WIND TURBINE 2008 (aka "VoltAir")

Wonder if we could install 1 of those . . . 3/08	Let's put the Wind Turbine where Shaar is hiding behind that 2x4 5/26/08	Neil starts a test hole for the foundation 6/6/08
Michal takes a turn at the shovel 6/6/08	PLANS FALLING INTO PLACE SO WE APPLY FOR BUILDING PERMIT 6/13/08 (FRIDAY)!	The (almost) last shovel full leaves the foundation excavation 6/14/08
Leveling the base for the foundation structure 6/14/08 ("Test hole" until we get the building permit)	7/8/08 Building permit issued. 7/9/08 start on SMarT foundation	Inserting FRP re-bar in lower stanchion (FRP is Fiber Reinforced Polymer)
Placing steel rebar over stanchion, resting on FRP	Placing FRP rebar on upper stanchion	Injecting expanding foam to secure FRP rebar
Assembly suspended from ceiling so can place anchor bolts and template over rebar stanchion. Upper steel rebar in place	Copper grounding coil in place 2-1/2" above base of Concrete 7/10/08	Sonotube attached. Rebar rings secured to anchor bolts. Securing wires to steady base.
Transporting to excavation	Lowering into place	Final check before last 2" down
Re-siting on foundation blocks	7/12/08 Alligned, leveled, secured, electrical conduit in place, ready for inspection and concrete pour	Neil, Gerald, Gene & Aaron ready for the first mud 7/22/08
Neil braces, Gene gets into his work, Gerald controls flow	About to cover base	Gene makes sure base is filled solid
About half full	Insuring Mud reaches all nooks and crannies	Hand work to fill the raised center column
Aaron makes stepping stones with the extra mud	Let it cure for a few weeks	9/2/08-Home from vacation Foundation cured and ready for tower
Hand dug trench-top 9/9/08	Hand dug meter end	Mike starts Bobcat trench 9/11/08
Mike trenches - one of his 3 dogs inspects	Trench end - meter pole	Where-da-heck is the end of that conduit? 9/13/08
Unrolling cable 9/15/08	Success! Cable thru conduit in foundation	Trench filled in - Michal adds final touch 9/20/08
Nested Tec-Wind tower sections ready to be unloaded. William, Glen (truck driver), John FVFR Vol - all helping 9/22/08	Off come the tower sections	Separate top section unloaded the old fashioned way
Loading heavy nested tower sections for the run uphill	Starting up the driveway	3/4 mile later all sections still on!
Almost to top . . .	Nested sections parked	Top section almost there
Sections un-nested & ready for de-burring and assembly	De-burring joints with file 9/25/08	3 of 5 tower sections in place (sort of), ready for assembly. Oh, and the Aspen are turning. 9/28/08
Tightening hinge base with 1st tower section temporarily in place 10/2/08	Assembling Gin Pole 10/2/08	Raising Gin Pole to vertical 10/3/03
Dave & Janice Pistole arrive just in time to help assemble and raise the tower - THANK YOU!	Attaching snatch block to truck "anchor" 10/4/08	Janice & Dave prepare to pull electric cable to top
Checking lift cable	Tower starts up	Michal's view of lift. She held brakes on "anchor truck"
Checking bolt allignment	Pulling the last few feet by hand	We did it - well, with the help of Janice and Michal!
Tighten those nuts!	Voltair tower is up - waiting for arrival of turbine	Driving 2nd of 2 grounding rods (a grounding coil is also in base of foundation)
Removing nuts so tower may be lowered to attach wind turbine 10/21/08	Michal ready to start backing to lower tower after tower is tipped by hand	Lifting gin pole to tilt tower. Lowering cable attached to tractor
Almost to tip point. 1 more lift and strain should be on tractor cable	Michal controls decent on way down	Almost down on blocks
Down, braced and ready for turbine arrival	Voltair arrives! (Nice of it to snow today, eh?) 10/22/08	Is that all there is? (Well, plus the blades.)
Ready to wire, test & bolt to tower	Russ connects cable. Even checks directions!	Successful "power on" test!
Time to quit for the day. 22 degrees and snow.	Torque those bolts 10/23/08 (Nice left boot . . .)	Assembling wind blades to hub 10/24/08
Torque 'em!	Filling last of trench after Russ finished electrical 10/26/08	Rotate turbine so can attach blade assembly 10/27/08
Blade assembly into position	Align with shaft	Spin blades tight onto shaft
Attach nose cone	And yaw shield	Required both tractor and truck to start tower up
Almost up-tractor only now	Up! Secure those nuts!	Tighten 'em
Just need final inspection and 2-way meter install	Building inspector Robert-final sign off on project! 10/28/08	Carl from electric Co. (IREA) advises WE PASSED the lock- out test! 11/4/08
Michal throws the switch -	- and Voltair is generating	The idea was 1st discussed in March, '08. We began generating some of our own electricity 11:53 am, 11/4/08! Thanks to all who helped.