgment on the positive aspects of the product. Now actually seems like a better time with the current tax credits and Grants available. I am interested in hearing how those individuals who have had the Skystream up and running for more than 1+ years are fairing with the Equipment & software?
I look forward to reading any additional comments or feedback concerning the Skystream. I have been researching turbines for several years and find that the balance of Cost/Value of the Skystream and the rewards both financial and environmental appear to be the most rewarding for an individual or homeowner. Since it is hard for the average homeowner to afford the larger systems that do produce higher KW, they also come with a much larger price tag in the $50K to $125K region. Which is not practical with the condition of the countries current economy.
I do have to vent, I apologize in advance. As our falling Automobile Industry is in dire straits, one has to wonder why we do not convert empty factories and unemployed (and starving) Americans into factories to feed and fuel our Alternate energy projects for the US to drastically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels!! Not only would we be reviving a sluggish economy, but with a large supply on hand we would make Wind & Solar more affordable for the average American household. Sorry...Sorry....I stopped, I have more to say on this topic but do not wish to dwell on the subject.
I look forward to reading all your comments and I am truly happy for everyone who has taken this step, LOVE the pictures and stories.
Thanks,
LA
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I've had a Skystream for 18 months. There have been two failures. The first was a communications board failure which prevented software upgrades. They sent me a new turbine. Virtually all Skystreams with the original (non-XBee) boards failed.
The second unit failed after 12 months in service - slip ring yaw brushes failed. They promised to send me a new unit but it's been a month and they still don't have a ship date. Brush failure in one year is very troublesome. It can't be locally serviced - the entire unit needs to be replaced.
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has anyone had any issues with excessive pole and turbine "wobbling" in higher winds (25mph range)? My pole and turbine was wobbling/shaking intermintently during higher winds, did not look good.....
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