Aloefundi
New Member
Howzit Guys
I'm relatively new to posting on this list, but been around for a while.
I've finally got most of the kit together to build my fist wind turbine, I ordered Hugh Piggott's book a while back and I'm pretty much set to get started.
My problem is this. I live on a smallholding (approx 8.6 hect) and my house is built on a hill. No quite at the top but close enough. Living on the Witwatersrand we have one of the highest lightning strike rates in the world. This summer alone I know of 4 strike incidents in our 'valley' alone. One was our ph-angle and borehole pump. (Out of interest the others were 2 x gate motors and another borehole. All on seperate occasions / strikes)
Now, the idea of putting up a 10-15 meter mast with a wind genny at the top to generate your own power gives me some very warm feelings about being self sustainable. Especially since we are at the start of a 7-8 year energy generation crisis in South Africa. I have a few other idea's however this is the first that I want to tackle.
Does anyone on the list have any experience or idea's about protecting a turbine installation against lightning strikes? However this is not just about protecting the turbine, but all of the ancillary equipment connected behind the turbine as well.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Regards
Aloefundi
I'm relatively new to posting on this list, but been around for a while.
I've finally got most of the kit together to build my fist wind turbine, I ordered Hugh Piggott's book a while back and I'm pretty much set to get started.
My problem is this. I live on a smallholding (approx 8.6 hect) and my house is built on a hill. No quite at the top but close enough. Living on the Witwatersrand we have one of the highest lightning strike rates in the world. This summer alone I know of 4 strike incidents in our 'valley' alone. One was our ph-angle and borehole pump. (Out of interest the others were 2 x gate motors and another borehole. All on seperate occasions / strikes)
Now, the idea of putting up a 10-15 meter mast with a wind genny at the top to generate your own power gives me some very warm feelings about being self sustainable. Especially since we are at the start of a 7-8 year energy generation crisis in South Africa. I have a few other idea's however this is the first that I want to tackle.
Does anyone on the list have any experience or idea's about protecting a turbine installation against lightning strikes? However this is not just about protecting the turbine, but all of the ancillary equipment connected behind the turbine as well.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Regards
Aloefundi