The Mini Home Wind Turbine Kit for Temporary Off Grid Applications

The Mini Budget Kit Main Image

A Temporary Power Solution

by Wind Trap

£775.00 £699.00 inc VAT

how it works
what's included
technical spec
FAQS

For people on the move. A temporary Wind Turbine Installation Kit

This wind turbine kit has been assembled with the intention of supplying a limited temporary "off grid" power supply for remote buildings, caravans, stables, work cabins and many other land based off grid wind turbine applications. The HRS504 Regulator has spare capacity for the option of adding a solar panel of 40 watts for a 100 watt hybrid wind turbine and solar panel system.

With continuous use, this off grid wind turbine system will power two energy-saving light bulbs (3 bulbs will remain on for around 20hrs) and perhaps a small radio. In some circumstances power is not being used so power consumption and usage time will vary.

This kit would be ideally suited for generating your own electricity supply to provide power for camping, garden sheds or a caravan. The 504 tower and rigging kit included is not designed as a permanent structure so is ideal for when you are on the move or just require a "off Grid" power source.

For more information on the HRS504 Regulator vist: Regulator HRS504 page.

For more Wind Turbine Kits vist Home Wind Turbine Kits page.
System Overview
Turbine = 60W, Regulator = HRS503, Battery = 70Ah, Inverter = 300W
The mini budget wind turbine kit is a great starter system and contains everything you need in order to start generating your own electricity from the wind. It is very important to gain a full understanding of the order in which all devices are connected together as each play a specific role within the system.

1. The Rutland 504 wind turbine is mounted into place, using the bolts supplied, on top of the 504 Tower Kit.

2. The 504 Tower Kit is then rigged into place using the 504 Tower Rigging Kit.

3. 16m of 2 Core Cable is used to connect the turbine to the regulator/battery/inverter.

4. The cable is then fed out through the bottom of the 504 Tower Kit and connected to the HRS503 regulator which controls the speed at which the battery is charged.

5. The regulator is then connected to the 70Ah AGM battery where the renewable energy is stored.

6. Finally, the battery is connected to the 300W Genius inverter which will convert the stored DC power over to usable 230V AC, 50Hz (mains) power.

The inverter can then be linked up to a mains lighting ring (please gain advice from a qualified electrician) or simply plug your small household electrical appliances directly into the inverter socket.
How It Works Step By Step

Free Standing

The mini budget kit is a free standing structure with an overall height of 4.26m (4m tower plus 0.26m - half the turbines blade diameter) which can produce up to 60 Watts of power output.
Mini Budget Kit Arrives
Rutland 504 Wind Turbine

504 Land Tower Kit

504 Land Tower Rigging Kit

16m, 2 Core, Cable

HRS503 Regulator

70Ah AGM Battery

300W Genius Inverter

504 Connector Kit plus Instruction Manual
504 Land Tower

Position the 504 land tower where you intend to erect the turbine. For the best results a flat surface should be chosen.

The top pole has two sets of ready drilled holes. One set at the top (for the turbine attachment) and the other set in the middle (for the guy wire attachment).

Place the land tower connector between the two towers and the tower base spike at the bottom of the tower.

Nose Cone

Attach the nose cone onto the front of the turbine and secure into place using the white push connectors which are supplied with the Rutland 504 turbine.

504 Land Tower Rigging

Slide the 2 sets of rigging down the top land tower pole before attaching the turbine.

Position the longer guy wires at the top of the tower, using the bolt supplied, and the shorter guy wires lower down just above the land tower connector.

Secure Turbine

Attach the 16m cable to the Rutland 504 turbine cable following the instructions provided in the 504 connector kit.

Once attached, feed the 16m of cable through each land tower section, including the pole connector, and secure the turbine into place using the bolts and Allan key provided.

Connect Tower Together

Once the cable has been fed through and the rigging kit is in position, connect the two land towers together by pushing them onto the tower connector.

Connect Base Spike

Connect the base spike and plate onto the bottom of the land tower. The spike will position the tower in place while the base plate will prevent the tower from sinking into the ground.

Guy Wires

The 504 land tower rigging kit comes complete with two sets of three guy wires (one long and one short). The longer guy wires are positioned into place at the top of the land tower (using the bolt provided) whereas the shorter guy wires are positioned just above the tower connector.

The guy wires are then secured around the base of the tower to form a tripod structure, using the pegs and connectors supplied in the 504 land tower rigging kit.

Base Pegs

The base pegs should be hammered into the ground at a 45 degree angle pointing away from the base of the tower.

Shackles and Turnbuckles

Once the peg has been hammered into the ground, the guy wire is attached using the shackles and turnbuckles in the 504 land tower rigging kit.

This process needs to be repeated for all six guy wire connections. Ensure all guy ropes are tight and secure by adjusting the length using the turnbuckles.

Guy Wires

An extra person will be needed to hold the tower in place while the first set of guy wires are secured into the ground. Once these wires are in place, the turbine and tower should be stable enough to position the final set into place.

Temporary Structure

The 504 land tower and 504 land tower rigging kit have been designed as a temporary structure which take just over an hour to install.

Ideal For Shed Lighting

The mini budget kit is ideal for trickle charging the 70Ah AGM battery to power lights in a shed or small appliances such as a mobile phone charger.

Electrical Connections

For further information regarding the mini budget kit electrical connections please refer to the 504 connector kit instruction manual.

Power an Ordinary Household Lamp

The stored battery power can be converted over to AC power, using the inverter, to power an ordinary household lamp.

Ideal for providing lighting in a shed or caravan where there is no access to the mains electricity supply.
For further information on wind turbine installation please see our planning permission section.
Products included in this kit are as follows:

Rutland 504 Wind Turbine

The Rutland 504 wind turbine can produce up to 60 Watts and has a diameter of 510mm, an ideal choice for the Mini Budget Kit.

The 'tail' of the turbine automatically yaws into the wind, allowing the turbine to make use of all wind directions.

To prevent cable 'wind-up' (cable twisting up inside the tower), between the generator and the tower, the Rutland 504 comes complete with slip rings. Ensuring the cable in the tower never moves as the turbine head turns into the wind.

504 Tower Kit

The stainless steel 504 Tower Kit has been designed to support the Rutland 504 wind turbine.

The tower is made up of two 2m poles that stack together with a tower joining connector and make up an overall height of 4m.

The base of the tower is spiked into the ground and is prevented from sinking due to the tower base plate.

504 Wind Turbine Rigging Kit

The 504 tower kit must be supported in an upright position using the 504 rigging kit.

The 504 rigging kit comes complete with 2 sets of 3 guy wires (3 long and 3 short), shackles, turnbuckles, rigging bolt, 6 ground anchors, tower connector, base plate and tower ground spike.

504 Connector Kit

The 504 connector kit has been designed to provide you with all the necessary extra connections for installation of the mini budget kit.

Also included are a full set of instructions and a step by step picture manual.

2 Core Cable 16M

16m of 2 core cable 2.5mm is provided to connect the turbine, regulator, battery and inverter together.

Please note that a distance of no more than 10m is recommended from the base of the turbine to the regulator/battery/inverter set up. This is to ensure the system works as efficiently as possible.

HRS503 Regulator

The HRS503 regulator has been specifically designed to work alongside the Rutland 504 wind turbine.

The HRS503 regulator monitors the power being generated from the turbine into the battery until the battery becomes fully charged.

Once the battery is fully charged the turbine is allowed to 'free-wheel' (i.e. spin without producing power).

As power is consumed from the battery the regulator allows wind power through to charge the battery once more.

Without this device the battery could become overcharged and subsequently damage the battery.

70Ah AGM Battery

Power generated from the Rutland 504 wind turbine is stored in the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery in the form of DC power.

The 70 Ah AGM battery has been recommended as the ideal storage capacity for the mini budget kit.

The speed at which the battery is charged is purely dependent on wind speed. Working at maximum output, full battery charge should take a minimum of 8 1/2 hours.

300W Genius Inverter

The role of the inverter is to convert stored DC battery power over into usable 230V AC, 50Hz (mains) power.

The Genius inverter allows you to consume up to 300 watts from the 70 Ah AGM battery to power electrical equipment or a lighting ring.

The Genius inverter is known as a modified sinewave inverter, this is to say the power output is made up of lots of small steps of voltage making it a good alternative for cheap usable power.

Wind Turbine Instruction Manual

The Wind Turbine Instruction Manual works in conjunction with the 504 Connector Kit and provides a full system installation overview.

Download the PDF Instruction Manual:
Technical Overview
Mini Budget Kit: Height = 4.26m, Area = ~6m, Weight = 43.3kg
Home wind turbine systems require a minimum amount of wind (aprox 5 m/s) in order to start generating electricity. It is therefore important to calculate the Average Mean Wind Speed (AMWS) in your region.

The AMWS is determined over a 12 month period using anemometers and data loggers which is not realistic for many people. There are however resources available that allow you to research the AMWS in your area.

Another important point to note before installing your wind turbine is not only the location but also positioning of the wind turbine. No matter the AMWS, if the turbine is; positioned amongst trees, surrounded by buildings, low to the ground, etc, then it will not spin! It is very important to install your turbine in an area where it will gain maximum benefit from the wind i.e. high up and in an open space.

Power calculations

With the 70Ah battery included in this kit, charging at full power (in a high wind) from flat will take approximately 8.48 hours (best case), and here is why:- 70 Ah battery usable up to 80% discharged will give 70 x 80% = 56Ah of usable capacity. The wind turbine will output up to 80 Watts peak, therefore, 80W/12V = 6.6Amps (maximum charge current). The time it takes to charge your battery from flat will be 56Ah/6.6Amps = 8.48 hours (minimum).

The 300W inverter allows you to consume up to 300 Watts from the battery to power lighting, radio, laptop, phone charger etc. Obviously this means that you're able to draw more power out from the battery than can be put in by the wind charger. This is fine so long as peak demands are not sustained (i.e. average consumption must average production lest your battery will go flat).

The 70Ah battery in this kit, when connected to a 300 Watt inverter, should last around 2 1/4 hours. 300Watts/12Volts = 25Amps. 56Ah/25Amps = 2.24 hours. Note: using 300Watts continuously can cause the battery and inverter to warm up slightly thereby losing some energy in heat and therefore reducing the theoretical battery time.

These calculations are purely theoretical and will vary depending on wind speed, temperature, cable lengths, battery conditions/age etc.

Please note: We reserve the right to change specifications without notice.
The Mini Budget Kit Dimensions
Battery

Question: Can you charge more than one battery?

Yes, the HRS503 and HRSi regulator allow charging of a single bank of batteries in parallel. The HRDX regulator has a built in charge splitter which facilitates the charging of two separate sets of batteries.

Question: What type of battery is the most suitable for storing wind energy?

The most suitable batteries for storing wind energy are 'deep cycle' batteries, not 'lead acid batteries'. So, car batteries are no good as they are designed to supply a large current for a short period of time (to start a car engine and only give around 20% discharge). A 'deep cycle' battery is designed to be run down to 80% discharge and has more cycles in its life thereby allowing more charges/discharges and more power drained between charges.

Delivery

Question: When can I expect delivery of the wind turbine kit?

Delivery of your wind turbine kit will take approximately 3-5 days depending on stock availabilty.

Question: Do all wind turbine kit components arrive at the same time?

Most kits will arrive on two separate pallets due to the length of the land tower. You should expect up to two deliveries.

Question: Is it possible to organise next day delivery for a non-held item?

Yes, so long as the non-held item is in stock with the supplier and the order received before 2pm. Please call 0845 460 8000 to arrange a next day delivery.

Question: Can I have the wind turbine kit or individual kit components posted overseas?

Yes. A full postal address is required to obtain a delivery quote for the items you wish to post overseas. Please call 0845 460 8000 to arrange the additional delivery charges.

Mounting

Question: Is the tower rigging necessary for the tower kit?

Yes, the tower rigging has been specifically designed to support the land tower structure and wind turbine. Without both kits working together the turbine may become unstable causing damage and/or injury. Incorrect mounting of the turbine will waive the warranty.

Question: What is the overall height of the Mini Budget Kit?

The overall height of the Mini Budget Kit is 4.26m. This is determined from the height of the land tower (4m) plus half the diameter of the Rutland 504 wind turbine (0.26m).

Question: How long does it take to install the Mid Range Kit?

You should allow yourself approximately 3 days to complete the full installation of the Mid Range Kit. This will allow for preparing the concrete foundations for the tower and rigging kits.

Planning

Question: Is planning permission required for installing a temporary wind turbine?

Temporary wind turbines shouldn't require planning permission. However, we do recommend that you contact your local planning authority before erecting your turbine.

Question: How do I contact my local planning authority?

Please visit your local planning authority.

Question: How much noise do the Rutland wind turbines produce?

Potential noise generated by a wind turbine is influenced by many factors such as application, installation, location, environment noise and operational characteristics. It is for this reason that noise figures are very difficult to measure. In simple terms, the wind chargers are barely audible in light winds and not discernible against the increased ambient noises in high winds.
The Rutland wind turbines are also unlike any other due to the purpose designed 'ironless core' that induces less 'magnetic cogging' which contributes to generator noise. In the case of the Rutland, the generator itself is completely silent. Finally, the reason for very low aerodynamic noise is that the tip speed ratios that cause 'swishing' noises on large-scale turbines are not such an issue.

Regulator

Question: How does the regulator prevent battery overcharge?

Once the battery becomes fully charged, the wind turbine regulator kicks in and reduces the turbine speed to an idle pace. This protects the battery from overcharging and as fully charged batteries are more likely to occur in high winds, the slow mode of operation is safer and reduces wear and tear of your wind turbine.

Solar

Question: Is it possible to link solar up to a wind turbine kit for extra power?

Yes, solar panels can be added to a wind turbine kit using different regulators according to how much solar power you intend to link in. For example, up to 100W solar panel can be added using the HRS503 or HRDX regulator and up to 160W using the HRSi913 regulator.

Warranty

Question: Do the home wind turbine kits come with a warranty?

Yes. Wind Trap offer free replacement cover for all defects in parts and workmanship for 12 months from the date of purchase. The warranty is void in the event of improper installation, owner neglect, misuse and damage. No responsibility is assumed for damage caused by user modification to the product or the use of any unauthorised components.

Question: How do I make a claim?

A valid proof of purchase is required before any claim can be made. Please contact Wind Trap on 0845 460 8000 to discuss the claim you wish to make.

Wind Turbine

Question: What is the size of the Rutland 504 turbine?

The diameter of the Rutland 504 turbine is 510mm.

Question: Can I purchase a 24V Rutland 504 wind turbine?

No, the Rutland 504 wind turbine is only available in 12V.

Question: What power output can I expect from the Rutland 504 wind turbine?

The Rutland 504 wind turbine can produce up to 60W.