LOCATION
The house is situated in the foothills of the Darling Scarp near North Dandalup, 2 km from the South-West highway and 60 km south of Perth.
CONSTRUCTION
The house is constructed using a combination of brick and wood with a zincalume roof. The rear section of the house has brick walls on a concrete slab and the front section is on stilts.
THE SYSTEM
The system consists of a wind turbine mounted on a 13 metre tower, 8 solar modules mounted on a tracking frame, a battery bank, an inverter and a small petrol generator. The supply to the house is 240 volt AC and the equipment used includes a refrigerator, washing machine, various power tools and the usual range of household appliances.
Water is heated by a solar water heater.
INSTALLATION
The cost of the components of the system and the installation in 1994 was $22,210. Installation was completed in 3 days.
RELIABILITY
The system has proved to be reliable. During periods of light wind the petrol generator is used for additional battery charging.
MAINTENANCE
Little maintenance has been required other than routine topping-up of batteries and servicing of the auxiliary petrol generator.
RUNNING COSTS
Costs will vary from year to year and are likely to increase as the system ages. Battery replacement is likely to be the major item and it would be prudent to assume a need to replace batteries about every 5 to 10 years. Servicing of the wind turbine, and service and fuel for the generator are other cost items, but these will depend on usage.
Due care and proper maintenance will prolong the life of most components of the system.
REASON FOR SELECTION
The cost of a grid connection made the choice of a renewable energy system a cost effective solution to providing the household's energy requirements.
| E Q U I P M E N T S P E C I F I C A T I O N |
Wind Turbine
1 only Soma 1000 wind turbine.
Solar Modules
8 only Solarex MSX60 modules.
Batteries
8 only 450 ampere hour Century 6 volt batteries.
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Inverter/ Charger
1 only Top Class 3300, 48 volt DC to 240 volt AC, sinewave inverter.
1 only 40 ampere 48 volt DC charger.
Regulator
1 only Solarex SC18-48 solar regulator.
Generator
1 only small Honda petrol generator.
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