Mini Windmills Make It Easy To Try Wind Power

Mini Windmills Make It Easy To Try Wind Power ENERGY Wind Power 30-5-40 With all the interest in putting up giant windmills, Mike Goss is promoting an alternative. His Mallard 800 only puts out 800 watts and, at $475, it sells for a fraction of the cost of giant rotors on wind farms. "These aren't made for tie-in to the grid, but for off-grid use," explains Goss. "I have shipped them all over the world. Farmers use them to power heating coils in stock tanks in the winter. Most are being used for residential needs. Some customers have solar, but need a little extra power." His $475 price includes everything that sits on top of the tower. Each unit comes with six carbon blades, a permanent magnet alternator remanufactured from a General Motors alternator, and a fixed galvanized tail. When assembled, the blades and hub have a 59-in. diameter. Goss keeps the electronics to a minimum for reduced maintenance. The unit mounts to any 1 1/2-in. pipe. "Unlike most windmills, it's not designed to disengage in high winds," he says. "It has been tested in winds from as low as 8 mph up to 100 mph." Goss offers both 12/24 and 24/48 systems to charge either 12- or 24-volt systems. The package does not include tower, wire, batteries or accessories. It does include a diversion regulator to divert excess power from batteries to prevent overcharging. "Some people wire it to a light bar or 12 volt water heating coils to heat wateràanything to use up the power," explains Goss. Blades, tails and alternators are all offered separately, and Goss suggests international buyers use the dimensions he provides to build their own tails. It is one more way he attempts to hold down shipping costs for his customers. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mike's Windmill Shop, 1391 Branch Lane, Show Low, Arizona 85901 (ph 928 532-1607; gossmj@wmonline.com; www.wmonline.com).

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