Category Archives: Rooftop madness

rooftop lunacy exposed

Paul Gipe reports further embarrassing mis-use of small wind turbines in the city…

Posted on 25/05/2012 by admin

Reno Nevada Proves -Again that Small Urban Wind Produces Poor Results. “The City paid more than $20,000 for a Helix turbine, famous for other “worst turbine install in history” accomplishments, that generated an incredible 34 kWh in the two years … Continue reading →

Posted in People, Rooftop madness | 8 Comments

Coleman wonder turbine gives 3x the Betz limit!

Posted on 11/04/2012 by admin

Thanks to Doug Selsam for this helpful commentary on the Coleman 600W turbine that is only 2 feet in diameter and produces three times the notoriously obsolete “Betz limit“.

Posted in products/technical, Rooftop madness | 4 Comments

Helix Wind Asset Sale

Posted on 10/04/2012 by admin

The company’s largest creditor is requiring that the assets of Helix Wind Corp and Helix Wind Inc, both Nevada Corporations, be sold via a public auction held at the company’s office on May 11, 2012 at 11 a.m. Pacific Time … Continue reading →

Posted in products/technical, Rooftop madness | 6 Comments

All readings are based on open current voltage and shorted load

Posted on 03/01/2012 by admin

This is just a word of warning for those who are thinking of buying modified car alternators from http://www.hurricanewindpower.com/ or http://www.prestowind.com/ —-             I did have rather a nice photo of some alternators and parts here but Tim at Presto asked me … Continue reading →

Posted in construction, products/technical, Rooftop madness | 16 Comments

Another wind turbine scam

Posted on 18/10/2011 by admin

People will buy anything.  It’s important to check out the product!

Posted in Rooftop madness | 1 Comment

Dyocore in San Diego

Posted on 23/09/2011 by admin

By claiming for a 1.6 kW wind turbine on your roof, you could get it paid for by California State subsidies.  This one can produce that much (in the sales pitch) although it’s only the size of a 200 watt … Continue reading →

Posted in products/technical, Rooftop madness, wind systems tutorial | Leave a comment

The old diffuser scam resurfaces in Japan

Posted on 06/09/2011 by admin

Yawn Here we go again with claims of getting 3 times as much power by putting a fancy hoop around the wind turbine and mounting it at ground level.  And people will get fooled again and lose their money again. … Continue reading →

Posted in products/technical, Rooftop madness, Video links | Leave a comment

Windspeed database still being abused!

Posted on 03/09/2011 by admin

This is another rant against misleading salesmen in the small wind industry. There is a computer model called NOABL that maps the theoretical windspeed over a UK landscape with no trees or buidings.  Properly informed experts have always known that … Continue reading →

Posted in Rooftop madness, UK small wind scene | 2 Comments

Things that don’t work – Mick Sagrillo on the popular idiocies of modern small wind.

Posted on 22/01/2011 by admin

This presentation by Mick Sagrillo is from 2009.  It’s a good summary of what is wrong with rooftop wind and is backed up by actual production data.  If you are enthusiastic about rooftop windpower then you ought to look at … Continue reading →

Posted in People, products/technical, Rooftop madness, wind systems tutorial | 4 Comments

Another absurd example of urban wind ignorance

Posted on 18/08/2010 by admin

I came across this article today: With one turbine up, others may follow There is a lot of comment and discussion underneath the article. What I find striking and alarming is that nobody seems to notice that the tower is … Continue reading →

Posted in Rooftop madness | 4 Comments