subject: Wind Turbine Kit: Must You Have Battery Backup With Your Wind Turbine? [print this page] How important is it to have a battery system along with your wind turbine kit? Is it elective, or is it pretty much a no-brainer just to have one?You need to consider both.
This is a very interesting question and there are 2 ways of going about setting up your home wind turbine to distribute the power you make
1. Grid Tie System - with a grid tie system, you feed the electricity you harvest directly to the device you want to power. This means you won't have a battery intermediary and, like a diesel generator, your current utility will serve as your "backup system" for whatever device you are going to power by wind.
2. Battery System - you can either use the battery to store energy for when the wind is not blowing or, use it as spare electricity in case power outage. This is the case where the battery instead of the utility will act as your backup system.
When you are deciding which way you're going to go - whether connecting directly to an energy consuming device or just charging a set of batteries - it is wise to really consider what you're trying to accomplish with the energy that you collect.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both systems. It all just appends on what you are trying to do with the energy that you make.The grid tie system for example, is the least expensive way to go. You do not have to buy batteries, instead all you have to do is purchase an inverter to convert the DC, or direct current, into the AC, or alternating current that will be used by your device or appliance.
The biggest advantage of a grid tie system is the much lower initial dollar outlay. It is simply much cheaper and a good way to get started.
However, the advantage of going the battery route is that you are building a continuous energy system much like you have now with your utility. That is, you are not having to be at the whim of mother nature as to whether you have power for your electronic devices. In other words, if the wind is not blowing and you don't have a battery backup system, you are not going to producing electricity, obviously.
Having a "reserve tank" of energy available any time is by far the biggest reason that you should consider adding a battery pack to your home wind kit. By having a battery system, you pretty much ensure that you will be able to successfully run a device that requires continuous electricity, like a freezer or refrigerator.
Summarizing - if you have the money, buying your home turbine kit with a battery pack system is by far the better way to go. The only problem is, it can certainly double the cost of your initial investment.
