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MOST COMMON FAQ'S Where can I get a WindCharger™? GENERAL Who is Sauer Energy? Sauer Energy designs and markets small, roof mounted wind turbine systems for homes or small buildings. Sauer Energy Inc. is committed to the advancement of wind energy use and development. At Sauer Energy, we design and build vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) for homes and commercial use. We strive to empower the use of wind for consumer benefit. What is unique about Sauer Energy VAWT Systems? Sauer Energy is producing clean technology energy. Sauer Energy has placed all efforts toward small wind. Large wind turbines are used for commercial applications. They require greater wind and laminar wind flows than the Sauer Energy WindCharger. The WindCharger can be mounted on a roof or can be installed to stand-alone. The Sauer Energy roof mounted WindCharger has a number of distinct advantages over the costlier horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). What are some of the benefits of the Sauer Energy WindCharger™? Sauer Energy WindCharger's concave/convex design is onmi-directional (able to accept wind from any direction and speed), as opposed to the HAWT design which has to constantly pitch and rotate so that they are facing the wind. At speeds of 65 mph and over, the HAWT shuts down, whereas our WindCharger™ will work at optimum, with a much higher end threshold. Sauer Energy WindChargers are easily roof mountable and are less affected by turbulent air than HAWTs, which make WindChargers far better suited for residential areas where obstacles such as other houses and trees that can disturb airflow. Roof mounting the WindCharger™, as opposed to a high tower, makes the unit more accessible and lowers the cost less to install. Sauer Energy WindChargers rotate at much lower speeds than the very high startup speeds of existing HAWTs (200 rpm versus 900 rpm). This results in much lower noise levels and virtually no vibration. Sauer Energy’s inverter technology provides efficiencies at lower voltages (lower wind speeds). The innovative design of our generator emits higher output. Sauer Energy’s inverter allows the WindCharger™r to operate at its most efficient level throughout the wind velocity range (dynamic loading) with complete harmony. This ensures that the turbine is always producing the most energy possible for a given wind speed without overloading the turbine. Our blade design optimizes the turbine’s performance at typical lower speeds. Most other designs concentrate on rated wind speed and rated power, which yield a lower annual power output. At typical wind speeds, the WindCharger™ focuses on generating the most power at typical wind speeds. What is important to the consumer is the actual annual power output, not the rated power. Sauer Energy’s products will incorporate grid-tie, various inputs for additional units and solar, as well as optional battery charging capabilities. Sauer Energy is a complete “all-in-one” wind turbine system, which includes the turbine, generator, inverter, and mounting brackets. Sauer Energy invites you to compare the cost of our system to the HAWTs and solar. You will be convinced. What is the required maintenance? WindCharger™ requires a periodicl functional inspection of the unit and . What is the average electrical use of an average home per year? The average North American household consumers use approximately 9,000 to 13,000 kW per year. With the Sauer Energy WindCharger™, will there be any interference? None, the advantage to the owning the Sauer Energy VAWT WindCharger™ is the lack of vibration, ground resonance, radar or telecommunication disruptions and no noise operation and no interference to cell phones or RF signals. PERFORMANCE How do I purchase a WindCharger™? We are in the process of building our Distributor Network at this time. We have received countless requests for the WindCharger™, and we plan to refer those requests to the nearest Distributor in our Network. Please visit our website often so that you can see our updates. You will find our press releases informative. We urge you to sign up for our email updates, as it is the fastest way of receiving news on our progress. How does the WindCharger™ Turbine System work? As the WindCharger™ spins, the generator produces direct current (DC) electricity. It is wired to an inverter that converts the DC electricity to alternate current (AC) electricity, which is house current. The inverter is wired to the power meter, so you can still be connected to the grid at your meter. Everything it creates goes into the grid to offset what you consume. If you are using less electricity than you are producing, it goes into the grid and your meter should turn backwards. What is the effective power output? Location is very important. Power output is related to rotor size, wind speed, air density and the efficiency of design of the turbine itself. The Sauer Energy WindCharger™ has superior efficiency design and features. Due to unforeseen conditions, parameters and circumstances (atmospheric, elevation, density and wind speed) it is impossible to predict, with pinpoint accuracy, exactly what effective power output will be over a given time. The effectiveness is determined on annualized onsite testing basis. What happens if my WindCharger™ produces more power than I use? Typically, with the tie-in to the grid, your meter will turn backwards, selling the energy to the power company and making you money. Stand alone models can either charge a battery system or just dump the load if not tied in to the grid. How does the WindCharger™ handle poor wind conditions? Sauer Energy WindCharger™ do not require smooth directional laminar air flows. They have a lower cut-in speed. The wind shear and turbulence operations should not affect the turbine. What is the WindCharger™ output? The projection of power would depend on the amount of wind and location. With the average home, we are projecting approximate savings of 25% the cost of the electric bill. OPERATIONS How easy are WindChargers™ to install? We recommend you always use a licensed professional to install WindCharger™ on site, and a licensed electrician to connect it. It can produce electricity immediately upon installation, provided there is wind. In most cases, it should take about 4 hours to install. It is homeowner’s or building owner’s responsibility to comply with local building and safety regulations and permits, wherever applicable. What is included in the WindCharger™ and do I need to buy other components? The WindCharger™ will ship in one shipment: Turbine, generator, inverter and mounting brackets with mounting hardware for the average installation. Will lightning affect the WindCharger™? There is no protection on the unit itself. Locations that are prone to severe lightning usually have a grounding system already in place. How much service is offered with the WindCharger™? The standard warranty on the WindCharger™ is ten years, twice the industry standard. Since these units do not have a gear box, they are relatively maintenance free. It is recommended that they be inspected periodically and cleared of obstructions, such as tree branches. How easy is it to get replacement parts? The replacement parts are easy to obtain now and we will keep legacy parts for a minimum of twenty years. What is the quality of AC power produced through the inverter? It is pure sine-wave utility grid quality power standard AC power through your meter. Does Sauer Energy offer any technical support? Sauer Energy will provide technical support to our resellers and dealers. Customers can obtain support from their installing Sauer Energy dealers. Are there any special permits required before installation of the WindCharger™? Depending on the county, state or province, requirements may vary. Sauer Energy’s authorized dealers or installers will apply to acquire the permit prior to mounting the unit. They would want to have the schematic of the roof-mount system. A second permit may be required from the local electrical company contractor for connection to the meter. Sauer Energy will provide drawings and schematics for these purposes. Can I sell electricity back to the grid? Local utilities offer net metering agreements that allow customers to receive credit and excess power can be sold back to the grid or banked for use later, at low or no wind times. Will my utility company allow me to connect my WindCharger™ to the grid via the meter? Yes, according to federal regulations, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) require utilities to connect with and purchase power from non-utility electric power producers. Sauer Energy WindChargers™ will have no problem at all with this. What is the impact of Sauer Energy WindCharger™ on neighboring property and the environment? Sauer Energy WindCharger™ is extremely environmentally friendly, bird-safe, aesthetically and architecturally pleasing with no hazardous fluids or by-products. All evidence indicates that small wind turbines will increase property values and not decrease neighboring property values. The incentives far outstrip any negatives. You have appreciation of value to the property. Most view the ownership of wind energy as a benefit, so it will not only increase value, but show how committed one is to the environment as well. SAUER ENERGY PARADIGM The model of Sauer Energy will always be in a state of evolution. Our designs will produce predictable results. Sauer Energy creates energy. We must surpass the rate of consumption. The use of natural resources, such as wind and solar, transform these God given assets into a benefit of mankind without the earth’s depletion and harmful side effects for sustaining long-term use. Energy will cross all divides and unite in the common good of mankind. |
