Bergey BWC Tilt.Tower for the XL.1 Wind Turbine 80'' (24m)
The BWC Tilt.Tower is the most complete, out-of-the-box, user-friendly tower system for a small wind turbine on the market today. It is available exclusively for use with the 1 kW BWC XL.1 wind turbine (i.e., we do not sell it for use with other brands of wind turbines). The Tilt.Tower is a guyed tilting tower that allows all work to be done at ground level and it is available in heights from 18 m (60 ft) to 30 m (100 ft). The Tilt.Tower is ruggedly built and comes with the longest warranty (5 years) in the industry.
The Tilt.Tower is the factory recommended tower for the Bergey XL.1 tower because it combines cost-effectiveness and ease of installation. Over the long-term the Tilt.Tower will also reduce “total costs of ownership” by making it easier for owners to inspect, provide preventive maintenance (particularly in corrosive environments), and perform repairs to the XL.1 wind turbine.
The Tilt.Tower kit includes all of the components and fasteners required to assemble and ground the tower. The tower can be installed without concrete work in areas with good soil strength and minimal rocks (that would impede the augering for the guy-wire anchors). In weak or rocky soils the use of concrete to fix the anchors is required. The tower kit includes material for grounding the tower (or “earthing”), an important element in protecting the system from lightning damage.
The towers have sections ~ 3 meter (10 ft) long and they ship via motor freight. The Installation Manual for this tower is available on-line (click here, PDF, 575 KB)
As shown in the figure below, the tower is guyed in four directions. The tower is guyed at vertical intervals of approximately 20 ft (6 meters). The Tilt.Tower is best installed on level ground, but can be installed on slopes or uneven terrain provided that the base and the anchors on the tilt-axis can be kept fairly level.
After assembly of the tower, wind turbine, and tower wiring on the ground, the tower and turbine are tilted-up to the vertical position using a winch (optional) or a vehicle.
A winch is preferred because of the greater control they afford. The towers are provided with a lever arm, called a gin-pole, which runs from the base towards one of the guy anchors. The gin-pole converts the pulling force on the pull-up rope or cable into a lifting force on the turbine and tower.
Specifications
Wind Turbine: BWC XL.1 only
Max. Design Wind Speed: 54 m/s (120 mph)
Type: Tubular tilt-up with guy wires
Section Diameter: 114 mm (4.5")
Material: Galvanized steel
Tower kits include galvanized 3 m (10 ft), tubular tower sections and associated hardware, guy anchors, guy wires and associated hardware, and grounding rod/hardware. Not UPS shippable, must ship via truck. Tower electrical wiring is not included.
Bergey does not sell the towers for applications that do not include Bergey turbines.
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