LOCATION
The property is a small farm situated about 45 kilometres from Midland and East of Muchea.
CONSTRUCTION
The house has double brick walls and a Colorbond roof. It was built in 1994.
THE SYSTEM
The system consists of a wind turbine mounted on a 13 metre tower, 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 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 in summer with boosting by a Blazer wood fired stove in winter.
INSTALLATION
The cost of the components of the system and installationi would be about $20,000 at today's prices.
RELIABILITY
The system has proved extremely reliable.
MAINTENANCE
No maintenance has been required other than routine topping-up of batteries and servicing of the auxiliary petrol generator. The wind turbine requires an annual maintenance inspection.
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 owners chose this system because connection to the grid would have cost about $43,000.
| 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 1 kW Soma wind turbine on a 13 m tower.
Solar Modules
8 only Solarex MSX60 Modules on a tracking unit.
Batteries
12 only Suncycle 2 volt, 920 ampere hour lead acid batteries.
Inverter/ Charger
1 only 1800 W Top Class sinewave inverter.
Generator
1 only small petrol generator
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